Promise Ranch is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that provides equine assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) for children and adults with disabilities and/or other therapeutic or rehabilitative needs. We offer adaptive / therapeutic riding and horsemanship lessons, hippotherapy treatment sessions, nature-based Occupational Therapy services, and horsemanship for Veterans. Promise Ranch is a Center Member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Int’l. (PATH Int’l.) and a Facility Member of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA). We are located in Franktown, CO.
What is Adaptive Riding? Adaptive Riding (AR), formerly known as Therapeutic Riding, is a branch of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) in which participants learn a “whole horse” approach to horsemanship and horseback riding skills. At Promise Ranch, AR lessons are provided under the direction of a PATH Int’l. Certified therapeutic riding instructor, and are tailored to meet each participant’s needs and desires. In addition to teaching the skills listed below (among many others), our instructors also include a variety of fun and educational games and activities that enhance each lesson experience.
Hippotherapy is a form of physical and occupational therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input. The movement of the horse is a means to a treatment goal when utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment strategy.
Our horsemanship class is open to both veterans and active duty service members of the U.S. armed forces. This class focuses on teaching horse behavior and psychology, safety around horses, as well as basic groundwork skills as a platform for further equine education, and as an exciting opportunity for experiential learning.
Through meaningful individual and group interactions with our horses, participants will learn how to create safe, fair, and effective horse-human relationships, and may develop or improve important life skills such as self-awareness, self-confidence, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and emotional regulation.
Promise Ranch Therapeutic Riding relies on the participation of dedicated volunteers to help facilitate daily lessons in a safe and supportive environment. Each of our riders requires the assistance of 1 to 3 volunteers in order to achieve their goals.
In addition to lesson/therapy session volunteers, we need people to work “behind the scenes” helping with facility maintenance, fundraising, marketing, volunteer recruitment and coordination, office management, and other vital operations. If you’d like to be part of our “behind the scenes” team, please send inquiry to [email protected]
Please note, the minimum age for volunteering at Promise Ranch is 16 years old.