Business Details
28 Years
experience
Therapeutic Riding Programs in Bar Harbor, ME
Founded in 1998, Willowind Therapeutic Riding Center has dedicated itself to transforming lives through equine-assisted therapy. Our mission focuses on supporting children and adults with physical and mental disabilities while preserving rural heritage. Located in Bar Harbor, Maine, we serve five counties across the state, offering year-round programs tailored to individual needs. Our team of certified professionals utilizes horses as partners in healing, addressing conditions ranging from autism to traumatic brain injuries. We emphasize holistic growth by involving families in therapeutic goals, fostering confidence, communication, and social skills.Through community partnerships and fundraising, we subsidize 50% of session costs to ensure accessibility. Our facility houses six therapy horses, each carefully selected for their temperament and suitability. We maintain rigorous safety standards while providing one-on-one sessions that extend beyond riding to include grooming and horse care. Our programs align with PATH International standards, ensuring quality and professionalism in every interaction. Over 25 years, we've become an integral part of Mount Desert Island's support network for individuals with special needs.
Services
Therapeutic Riding
Equine Therapy
Family Programs
Volunteer Opportunities
Community Events
Details
- Year established: 1998
Highlights and features
- Certified PATH instructors with decades of combined experience
- Individualized one-on-one therapeutic sessions tailored to specific needs
- 50% subsidized session costs for all riders regardless of income
- Family-centered approach integrating therapeutic goals into daily life
- Six specially selected therapy horses with diverse therapeutic capabilities
Associations and certifications
- Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH)
What people say
Life-changing experience
Dedicated instructors
Family-centered approach
Accessible pricing
Beautiful facility
Services
Therapeutic Riding
Our therapeutic riding sessions combine horseback riding with targeted physical and emotional exercises. Certified instructors work one-on-one with riders aged six and older to improve balance, coordination, and confidence. Sessions incorporate grooming, feeding, and horse care to develop responsibility and emotional connection, addressing conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, and anxiety disorders.
Family Programs
We offer family-integrated therapy sessions that extend benefits beyond individual riders. These programs teach collaborative goal-setting and communication skills while involving family members in the therapeutic process. Activities focus on building trust, improving social interactions, and creating shared achievements through equine-assisted activities.
Volunteer Opportunities
Our volunteer program trains community members to assist with horse care, lesson support, and facility maintenance. Volunteers receive specialized training in therapeutic techniques and horse handling while contributing to our mission of making equine therapy accessible to all individuals with special needs.
People
David Folger
Director and Riding Instructor
Co-founder and director with 25+ years of experience, certified PATH instructor, and graduate of College of the Atlantic. Former commercial fisherman and research scientist who developed the program while raising his family on MDI.
Cate Schneider
Office Manager
Manages administrative operations with a Masters in Exercise Physiology. Former Grand Teton National Park resident who also teaches locally and serves on the MDI YMCA board. Specializes in grant writing and community engagement.
Auria Mauras
Development Coordinator
Oversees fundraising and community relations with a background in French education. Completing graduate clinical counseling studies while organizing events and managing donor relations for the center's growth.
Rachel D'Angeli
Riding Instructor
Certified instructor responsible for horse care and volunteer coordination. Culinary school graduate with diverse professional experience who manages facility maintenance and rider support activities.
Questions
What therapeutic services do you offer?
We provide one-on-one therapeutic riding sessions incorporating horse care activities for individuals with physical and mental disabilities aged six and older.
How do I schedule a session?
Contact Director David Folger via text at 207-479-0085 to schedule a meet-and-greet and join our waiting list for new riders.
What are your session costs?
Sessions are subsidized to $70 each (originally $150), with no third-party reimbursement available through insurance or Medicaid.
Do you offer volunteer opportunities?
Yes, we train volunteers in therapeutic techniques and horse care to support our programs and facility maintenance needs.
Which areas do you serve?
We serve residents from Washington, Hancock, Waldo, Penobscot, and Cumberland counties in Maine.
How can I support your mission?
Support our work through donations, attending fundraising events, or participating in our volunteer program to help sustain accessible equine therapy services.
