Eos Therapuetic Riding Center

At Eos Therapeutic Riding Center, our mission is to provide therapeutic horseback riding activities for mentally, physically, and emotionally challenged children, adults, and veterans. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for our riders.

Our History

Eos was founded in 1992 by our Executive Director, Debbie Smith, who learned about the benefits of therapeutic riding while recovering from a back injury. With a small amount of donated money and a lot of determination, she began the program with six riders and two ponies. In 1993, Eos became an IRS tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Today, we have grown to serve over 85 riders and have a waiting list of over thirty.

Our Riders

Our riders come from a large geographic area around Bloomsburg, PA, and present a wide variety of exceptionalities, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, brain and spinal cord injuries, mental impairments, sensory deficits, autism, and many others. The ages of our riders range from toddler to senior citizen.

Our Instructors and Staff

Our instructors and staff are highly trained and experienced in therapeutic riding. Our Executive Director, Debbie Smith, is a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor through the Council for Education and Certification in Therapeutic Horsemanship. Our instructors are also trained in therapeutic riding and are assisted by volunteers who help facilitate the riding sessions.

Our Programs

We offer two main therapeutic riding programs: our therapeutic riding program for children and adults, and our Veterans Program, which focuses on supporting veterans with equine-assisted therapy. Our therapeutic riding program is tailored to the needs and abilities of each rider, with each session supervised by an instructor and assisted by up to three volunteers. Our Veterans Program, Hoof Beats and Hearts for Veterans, provides a unique therapeutic experience for veterans, teaching them horse riding skills and helping them connect with horses.

Volunteer Program

We rely on the passion and dedication of our volunteers to help us run our programs. Our volunteers assist with riding sessions, help with horse care, and provide support to our riders and their families. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please contact us to learn more.

Conclusion

At Eos Therapeutic Riding Center, we are committed to providing a safe, supportive, and therapeutic environment for our riders. We believe that the bond between humans and horses can have a profound impact on individuals with special needs and veterans. We are proud of our history, our programs, and our staff, and we are grateful for the support of our community.