Riding Program
About our Riding Program
Healing Hearts & Hooves serves people with disabilities in the Illinois Valley of Josephine County, Oregon. Carefully selected horses are provided for riding lessons, or hippotherapy, and trained volunteers assist our students in their sessions. This outstanding program is made possible by the generosity of August Moon Farm and the support of service organizations, corporate and private sponsors, and many good-hearted individuals who have made donations.
For people with disabilities, whose world is often confined to a wheelchair and surrounded by walls, a visit to Healing Hearts & Hooves can be a thrilling experience. The smell, feel and magical quality of the horse can touch people with the severest of disabilities. To gaze into their dark, liquid eyes, stroke the kitten-soft muzzles, or sit atop their broad, strong backs offers a new perspective on an otherwise limited world.
Progressive lessons tailored to the individual are designed to encourage confidence & build strength. In the nurturing environment provided by Healing Hearts & Hooves, horizons broaden as students benefit from their interaction with horses, peers & our staff. Contact us to learn more about our lesson program.
History of Hippotherapy
Around 460 B.C. the ancient Greeks began using hippotherapy (therapy aided by a horse) for the rehabilitation of muscles weakened by disease or trauma. They noted improvement in movement, coordination and strength in patients with crippling injuries or disorders. Today, the benefits of hippotherapy are widely recognized for improving the emotional and physical quality of life.
Healing Hearts & Hooves serves people with disabilities in the Illinois Valley of Josephine County, Oregon. Carefully selected horses are provided for riding lessons, or hippotherapy, and trained volunteers assist our students in their sessions. This outstanding program is made possible by the generosity of August Moon Farm and the support of service organizations, corporate and private sponsors, and many good-hearted individuals who have made donations.
For people with disabilities, whose world is often confined to a wheelchair and surrounded by walls, a visit to Healing Hearts & Hooves can be a thrilling experience. The smell, feel and magical quality of the horse can touch people with the severest of disabilities. To gaze into their dark, liquid eyes, stroke the kitten-soft muzzles, or sit atop their broad, strong backs offers a new perspective on an otherwise limited world.
Progressive lessons tailored to the individual are designed to encourage confidence & build strength. In the nurturing environment provided by Healing Hearts & Hooves, horizons broaden as students benefit from their interaction with horses, peers & our staff. Contact us to learn more about our lesson program.
History of Hippotherapy
Around 460 B.C. the ancient Greeks began using hippotherapy (therapy aided by a horse) for the rehabilitation of muscles weakened by disease or trauma. They noted improvement in movement, coordination and strength in patients with crippling injuries or disorders. Today, the benefits of hippotherapy are widely recognized for improving the emotional and physical quality of life.
