HORSEPLAY THERAPY CENTER INC

HorsePlay Therapy Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, established in 2015 to provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy using hippotherapy to children with special needs. As of 2023, HorsePlay Therapy Center provides over 830 therapy sessions a month to children with special needs with diagnoses that include Down Syndrome,Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other developmental disorders. In late 2020, the Board of Directors of HorsePlay Therapy Center elected to expand the organization’s services and team of horses to meet the growing need of another underserved population in our community: wounded warriors and veterans diagnosed with PTSD. With eager persistence and drive to help this population, RiseUp for Veterans was launched quickly after the Board’s decision, on November 11th, 2021.

Utilizing hippotherapy provides multiple benefits for children with special needs, that includes balance and postural control, sensory input, and respiratory support for speech production, just to name a few. The emotional connection that the horses provide lead to improved confidence and social-emotional well-being in both our children and veterans alike. Our innovative therapy for children and veterans enhances traditional therapy by allowing participants to experience a special connection- sensory and physical- with their horse and the nature that surrounds them as they work towards their goals.

With our veterans, equine-assisted therapy uses horses to promote psychological, occupational, physical, and spiritual healing in individuals suffering from a variety of emotional and physical ailments. Experts in equine-assisted therapy, as well as participants, believe that the many shared traits between horses and humans promote open, trusting and nonthreatening physical and emotional connections between both groups. The mission of RiseUp for Veterans is to enhance the quality of life for our service men and women and their families by bringing horses and people together through a comprehensive equine-assisted therapy program, staffed by certified instructors, licensed mental health counselors, and trained volunteers.

A common question asked is “Why horses?”. The answer, really, is quite simple: horses are uniquely suited to help build physical and emotional strength. The multi-dimensional movement of the horse re-creates the human gait, helping children gain the sensory experience of walking. Horses are dynamic, sensitive animals that communicate through the subtle use of body language. They respond to emotional situations giving immediate, honest feedback, without judgment and with unconditional acceptance. Along with our skilled team of therapists, a little horsepower helps us empower our participants to achieve their goals to attain a greater quality of life. At HorsePlay Therapy Center, no child or veteran is denied use of horses in their therapy based on ability to pay.