MARION THERAPEUTIC RIDING ASSOCIATION INC

Marion Therapeutic Riding Association (MTRA), non-profit organization established in 1983, is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Int’l) Premier Accredited Facility. MTRA is located on Florida Greenway land providing us with a beautiful and safe place to nurture our clients. MTRA offers several programs for children and adults ages 4 and up utilizing the healing power of horses and equine-assisted activities, providing individuals have been medically cleared by a physician.

Research has proven the benefits of horseback riding and equine assisted activities for children and adults with a wide range of disadvantages. Because horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the client’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, clients with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance, posture and muscle strength. It has also been proven to affect psychological, cognitive, behavioral and communication functions for clients of all ages. The special relationship formed between horse and client, and oftentimes the client with instructor and client with volunteers, often leads to increased confidence, patience, self-esteem, independence and acceptance individually and socially in small groups.

With the benefits so far reaching, MTRA follows an “adaptive equestrian experience” model which enables us to provide a full range of equine-assisted programs. MTRA matches client needs to the program best suited for them, while ensuring that we keep pace with the latest techniques to advance the progress of our students.

Our therapeutic riding schedule typically runs 5 days a week, 9 months each year, with morning, afternoon and evening classes served in four 8-week sessions. Each lesson provides a combination of riding with ground time to strengthen the bond even deeper between horse and client. Whatever type of equine-assisted activity is chosen, our goal is to help each client achieve their personal best in a warm, professional and consistent environment. During the off-season in the summer, MTRA also offers 6 weeks of summer camp 3 hours a day, five days a week for youth ages 6-17 years.

Our current programming targets the following areas:

Traditional Therapeutic Riding:
• Serves individuals with physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges (i.e. Cerebral Palsy, Stroke or Brain Injuries, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and more).
• Clients with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance, posture and muscle strength.
• It has also been proven to affect psychological, cognitive, behavioral and communication functions for clients of all ages.
• Relationships formed between horse and client often leads to increased confidence, patience, self-esteem, independence and acceptance.

Freedom Reins:
• Therapeutic riding and Equine Assisted Activities designed to enrich the lives of military service men and women in healing and empowerment through the horse.
• This program uses specifically trained horses combined with Certified Equine Instructors working with Mental Health Professionals to help our United States Veterans who suffer from traumatic brain injuries, loss of limbs, blindness, PTSD and other military related injuries.
• The proven benefits of equine-assisted activities and therapeutic riding include fostering patience and empathy, boosting trust and confidence, increasing control over one’s own emotions of frustration and anger, promoting strength, developing balance and improving coordination.

Multiple Sclerosis Adults:
• This program is fully funded through the MS Foundation and serves adult participants diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
• MTRA’s MS Program exposes people with the symptoms of MS to exercise in a manner that eliminates the drudgery of daily therapies. Horseback riding and other equine assisted activities offer a full range of wellness benefits, from the motion used while grooming and tacking the horse to the aerobic and physical benefits of riding. The rhythmic motion of the horse acts as a powerful tool to improve an individual’s strength, coordination, balance and flexibility
• For people with MS, the motion of the horse will target primary issues including core weakness, balance issues, coordination problems and leg weakness.
• The lesson includes many components that include not only a physical workout but a mental workout as well.
• MTRA’s MS riders have all reported that therapeutic riding is helping them manage their symptoms better, as well as gets them out of the house to socialize with other MS patients.

Equine Experience: This program offers therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning and life skills activities serving foster children and disadvantaged youth in the community.

Summer Youth Camp:
• This is a Horsemanship Summer Day Camp for children from 6-17 years old. Children with disabilities are also welcome to apply.
• Camp attendees will be taught proper horse care and skills. They will also do creative projects relative to horses and will have riding and grooming lessons every day, as well as storytelling and arts and crafts.

Silver Saddles:
• Silver Saddles is a program for adults over 55.
• Lessons are provided from the ground up.
• The program helps seniors to increase their balance, flexibility and core strength.
• This is a limited program due to program focus geared to serving participants in the four other programs.

MTRA sessions are offered at a very minimal cost or on a sliding. The program income provides only 10-15% of the annual operating budget. Therefore, we rely heavily on the generosity of the community and its businesses and corporations through donations and sponsorships, grants, scholarships, and fundraising events.

For over 35 years, MTRA has provided these valuable services to Marion County, and it is one of only fifteen PATH Int’l Premier Accredited Member Centers in Florida – the only one in our district (Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, & Lake County). Located in the heart of the Horse Capital of the World™, beautiful and temperate Ocala, Florida, we strive to put the spotlight on these wonderful animals who keep our thriving community together. If you have questions about our program, please contact Jenna Rovira, Fundraising & Development Manager, via email at development@mtraocala.org or cell (330) 831-0543, or call our offices Tuesday through Saturday at 352-732-7300.