A PREMIER accredited therapeutic riding center enriching the lives and realizing the potential of people with special needs.

H.I.S. Mission Statement

To encourage people with disabilities, their families, and friends to achieve an enriched quality of life through physical, emotional, social, and spiritual development using the dynamics of therapeutic horseback riding.

To encourage staff, horsemen, and the community in natural horsemanship and therapeutic riding, through videos, publication, newsletters, seminars, and training sessions.

H.I.S. is a NARHA PREMIER Center

In February 2004 Horses In Service was granted 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit organization.

In September 2004 Horses In Service opened the front gates at Fox Chase Farm in Richmond, Virginia and began serving eight riders with special needs.

In June 2006, within 2 years of opening, Horses In Service Natural Therapeutic Riding Center passed the center accreditation process and received NARHA PREMIER status with 100% compliance!!

H.I.S. Philosophy

At Horses In Service we train our horses using Parelli Natural Horsemanship

We believe in the philosophy of LOVE~LANGUAGE~LEADERSHIP

Benefits of Riding

There are many types of disabilities that can benefit from therapeutic riding. For people with disabilities, the relationship with a horse can improve interpersonal and motor skills. While riding they will find the horse's motion similar to human walking. These two benefits alone can enhance life, but riding offers much more.

• Improves eye-hand coordination by increasing muscle strength, flexibility, balance and coordination.
• Improves confidence and self-esteem by instilling an overall sense of accomplishment and responsibility.
• Increase positive emotional behavior, social, interaction and life skills.
• Increase communication, memory, speech and learning skills.
• Increase attention, concentration, and visual skills.
• Promote an overall sense of well-being.
• Provide an enjoyable and safe recreational activity.

H.I.S. Facility

Horses In Service leases the Fox Chase Farmfacility, located in Henrico County, on the east side of Richmond, Virginia.

• The facility was established as a horse farm in 1973.
• The original cinder block barn has six stalls and an attached garage.
• Two additional horse stalls were built in 2004 to support the start of H.I.S.
• In 2005 an additional shed row barn with 4 stalls was built.
• The facility has a round pen.
• The facility has 1 large outdoor arena.
• The field in front of the property has 4 large pastures, divided with electric tensil-wire fencing.
• A dry lot is located beside the original cinderblock barn.
• The facility was equipped with an automatic watering system in 2006.
• A wheelchair ramp and mounting platform was built in 2006.
• 2 run-in shelters were built in 2009.

Cost

Participants reserve a slot � that is, a participant reserves a lesson space each session. We offer winter, spring and fall sessions. Sessions include 6 lessons for a total of $175 per session. Tuition must be paid for the entire session prior to the beginning of lessons.

Lessons cost us $220.00 for each hour but we only charge our students $30.00. We operate 18 weeks a year and provide over 200 lessons annually.