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Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center, Inc. (HHTLC) is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit organization, which was founded in 1993. It is located at Helping Horse Farm, in a beautiful farming valley between the towns of Tamaqua and New Ringgold in eastern Pennsylvania.
Horses and Horizons offers a variety of programs for individuals with various disabilities, including physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities. Ages range from children as young as 16 months to 54 years who come to ride. The organization is served by volunteers. Horses and Horizons is funded and operated totally through donations and by volunteers. Clients must have a physician's prescription to be eligible to enroll in the sessions.
Lessons are held on Monday and Wednesday evenings from the beginning of May through the end of October. Although everyone prefers to ride outside, our indoor arena allows us to continue with lessons during inclement weather. We hold two eight-week sessions, Spring & Summer, and one seven-week session in the Fall. We welcome children and adults of all ages who have a wide variety of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. These include, but are not limited to, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, autism, Down Syndrome, blindness, ADHD, and developmental delays.
Riders, who are able to assist with the grooming and preparation of their horse as part of their lesson, ride in a one-hour group lesson. Helping with the horse provides an opportunity for improvement of their gross and fine motor skills, the learning of delay of gratification, a feeling of accomplishment, attention to task, and a sense of caring for the horse. It also gives the rider the opportunity to interact with their helpers. Those riders who are too disabled to help prepare their horse for the lesson, receive a half-hour private lesson mounted on the horse. Riders must have a prescription for therapeutic horseback riding and a signed release from their doctor. Before being accepted by HHTLC, each rider is evaluated by our physical or occupational therapist to assess his or her specific needs and to set individual goals.
