Therapeutic Riding Center of Huntington Beach

The Therapeutic Riding Center of Huntington Beach was founded in 1990 by a
group of community volunteers to provide services to individuals with disabilities
in the form of equine assisted activities. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a member of NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association).

We serve individuals of all ages with a variety of disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, spinal meningitis, Down syndrome, vision and hearing impairments, learning disabilities and developmental delay of all levels. TRC serves students from Huntington Beach, as well as greater Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

The value of a horse as a therapeutic tool has been well documented over the past fifty years.
In a world where we are often judged by appearances, where our abilities are over-shadowed
by our disabilities, the horse does not judge.

Therapeutic riding is one form of equine-assisted activities and therapy (EAAT). It is horseback
riding combined with physical therapy.

The concept of utilizing horses for therapy can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. Later in
17th century Europe, physicians utilized the horse to treat various neurological disorders. In the
last century, when Liz Hartel won the silver medal in dressage in the 1952 Olympics in spite of
having polio, medical and equestrian professionals all over the world began to take notice. In 1969 NARHA formed in this country as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, and today is a worldwide resource for EAAT, setting the standards for safety, instruction and promotion of the growing field.

Why the horse?
The horse has the capacity to enrich a person's life physically, socially, and emotionally. Learning to ride a horse is an exhilarating and rewarding experience for anyone. For a person with a physical or learning challenge, it's more than that. It's an opportunity to look beyond the disability and see the possibilities. It's an affirmation that what may seem out of reach is instead within grasp. And it instills a newfound joy and confidence that overflows into every aspect of one's life.

The horse's movement is similar to our own pelvic movement when we walk. It moves three-dimensionally; side-to-side, back and forth, up and down. For a person who doesn't walk, or has great difficulty doing so, the horse's gentle rhythmic motion simulates walking by relaxing, stretching and stimulating muscles.

The horse is a social creature, endowed with as much kindness and sensitivity as size and strength. These attributes can encourage someone who struggles to communicate to connect - first with the animal, and subsequently with people.

The motion of the horse, the concentration needed to improve one's riding skills and communication between instructor and rider allow students with a variety of disabilities to benefit from therapeutic riding.