Select menu item

Horseback Riding Program

HomeHealing with HorsesHorseback Riding Program

Harness the Therapeutic Power of Horses

In addition to teaching traditional horseback riding skills, we focus on the emotional, behavioral and psychological benefits of horseback riding. Many of our students come to us with anxiety, low self esteem, depression and lack of emotional regulation skills. Horseback riding provides not only fun, outdoor activities, where the student can be challenged to learn how to ride a horse, but also learn critical life skills in the process.

Our program has three main focuses:

  • Before a student rides, everyone learns basic horsemanship. This includes recognizing and learning to read horse behavior, basic anatomy, tack parts, and feeding. They also learn safety: approaching, haltering, tying (safety knots), leading and grooming, identifying body parts and hoof care. 
  • Every student will also learn how to ride a horse. This includes balance & posture, understanding their horse’s gaits (walk, trot, and canter), mastering the leg, seat, hand cues for communicating, and building a trusting relationship with their horse.
  • Perhaps most importantly, we teach mindfulness and critical life skills, like how to reduce anxiety, regulate emotions, build self confidence, social and communication skills and more. We also spend a lot of time working on mastering gross and fine motor skills, language development, and following directions.

Riding horses involves a unique repetitive motion that activates various parts of the brain. The child’s body moves in sync with the horse’s gait and this constant need to adjust and maintain balance has a calming effect on the brain, making it easier for riders to regulate their emotions.

Students work one-on-one with our certified riding instructor, to learn riding skills, while also practicing mindfulness to become more self aware, and also enhancing the bond with their horse. Through this approach, riders not only gain the physical benefits of horseback riding, but also emotional, social, and cognitive benefits as well.

What differentiates us from a traditional riding program are the horsemanship skills we teach, but also the behavioral and emotional support we provide, setting equestrian students up with the foundational skills needed to navigate the world, grounded, confident and with a firm footing.

Social and Emotional Benefits:
  • Emotional regulation: The rhythmic motion of horse riding has a calming effect on the brain, making it easier for riders to regulate their emotions, helping individuals learn management techniques and reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.
  • Increased confidence and self-esteem: Successfully riding and partnering with a horse fosters a sense of accomplishment and boosts self-confidence.
  • Enhanced social skills: The program encourages communication and teamwork, as participants often interact with instructors, peers, and the horses themselves, improving social interactions and relationships.
  • Sense of responsibility: Caring for and riding a horse instills a sense of responsibility and discipline, as participants learn to understand and meet the needs of their equine partners.
  • Mindfulness and presence: We teach breath work and mindfulness which is incorporated throughout the lesson. Students are taught how to “be in the moment”, promoting a deeper connection with oneself and the nature around them.
Physical Benefits:
  • Improved balance and coordination: Riding a horse requires maintaining balance and coordinating movements with the horse, which strengthens core muscles and enhances overall body awareness.
  • Enhanced muscle tone and flexibility: The act of riding works various muscle groups, promoting muscle tone and flexibility, particularly in the legs, back, and abdomen.
  • Cardiovascular health: Horseback riding is an excellent form of exercise, contributing to improved cardiovascular health and stamina.
  • Refined motor skills: The repetitive actions involved in riding, such as guiding the horse and adjusting posture, help refine gross & fine motor skills and overall dexterity.

 

Our dedicated team of professionals is committed to creating a supportive and nurturing environment where participants can thrive physically, socially, and emotionally. We look forward to guiding and challenging you on this enriching journey with our gentle and intuitive horses.

Contact us!

Join us to experience the healing power of horses! To learn more about pricing and registering for horseback riding lessons, please fill out the form below and we will get back in touch with you as soon as possible!

    We are on Facebook

    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
    The Fox Moon Farm Project
    18 hours ago
    The Fox Moon Farm Project

    There's a moment that happens over and over again at Fox Moon Farm, and we never get tired of watching it.

    A child stands at the pasture fence, sure they can't climb it. Or stares at a halter, sure their hands won't figure out the buckle. Or looks up at a horse — enormous, powerful, nothing like them — and is sure, absolutely sure, that this isn't for them.

    So many of our kids arrive carrying that certainty. They've spent years being told, in a hundred small ways, that they're different — that they don't move through the world the way other kids do, don't learn the way the classroom expects, don't look or sound or act like what's "typical." That adds up. It settles into a child's sense of self long before they have words for it.

    Here, we don't start with big lessons. We start with small, achievable tasks — climbing the pasture fence, hooking a halter, jumping off a rock, grooming a horse, learning to drive the tractor. Nothing flashy. Just one thing, right at the edge of what feels possible.

    And when they do it — when the halter clicks, when their feet land on the other side of that fence — we celebrate. Loudly. High-fives, real "good jobs," the kind of recognition that says we saw that, and it mattered.

    Confidence isn't built in a single triumphant moment. It's built task by task, the same way trust is built with a horse — slowly, and only through proof. Every small win here becomes evidence a child can carry with them: I did the thing I didn't think I could do. That evidence adds up to something society hasn't handed them: the belief that they are capable.

    That's the work. One fence, one halter, one hoof pick at a time.     ... See MoreSee Less

    Theres a moment that happens over and over again at Fox Moon Farm, and we never get tired of watching it.A child stands at the pasture fence, sure they cant climb it. Or stares at a halter, sure their hands wont figure out the buckle. Or looks up at a horse — enormous, powerful, nothing like them — and is sure, absolutely sure, that this isnt for them.So many of our kids arrive carrying that certainty. Theyve spent years being told, in a hundred small ways, that theyre different — that they dont move through the world the way other kids do, dont learn the way the classroom expects, dont look or sound or act like whats typical. That adds up. It settles into a childs sense of self long before they have words for it.Here, we dont start with big lessons. We start with small, achievable tasks — climbing the pasture fence, hooking a halter, jumping off a rock, grooming a horse, learning to drive the tractor. Nothing flashy. Just one thing, right at the edge of what feels possible.And when they do it — when the halter clicks, when their feet land on the other side of that fence — we celebrate. Loudly. High-fives, real good jobs, the kind of recognition that says we saw that, and it mattered.Confidence isnt built in a single triumphant moment. Its built task by task, the same way trust is built with a horse — slowly, and only through proof. Every small win here becomes evidence a child can carry with them: I did the thing I didnt think I could do. That evidence adds up to something society hasnt handed them: the belief that they are capable.Thats the work. One fence, one halter, one hoof pick at a time.
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • likes love 16
    • Shares: 18
    • Comments: 0
    The Fox Moon Farm Project
    2 days ago
    The Fox Moon Farm Project

    How do you measure joy?

    It's not a number on a chart. It's not something you can graph or quantify in a quarterly report. But if you spent a day here at Fox Moon Farm, you'd see it everywhere — and you'd understand exactly what we mean.

    It's the moment a child who struggles to make eye contact looks straight into the eyes of a horse and doesn't look away. It's the quiet pride on a teenager's face after they've mucked a runnin from start to finish, all by themselves. It's a grown adult, laughing out loud, because a goat just decided they were their new best friend.

    We serve children and adults of every age and every ability here. They come to us for a hundred different reasons — trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences, grief, isolation. But underneath all of it, they're looking for the same thing: a little more joy. A little more peace. A place where they're accepted exactly as they are.

    So how do we measure it? We measure it in the acts of kindness we see between strangers who just met an hour ago. We measure it in bare feet running through the grass because — for once — nobody's watching to see if they're doing it "right." We measure it in the deep exhale that happens when someone finally feels safe enough to just be.

    Joy doesn't always look like a big moment. Sometimes it's small, quiet, and easy to miss. But we see it every single day — and we never stop being grateful for it.     ... See MoreSee Less

    Call Now

    How do you measure joy?Its not a number on a chart. Its not something you can graph or quantify in a quarterly report. But if you spent a day here at Fox Moon Farm, youd see it everywhere — and youd understand exactly what we mean.Its the moment a child who struggles to make eye contact looks straight into the eyes of a horse and doesnt look away. Its the quiet pride on a teenagers face after theyve mucked a runnin from start to finish, all by themselves. Its a grown adult, laughing out loud, because a goat just decided they were their new best friend.We serve children and adults of every age and every ability here. They come to us for a hundred different reasons — trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences, grief, isolation. But underneath all of it, theyre looking for the same thing: a little more joy. A little more peace. A place where theyre accepted exactly as they are.So how do we measure it? We measure it in the acts of kindness we see between strangers who just met an hour ago. We measure it in bare feet running through the grass because — for once — nobodys watching to see if theyre doing it right. We measure it in the deep exhale that happens when someone finally feels safe enough to just be.Joy doesnt always look like a big moment. Sometimes its small, quiet, and easy to miss. But we see it every single day — and we never stop being grateful for it.Image attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • likes love 11
    • Shares: 18
    • Comments: 3
    The Fox Moon Farm Project
    2 weeks ago
    The Fox Moon Farm Project

    🐴 A Milestone Worth Celebrating 🐴
    Yesterday brought one of those sessions that reminds us exactly why we do this work.

    One of our incredible young riders — a 17-year-old who lives with autism and works every day to navigate motor challenges, anxiety, and the world nonverbally — climbed up onto Merlin’s back for a brand-new challenge: threading rings onto cones and hanging them in the trees in the arena.

    It looks like a simple game. It isn’t. Every ring placed is a lesson in following multi-step directions, color recognition, fine motor control, and patience — skills that don’t always come easily, practiced here in a way that feels like joy instead of work.

    This rider has been part of our Healing with Horses community for over two years, and just recently graduated into our therapeutic riding program. And the growth has been remarkable. Grooming Merlin used to hold no interest at all — now it’s a ritual: twenty brush strokes on each side, every single time, before it’s time to tack up. That kind of focus, that kind of care for another living being, is something we get to witness grow week by week.

    Research consistently backs up what we witness on the ground every week: therapeutic horseback riding offers real, measurable benefits for individuals with autism. The horse’s rhythmic, three-dimensional gait mirrors human walking patterns and has a documented calming effect on the nervous system, helping to regulate sensory input and ease anxiety. Physically, riding builds core strength, balance, coordination, and body awareness. Behaviorally and emotionally, studies show reductions in irritability and hyperactivity alongside gains in social communication, focus, and self-confidence — many of these benefits proving durable months after sessions continue.

    We couldn’t be prouder of the courage, focus, and heart shown yesterday. And we’re deeply grateful to our team and to Merlin, our steady, patient partner in this work, for making moments like this possible.

    This is the power of nature and animals as healers. This is Fox Moon Farm Project. 🍂     ... See MoreSee Less

    🐴 A Milestone Worth Celebrating 🐴 Yesterday brought one of those sessions that reminds us exactly why we do this work.One of our incredible young riders — a 17-year-old who lives with autism and works every day to navigate motor challenges, anxiety, and the world nonverbally — climbed up onto Merlin’s back for a brand-new challenge: threading rings onto cones and hanging them in the trees in the arena.It looks like a simple game. It isn’t. Every ring placed is a lesson in following multi-step directions, color recognition, fine motor control, and patience — skills that don’t always come easily, practiced here in a way that feels like joy instead of work.This rider has been part of our Healing with Horses community for over two years, and just recently graduated into our therapeutic riding program. And the growth has been remarkable. Grooming Merlin used to hold no interest at all — now it’s a ritual: twenty brush strokes on each side, every single time, before it’s time to tack up. That kind of focus, that kind of care for another living being, is something we get to witness grow week by week.Research consistently backs up what we witness on the ground every week: therapeutic horseback riding offers real, measurable benefits for individuals with autism. The horse’s rhythmic, three-dimensional gait mirrors human walking patterns and has a documented calming effect on the nervous system, helping to regulate sensory input and ease anxiety. Physically, riding builds core strength, balance, coordination, and body awareness. Behaviorally and emotionally, studies show reductions in irritability and hyperactivity alongside gains in social communication, focus, and self-confidence — many of these benefits proving durable months after sessions continue.We couldn’t be prouder of the courage, focus, and heart shown yesterday. And we’re deeply grateful to our team and to Merlin, our steady, patient partner in this work, for making moments like this possible.This is the power of nature and animals as healers. This is Fox Moon Farm Project. 🍂Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • likes love 15
    • Shares: 20
    • Comments: 3
    Load more

    Want news and updates?
    Sign up for our newsletter.

    Healing, Learning, and Growing Together: Empowering Lives through Horses, Community, and Wellness.

    Copyright 2026 All Rights Reserved | Web Development: Dreamdare Production