Lesson overview

What to expect

We're often asked, “What is the goal of your program? What are you trying to achieve?” These are excellent questions. Although our program does include mounted work, we do not focus on the elements included in traditional riding lessons. Instead, our goal is to to help students improve their life skills in partnership with the horse. A typical lesson includes:

Welcome: When groups arrive, we take a few minutes to ask the students about their week and assess what they may bring into the lesson for the day. This time can help facilitators know how best to utilize movement or teach regulation techniques before engaging in an activity with the horses.
Warm-up: As there are various learning styles, we strive to provide instruction for every learner. We utilize various activities at the start of groups to help meet all learning methods and get the brain ready to glean as much as possible from the equine-assisted activity later in the lesson.
Movement: Research shows movement increases learning and the body's ability to focus. We utilize different movement types, including stretching, yoga, balance exercises, and mounted activities, to facilitate the learning and retention of program content.
Equine-assisted activity: The primary objective of equine-assisted activities is to make the connection between the activity with the horses and real-life situations. For instance, a student may notice a horse appearing anxious when another student is loud or moving erratically. The instructor can then make a bridge by asking, “Have you ever noticed anyone being disruptive in your classroom? How did the other students react to their behavior?” to help the student understand how negative behavior can impact others.
Wrap-up: At the end of group sessions, instructors will explain the following week's lesson, answer questions, and occasionally assign a lesson to complete at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at instructor@starlightmidland.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What should participants wear?

Participants should dress appropriately for the weather, as we do not have heat or A/C in the arena. Riders should wear long pants and closed toe shoes or boots. We supply riding helmets, which must be worn at all times around the horses. Jewelry and hair ornaments can catch on the horse’s mane and tail and should not be worn to lessons. A simple tie back is fine to keep hair away from the rider’s face.

Are helmets required? what happens if my child won't wear a helmet?

Helmets are required for participation. We understand that wearing a helmet can be unsettling for some people. If wearing the helmet is an ongoing struggle for students, we will lend them a helmet to practice wearing at home to help them acclimate.

are there individuals who aren't candidates for therapeutic riding?

Starlight reserves the right to determine if a person is suitable for our program. We work with people at various functional levels and with a broad range of disabilities. However, there are some circumstances we may not be able to accommodate, including, but not limited to the following:

Weight: The horses we use have weight limits, and we may not be able to offer mounted lessons to a rider with a weight above 150 pounds. (However, groundwork, grooming, and leading a horse may be available and beneficial.)
Uncontrolled Seizure: If a person is experiencing regular, uncontrolled seizures, they may not ride.
Abusive behavior: Many people who struggle to control their behavior find that they can control abusive behaviors while riding, but continued abusive behavior can create an unsafe situation.
Shunts: Helmets are mandatory, and people with shunts may not be able to wear helmets.
Physical conditions: A person must be able to hold their body up while sitting on the horse. Some spinal conditions may not be suitable for therapeutic riding.

Are there age Restrictions?

Therapeutic riding is generally offered for riders starting at age six, but we do occasionally allow exceptions. We also work with youth and adults.

what is the difference between therapeutic riding and hippotherapy?

As a therapeutic horsemanship program, we are not a hippotherapy program. Hippotherapy utilizes the horse's movement to enhance the treatment goals of an individual as set by a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, or Speech-Language Pathologist, who is present during the service. Therapeutic riding is an equine-assisted activity for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals with special needs.

Lesson overview

What to expect

Frequently Asked Questions

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