The following programs are offered by LTR to people of all types of abilities and needs to harness the therapeutic benefits of horsemanship.

Therapeutic Riding

Therapeutic riding is widely recognized as beneficial for people with various needs. Specifically, it helps develop self-awareness and build self-confidence, improve concentration and increase self-discipline, strengthen and relax muscles, improve posture, while increasing core strength, balance, coordination, and joint mobility.

Equine Services for Heroes

In response to the growing need for therapies for veterans, the Equine Services for Heroes program uses equine-assisted activities to aid wounded warriors in recovery. Participants of the program often have diagnoses like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI), both of which can have global effects on physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral health.

Hippotherapy

Physical therapy (incorporating hippotherapy as a treatment tool). Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes. In conjunction with other treatment strategies, hippotherapy is part of a patient’s integrated care plan.

Silver Spurs

We partner with senior assisted living communities and the Leesburg Senior Center to provide equine assisted activities to address the unique needs of our county’s senior citizens who may or may not be in residential care, rehab facilities, or other long-term care settings. Equine assisted activities can help seniors reconnect with memories, improve fine motor function and provides a fun new opportunity for social interaction!

Carriage Driving

In addition to riding lessons, Loudoun Therapeutic Riding offers a carriage and cart driving program for those participants who cannot, or choose not to sit, astride a horse, yet can still benefit from the interaction with the horse and the equine activity.

Equine Assisted Learning

Equine-assisted learning (EAL) promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional and personal goals through experiential learning with horses and does not require riding. EAL uses equine-human interaction to meet the goals or desires of the participant(s). Working with horses provides opportunities to teach trust, respect, honesty and communication as horses are very in-tune to our non-verbal cues and emotions.

Horse Power Social Hours

Horse Power Social Hours is designed to supplement riding lessons or be an introduction to the other programs LTR offers. It is a six-week, groundwork based program that focuses on strengthening the connection we have with each other through our connection with the horses. Students will work within a group to learn more about grooming, tacking, leading, and interacting with our herd. In the process, they will focus on skills that encourage connection, socialization, teamwork, and self-care.

Appreciating the power of the horse to change lives is our goal and PATH Intl. wants to provide positive change for these very special lives. Our service personnel have fought to preserve our freedom, and, for many, at a very dear cost. We must be certain that if our wounded service personnel and veterans need and want this kind of help, they will get the best PATH Intl. has to offer. — Dr. Paul Spiers, Past President PATH International