Horse SenseAbility (aka Wildstar Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy)

Horse SenseAbility is dedicated to helping children and young adults who have special needs, are at-risk or underserved develop confidence, resilient and essential life skills through meaningful interactions with horses.

We primarily serve youth who have experienced depression, anxiety, trauma, autism, economic hardship, or cognitive disabilities. By providing scholarships to a third of our families, we aim to make horses and riding accessible to children who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity due to their financial circumstances.

A recent survey of our 150+ families with an 80% response rate measured the effectiveness of with our programs. Caregivers reported a 94.2% improvement in overall well‑being and a 98% satisfaction rate.

Horse SenseAbility is seeking funding to continue to provide financial assistance to over a third of our participants, maintain the highest standard of care for our awesome equine partners and pay our instructors a respectful, living wage.bbb

Horse SenseAbility offers 6 core programs:

• Therapeutic Riding & Horsemanship Lessons are available year-round for children and young adults with autism spectrum disorder; emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues; experience with violence, abuse or trauma; or physical challenges such as genetic disorders, vision or hearing impairment, cerebral palsy or congenital birth defects.
• Occupational Therapy on Horseback incorporates equine movement into an individual’s treatment plan. This strategy, often called “hippotherapy,” is tailored to the needs of each patient and includes work in the spacious indoor arena and on our outdoor trail.
•  City to Saddle (summer only) gives 6- to 13-year-old children from underserved communities a chance to interact with horses and other farm animals in a relaxing rural setting. We offer this program at no charge to low-income families.
• Horse Tales (summer only) is a one-week reading and riding program designed for incoming 4th, 5th and 6th graders. Children learn about, care for and ride horses while building their reading and critical thinking skills through equine-themed literature.
• Wildstar Wranglers helps 18- to 24-year-olds with autism prepare for future employment and engage in meaningful work in a safe, supportive, supervised environment. The program teaches basic job skills, such as showing up, following directions, checking your work, accepting feedback, and communicating effectively with co-workers and supervisors.
• Hugo’s Pony Club for Preschoolers is an enrichment experience that introduces children aged 2 to 5 years old to the world of horses through interacting with our very small Shetland Pony Hugo, listening to stories and singing songs about horses and doing other horse-related activities.