There are both mounted and ground-based lesson opportunities.  

During the application & evaluation process we will help determine which program is a best fit for your goals and your needs. 

Mounted clients participate in a blend of both mounted and ground activities with an emphasis on time in the saddle pending weather and goals & objectives of the lesson. 

Ground clients participate exclusively on the ground with no riding. 

Yes. In general, Wings of Hope has a waiting list that can be 12+ months or more. You may complete an interest form so that we can reach out once scheduling opportunities are available. 

We serve children and adults, ages 4 and older, with any physical, mental or emotional diagnosis.  You must have a formal diagnosis from a medical healthcare professional to participate in either of the mounted or ground based programs! A diagnosis is not required for field trip, team building or summer camp. 

Client Eligibility: All weekly mounted and ground based clients must be at least 4 years of age, and must have a diagnosed disability from a licensed medical healthcare professional. In addition, specific criteria must be met depending upon the program of participation. 

Mounted Therapeutic Horsemanship Eligibility

Must have a diagnosed disability.

Must be 175lbs or less.

Must be able to wear a helmet for the duration of the lesson and have head and neck control.

Must have the ability to sit independently off of the horse. 

Must be able to sit independently on the horse without fully relying on the assistance of another to be upright for the duration of the lesson. 

A varied degree of assistance can be provided by volunteers as a side walker, but the maximum level of support will be based on client weight and size, for safety purposes.

Clients needing full support from 1 or 2 side walkers must be less than 100lbs.

No outward acts of aggression towards others or the horse.

Must be able or willing to stay on the horse for an hour, in an arena or out on the trail, without trying to dismount.

Must be able to mount the horse at the ramp or at the block in a safe and timely manner.

Ground-based Therapeutic Horsemanship Program Eligibility

Must have a diagnosed disability.

Must be able to navigate the terrain of uneven ground.

No outward acts of aggression towards others or the horse.

Must be able or willing to stay with the instructor and horse in a pasture or stall area without trying to elope.

A wide variety of disabilities and challenges are served at Wings of Hope. Any individual navigating any type of diagnosed physical, mental or emotional challenge, disability or diagnosis is served. Such as but not limited to: Autism, Bi-Polar, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Premature Birth, PTSD, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, and so much more. 

Clients must be 4 or older to begin. There is no maximum age restriction. 

 Riders participating in mounted therapeutic riding must be 175 lbs. or lighter. 

For the safety of both horse and rider, clients who require full support or significant physical assistance while riding must weigh less than 100 pounds to participate in mounted therapeutic riding.

In order to ensure the safety of both our participants and our horses, our program requires that riders meet certain minimum support criteria.

Riders must be considered minimal support for their size and weight, based on what individual horses are able to safely carry. For our program a client who is needing full support from 2 side walkers must weigh less than 100 lbs. 

We are able to accomodate riders over 100 lbs who do need minimal to moderate support, meaning:

The rider does not require a sidewalker on both sides; only a horse leader and one sidewalker who is available for emergency support.

The rider can sit up independently without assistance.

The rider can maintain balance and remain centered in the saddle without needing ongoing adjustments from the sidewalker.

Yes we can! All programs are tailored to all abilities. You do not need to walk on your own to participate. Many of our riders use wheelchairs. However, for safety, you must be able to sit on and off the horse without support and have steady trunk, core, and neck control for therapeutic riding. 

For mounted therapeutic riding we have a ramp to accommodate the horse and rider team.  From there, our horses, staff, and volunteers are specially trained to safely assist or lift riders onto the horse. 

For ground-based horsemanship, you can participate while using a wheelchair or any assistive device. You’ll need to be able to safely navigate uneven terrain in the pasture and barn/stall areas.

One single form is to be completed by a medical healthcare professional. All participants in Wings of Hope's weekly mounted and ground based therapeutic programs must have a diagnosed disability or challenge by a medical healthcare professional.  

This form can be completed by any licensed healthcare professional such as but not limited to your primary care physician, psychiatrist, pediatrician, neurologist, counselor, etc. 

For weekly individual mounted and ground based horsemanship clients we operate September through May pending weather, with lessons Monday-Thursday morning, afternoon and evening. We are closed on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. 

Mounted lessons are 1 hour and are offered in a group format of up to 4 clients. Ground Based lessons are private 30 minutes. 

As a weekly individual mounted or ground based horsemanship client you must commit to the same day/time weekly.  Applications are accepted pending overall scheduling availability or an interest for is available and you are placed on a waiting list. 

Seasonal scheduling is available through mounted and ground based Summer camps that are provided during the mornings only in June - July during the peak of Texas summer heat. No weekly services are scheduled in August for individuals.   

If a client is unable to attend their weekly scheduled lesson, 24-hour advance notice is required to help ensure volunteer retention.  Clients are allotted 8 absences in a year. 

If you are running late for your lesson you must call and let the office know. We ask that you arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your lesson therefore you must be present at the start of your lesson or you will be considered absent for the day and your horse and team will no longer be available. 

Lessons are billed to individuals at the rate of $77.43 and subsidized to $50 per lesson for self pay clients who do not have an outside third party payor full filling their bill. Lessons are scheduled once per week and billed the firsrt of the month following the previous months lessons. 

If you receive services/funding through a waiver program such as CLASS, TEFA, SSES, etc. Wings of Hope can bill these agencies for your services at the rate of $77.43 per lesson.  Applications for Financial Aid are available upon request and available for individuals who meet our financial assistance criteria! 

At this time, therapeutic horsemanship is considered recreational for pleasure and not accepted as billable through insurance. However,  a number of other resources are available to families through state & local agencies and waiver programs. 

Financial aid information may be requested and discussed further during the initial evaluation meet & greet so that no client attending as a weekly individual is ever turned away for inability to pay.

Participants will need to bring water and wear closed-toe shoes, tall socks, long pants, and appropriate outerwear condusive to being outdoors. Riding or cowboy boots are not  required but are encouraged. 

An ASTM/SEI equestrian riding helmet is mandatory for all therapeutic riding  lessons.  A helmet is made available for all participants. Clients may use one of the provided helmets or use their own ASTM/SEI equestrian riding helmet which needs to be less than 5 years old from the manufacturer date located inside the helmet. Any helmet involved in an incident must be disposed of. 

 To start the process, you must complete an online interest form which consists of completing forms with goals, abilities, challenges etc. to be completed by the client or parent/guardian. 

There is one form to be completed and signed by a medical healthcare professional that is to be completed as your name approaches the top of the waiting list. 

Our waiting list currently includes 75+ individuals, and our program only has the capacity to serve approximately 75 individuals each week. Because of this, wait times can vary significantly and are generally 6 months to 1–2 years, depending on when an opening becomes available.

Openings are primarily created when a current client leaves the program. You may submit an intererest form and join the waiting list, as availability can change, and we will reach out if services become available that match your noted scheduling availability on the interest form.

1.) After you submit your interest form online you will be placed on the waiting list. 

2.) You will hear from a member of our team for next steps as your name approaches the top of the waiting list. 

3.) Once your name is closer to the top of the waiting list we will coordinate your submission of a new client application and medical healthcare statement. and then schedule a meet & greet evaluation to be set up at Wings of Hope. 

4.)  Once we receive the signed medical healthcare statement  we will then schedule a meet & greet evaluation at Wings of Hope. 

5) A staff member will call you and set up an evaluation. There is no charge for the evaluation. It is typically 30 minutes and is a tour of the facility and an opportunity to discuss your goals and needs in depth. 

6) Complete evaluation and discuss scheduling. 

7) Clients are added to the schedule after the completion of an evaluation pending schedule/volunteer availability.

The evaluation is a no cost meet & greet at Wings of Hope to discuss your goals, abilities, challenges, any concerns, scheduling, etc.  The prospective client and family will join a staff member at the barn for a tour of the facility and to meet horses. You will not ride during the evaluation. Evaluations typically last 30 minutes to an hour. 

We encourage you to contact our office at programs@wingsofhopehorses.org or text/call 817-783-3805 with any questions.