Spirit Ride Therapeutic Riding Center

We need you

Whether you want to provide a unique opportunity for your child, or feel drawn to volunteer - there is a place for you at Spirit Ride.

Amazon.com Wish List

If you prefer to give a specific gift, we have created an Amazon Wish List of high priority items needed to provide a safe, fun learning environment. The items are listed in order of priority so that we may continue to provide the most effective Therapeutic intervention possible. Special attention is provided to keep this list up to date and current for your convenience.

Rider and Horse Sponsorships

Because we believe strongly that each child with a challenging diagnosis derserves the opportunity to achieve greatness beyond expectations, we offer high quality Equine-assisted Services free of charge to ALL clients. Please click on this section to learn how you can sponsor a child or a horse. Will you help us help them?

Volunteer Training

NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all Volunteer Training dates have been postponed. Please email SpiritRideNC@gmail.com if you would like to be placed on the mailing list and receive the latest updates. Those wishing to volunteer must complete the Online SRTC Volunteer Certification Webinar. Topics covered are: Equine Safety, Overview of Exceptionalities, SRTC Procedures, and Best Practices for Working With Specific Populations. After successful completion of the course, volunteers may purchase a Spirit Ride T-Shirt at cost ($15.00) and be eliganle to join a Therapy Team.

CLIENT APPLICATIONS

NOTE: Due to COVID-19, we are enforcing safety protocols for the protection of our families, volunteers and animals. This may limit our ability to accept new clients at this time. Please email SpiritRideNC@gmail.com if you would like to be placed on the mailing list and receive the latest updates. To provide the most attentive atmosphere possible, there is only one client family on campus at any time. All lessons are private and individualzed. Therefore, the amount of clients we serve is limited. After registration closes, clients will be put on a waiting list and will be notified as soon as an opening becomes available. We encourage you to submit applications as soon as possible so that you will be closer to the “front of the line” on the waiting list for any session you wish to register for.

Spirit Ride is proud to have achieved the highest level of transparency via Guidestar.org. Guidestar is the nation's leading non-profit database and the first place one should visit to learn about a specific non-profit. Visit Guidestar and make an informed donation decision.

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What We Do

Equine-assisted learning in education involves the use of horses and Equine-assisted Services in an effort to achieve goals that enhance physical, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioral and educational skills for children with a wide array of diagnosis.

Research based, proven methods. Never a fee.

Spirit Ride is committed to providing private Equine-assisted Services free of charge to all accepted clients. Through working with the client’s Therapy Team (Educators, Community Professionals and Parents/Guardians) we are able to create an ideal environment relating to the individual client's specific needs. We give our undivided attention to the client and his/her equine partner for the entire duration of each session so that we may provide an opportunity to foster learning and personal growth (self-esteem, boundary setting, appropriate social interaction, as well as any cognitive or physical goals).

our mission
To provide children with special needs the opportunity to learn, grow and strive to become their ideal selves through equine related therapeutic activities.
Who we serve
Spirit Ride is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that serves Western North Carolina.
why it works
The movement and sensory stimuli produce measurable results, but the magic comes from the accessible spirit of the horse that naturally speaks to the human soul.
how you can help
Whether you want to provide a unique opportunity for your child, or feel drawn to donate or volunteer - there is a place for you at Spirit Ride.

Meet Our Therapists

WHOOPDEEDO is the most expressive horse we have ever known. He smiles, pouts, talks under his breath, and the kids crack up when he shakes his head up and down to say, "Yes!". He has a heart right on his cheek which is perfect for kisses and Whoop is so clever he even has his own Facebook page! For more information on how to sponsor Whoopdeedo for the 2021 season, please email SpiritRideNC@gmail.com

BROGAN is the newest member of the Spirit Ride herd. He was rescued by Horse Helpers of the High Country after being caught up in the annual Grayson Highlands feral pony roundup. Being separated from his mother at only two months old, he became depressed, wouldn't eat, and came down with pneumonia. Horse Helpers lovingly brought him back to good health and soon realized that he was great with children. We were fortunate to have been able to adopt him and raise him for a career in the therapeutic field. He LOVES his 'job' and is a very special and well loved little pony! Brogan is sponosred by the LaCapra Family. For information on how you can sponsor a horse for the 2021 season, email us at SpiritRideNC@gmail.com

JAX is the oldest member of the Spirit Ride herd. He was raised and trained by one of the country's top trainers, Jim Frazier. He loves to snuggle, has the sweetest 'hello' whinny and looks forward to finding lost snacks in wheelchairs. Jax is sponsored by the Chong Family. For information on sponsoring a horse for the 2018 season, please email SpiritRideNC@gmail.com

BUDDY is a 13.3 little pony, but don't let his size fool you - he's the herd leader at SRTC. He was rescued from a situation where he did not view people as beings who could care for him and treat him with love. Because of that, he understands our clients who have unfortunately had to live through similar situations. He can still be very guarded - but once you've earned his trust - he will follow you anywhere. Buddy is sponsored by the Hawk Family. For information on how you can sponsor a horse, please email us at: SpiritRideNC@gmail.com

Our Team

We have found our purpose.

Patty Adams, CEIP-ED

Executive Director

Patty is certified in EC Education (K-12) with a focus on SLD and HI. She received her Equine-Assisted Health Care certification in 2015 from SHI and CEIP-ED certification in 2017. Her love of horses, the arts, and education are a perfect fit for Spirit Ride!

Karen Chong

Chair of Development Committee

Karen comes to us with an extensive background in fundraising and leadership development. Having served as President of the Jr. League as well as serving on the board of organizations such as the Children’s Museum of Portland, OR, she is a valuable resource to Spirit Ride.

Mary Belanger

Curriculum Director

Mary Belanger, a retired educator from Watauga County and certified SpiritHorse Instructor, has a BAE in Elementary Education, a Masters in Gifted Education and is a Reading Specialist. Being a gifted educator who was born to teach, she was unable to stop teaching after retirement. Spirit Ride has given her the opportunity to enjoy her passion for horses and education and we are thrilled to have access to her vast experience.

Caila Hall

Board of Directors

Caila is has been an intregal part of Spirit Ride since it’s inaugural year. Her willingness to always do whatever it takes to get the job done is a valuable asset to her riders as well as to the organization as a whole. As a certified volunteer and horse handler, Caila can often be found training the horses after a lesson or brainstorming ways to make SRTC as effective as it can be!

Melissa Thomas

Assistant Instructor

Spirit Ride is excited to add Melissa Thomas to the Instructor Team. Missy is a local mom with two high energy boys and has lots of practice thinking on her feet! Her favorite thing about Spirit Ride is connecting with all the families and knowing no two days at SRTC will ever be the same!

Taya Lambert

Social Media Director

Taya, originally from Winston-Salem, NC, is a student at Appalachian State majoring in Psychology and minoring in studio art. Her hope is to go into art therapy or work for a non-profit after graduation. Taya says, “I have always felt like there is so much connection between nature, art, and human beings and from that there can be so much healing! I am so thankful to be apart of a group that incorporates so many of the things I love.”

I just wanted to thank you for your time and taking me on a hands-on experience to learn a bit more about your approach to learning with horses. A bit to my surprise, the experience had a profound impact on me personally and professionally. What I learned about myself, my own leadership and how it impacts others (including horses!) was probably one of the best leadership lessons of my career. As the largest provider of child care and early learning in our country, KinderCare focuses on providing the best environment possible to build confidence in young children. We have the privilege of supporting more than 170,000 families around the country and I only wish every one of our children/families had the benefit of experiencing the lessons learned at your Spirit Ride facility. Through your expertise, children learn how to build their own confidence and the confidence of those around them. This strength and empowerment has never been more important in today’s society. It is simply an unlock to children’s future success, and I don’t think I know any other program, (or leader), taking such a creative approach to making such a profound impact. Congratulations on building such an amazing program to support young women and children in your community. Keep up the great work!

Wei-Li Chong

President, KinderCare

In the month of October, I took my class to Spirit Ride for a day field trip. We are a k-3 Autism classroom with students who have varying abilities cognitively, in speech, motor skills, etc. We went on a chilly day, but to us it was all sunshine! My students had an absolute blast! Mrs. Patty had the entire day planned with fun activities that were accessible for all of my students. They experienced things they never have before. My students got to groom the horses, feed the goats and chickens, explore the stables, ride around in a Kubota to see the cows, walk on a sensory trail, play in a creek, swing, and play with purposeful toys for the farm indoors during lunch. My students made excellent transitions because of the fun and joy coming from Mrs. Patty and the resources she offered us that the students loved participating in. The farm was kept very clean, and each activity had a specific purpose. Mrs. Patty’s background in special education was very noticeable in the way she cared for my students. She and her husband offer a great service to our community. I highly recommend taking your child or a small group of students to Spirit Ride in order to further develop their skills.

Sonya Summey

Exceptional Child Education Teacher, Hardin Park Elementary

As the mother of a child with special health care needs, and an occupational therapist as well, I can’t say enough good things about what Spirit Ride has to offer. Through the use of horse-assisted therapy, Spirit Ride works towards improving skills such as balance, coordination, language acquisition, sequencing, and social skills, just to name a few. The children and families in our community are exceptionally fortunate to have Spirit Ride.

Elizabeth Jasper

MS, OTR/L, (Spirit Ride Mom and Volunteer)

I know first hand how horses are therapeutic. When my husband passed away, those beautiful creatures helped me out of my personal ‘Great Depression’. “My therapist lives in a barn” is such a truthful slogan. Horses provide physical, mental, social, and spiritual therapies. And they don’t charge much!

Kathy Hartman

RN, Spirit Ride Volunteer

Donating to Spirit Ride is a great way to celebrate the work that Patty and Craig and their dedicated team do on a daily basis to serve kids in need! Love Jim & Julie

Jim & Julie Roche

Sales Executive & Educator