FAQ
Therapeutic/adaptive riding is an equine-assisted activity that contributes positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of participants. Riders can expect a safe and enjoyable environment that will help them experience the benefits of horseback riding and horsemanship skills, while working constructively on physical, cognitive, mental, and emotional challenges. Therapeutic/adaptive riding provides benefits in the areas of health, education, sport, recreation and leisure. We strive to offer our participants the opportunity to do a safe, athletic activity which, like any sport, requires them to develop good balance, muscle strength and coordination. The accepting nature and tolerant personality of the horse encourages riders to test the limits of their abilities and learn to make good choices under the guidance of specially trained and qualified instructors and volunteers. Therapeutic/adaptive riding activities take place while mounted or on the ground in lessons conducted by specially trained instructors with the help of trained volunteers. Individuals learn equestrian skills while working on cognitive, emotional, social or behavioral components. Riders also work on improving fine and gross motor skills, balance, strength, coordination, proprioception, tactile senses and teamwork. A doctor’s prescription is not required to participate in therapeutic/adaptive riding lessons.
There are many benefits that riders experience from participating in therapeutic riding. Riders increase their fine motor skills when they adjust their reins. Getting on and off the horse can increase gross motor skills. While the horse moves forward and sways side to side, the riders involuntarily use many core muscles than you would normally use by walking or sitting, therefore improving their core strength. Riding also helps improve balance and coordination, social skills, and sensory integration. The whole experience can also improve a rider’s confidence, while they conquer their fears, make new friends and enjoy themselves.
Due to the capacities of staff, volunteer leaders and sidewalkers, program horses, insurance requirements and industry standards, LTRC can accommodate participants that meet our eligibility requirements, including but not limited to:
- Diagnosis: LTRC is open to the public and participation does not require a diagnosis.
- Medical Clearance: Participants with a diagnosis must have medical clearance from their physician with no contraindications to riding in order to participate. Participants must have registration paperwork, including medical forms signed by physician, complete and on file, prior to participation. A prescription is not required.
- Age Policy: Lessons at LTRC are available to riders starting at age 3. There is no age maximum.
- Weight Policy: A weight limit policy is imperative to ensure the safety of humans and horses while mounting, dismounting or in the event of an emergency dismount.
- LTRC maintains a strict weight limit of 200 pounds (subject to change). Not all LTRC horses can carry this weight.
- Accommodation of a rider at the top of the weight limit is at the discretion of LTRC staff and dependent on the availability of an appropriate horse, staff members and volunteers.
- Riders at the top of the weight limit must be able to help with dismounting themselves in an emergency situation and not be completely reliant on anyone to get them off.
- For participants over the weight limit, groundwork opportunities (no riding) are available.
- Registration Paperwork: Current, complete and accurate registration information including medical history and physician’s statement of release must be on file at least 2 weeks prior to first lesson. LTRC must be informed of any changes or issues in health status. Registration paperwork is required to be updated each calendar year.
PRECAUTIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS & CONSIDERATIONS
LTRC retains the right, at any time, to refuse any participant that cannot be safely accommodated. Considerations include, but are not limited to:
- Change in client’s weight or health status that cannot be safely managed by staff, volunteers and/or therapy horses, on the ground, in the saddle and in an emergency dismount situation.
- Change in client’s medical, physical, cognitive or emotional condition that is a contraindication to therapeutic riding or threatens the health or well-being of participants, horses, volunteers or staff.
- Experience and expertise of the available instructor to address the needs of the participant.
- A suitable equine for the participant, proper equipment, and availability of the appropriate number of volunteers for the participant.
- Conduct endangering another participant, staff, volunteer, equine, themselves or other.
- Repeated failure to follow established guidelines or policies.
- Weight gain above the maximum capacity of the program horses available at the time.
- Repeated absences without notification.
- Failure to pay in accordance with LTRC’s Payment Policy stated in this handbook.
- Achieving a proficiency in riding such that the participant would be better served in a traditional riding program for non-disabled participants.
- A change in medical condition in which it is no longer safe or beneficial for a participant to continue.
Safety is our number 1 priority! We follow strict safety guidelines to provide a safe, fun environment.
- LTRC instructors are certified/trained therapeutic riding instructors and are CPR/AED trained.
- LTRC volunteers are required to go through a mandatory orientation and training.
- Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and are subject to a criminal background check.
- All riders have a leader and up to two sidewalkers at all times during their lesson.
- All riders must wear approved horseback riding helmets & close toed shoes.
- Riders use adaptive equipment (described below) as needed.
- First aid kits and fire extinguishers are located throughout the facility.
- Smoking is prohibited on the property.
- AED unit is located in the main office.
All riders are required to wear ASTM-SEI approved equestrian riding helmets while riding, grooming, or working with the horses. Bike, skateboarding, skiing etc. helmets are NOT permitted. LTRC provides helmets, sanitized between uses. If you wish to purchase a helmet, search on line for "equestrian riding helmet" and look for one with a adjustable dial in the back. Brands such as Troxel, One K and Ovation are affordable, quality helmets that can be ordered on-line or found at most equestrian supply stores. If you have questions about purchasing a helmet, please ask.
- Footwear: The best footwear for riding is hard soled riding or hiking boots with a small heel. Sneakers may also be worn. Wear socks! Footwear must have closed toes with backs and be sturdy. Open-toed shoes, including sandals, crocs, flip-flops or clogs are not acceptable. If you are not wearing appropriate footwear, you will not be allowed to ride.
- Clothing: Clothing should be comfortable and weather appropriate. Wear clothes you won’t mind getting dirty or hairy. Dress in layers that you can shed as you ride, especially during cooler months.
- Long pants, regardless of the weather, are highly recommended to protect your legs from being rubbed by the saddle. Nylon “windbreaker” type pants are discouraged, as they are very slick. Shorts, skirts, and dresses are NOT recommended.
Click here for info about equipment used in therapeutic riding, including the safety equipment described in the next question.
Safety stirrups with quick release bands are used on all saddles. Adaptive equipment including gait belts and vests are used for extra support, as well as speciality reins and saddle pads. Depending on the rider’s needs, typical English or Western saddles, vaulting surcingles or modified saddles that offer extra support and stability are used. All riders get on their horse with the help of the instructor and volunteers from the mounting ramp, mounting block or electronic lift system. Riders do not mount from the ground. The mounting assistance methods (mounting block or mounting ramp) allow ambulatory and non-ambulatory riders to be at the same height as the horse’s back. Riders are then assisted in dismounting, one at a time, with assistance from the instructor.
Our “good citizen” horses are selected for soundness, temperament, willingness and a patient attitude. We use a calm, respectful approach when working with them, and our horses are trained to accommodate youth and adults of all ability levels to both ride and work with on the ground. LTRC horses are specially trained therapy horses, chosen for their calm, patient demeanor. They have a personality that is accepting of diverse situations including, but not limited to, a rider that may not be balanced, is very vocal or uses a wheelchair or walker.
Absolutely! In fact, the majority of our participants have no experience with horses and some have never seen one in person! Lothlorien is a great place to have a positive, safe experience with horses and to experience something new!
It's OK to be afraid or apprehensive. If you think you will be unsure, call us and set up a meet and greet before your session begins. Meet the horses, take a tour, ask questions, GET COMFORTABLE. We will NEVER force anyone to participate. The horses and staff at LTRC will help put you at ease at your own pace.
Horses are picked based on the participant’s size, therapeutic needs and the availability of horses. When possible, horses and students are matched based on personality and ability and kept together as a team throughout their session, but that cannot be guaranteed.
Lessons are held in a group format, with up to 3 riders per lesson. Riders arrive 10-15 minutes prior to their lesson, get their helmet and go to the indoor or outdoor arena. Riders will be called into the mounting area one at a time and the instructor will assist with mounting the horse from the mounting ramp, block or lift. All riders have a leader for their horse and up to 2 sidewalkers, depending on how much assistance they need to sit safely and comfortable on their horse. Sidewalkers walk next to the rider to offer hand-over-leg stability or as a spotter to offer verbal support. Lesson activities focus on safety and fun and may include playing basketball, learning how to steer, playing tag, bowling, letter scavenger hunts, working on balance, completing puzzles and word games and much more! Riders work on their individual goals during group and individual activities and have so much fun, they don’t realize they are working. At the end of the lesson, riders are helped off their horse one by one (dismounted) and escorted out of the arena.
Family and friends are always welcome to watch lessons from the viewing area outside the indoor or outdoor arena. Caregivers must remain on site during lessons and children must be supervised.
ABSOLUTELY! Volunteering is a chance to meet new people, enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise! As a non-profit, we rely on volunteers to walk with riders, but there are times that scheduled sidewalkers cannot attend lessons. In order to accommodate all riders and to ensure that clients ride on a consistent basis, we are always looking for caregivers who are interested in sidewalking during a session with their rider or with another rider in the lessons they attend. You can be a sidewalker for an entire session or sidewalk as needed as a substitute. Sidewalkers are asked to walk for most of the lesson and at times jog or walk briskly, while assuring their rider is safely seated on their horse. Minimum age is 14. No experience necessary. Training provided. Must wear close toed shoes. Please let us know when you register if you are interested.
Call 716-655-1335 or 716-333-LTRC (5872) to register. Registration is first come, first serve. A welcome packet with registration forms is mailed out once you register and must be completed once per calendar year and on file prior to first lesson. Full payment is due on or before first lesson. There are several lesson day and time options available. Registration for multiple sessions is available, but the same days/times across sessions are not guaranteed.
Lothlorien offers 8-week and 4-week sessions in a group lesson format with up to 3 riders per group. Riders ride for one-hour per week on the same day and time during the session(s) they are signed up for:
- 4-week session group lesson fee: $240.
- 8-week session group lesson fee: $480.
A non-refundable $50 deposit per session you are registered for is due prior to session start. The deposit goes towards your full session payment. Deposit invoice is sent with your registration packet. Session invoices are sent prior to each session your are registerd for. The session balance is due on or before the first day of the session. Full payment for lessons are due before services are performed. Non-payment may result in a delay in the start of services.
LTRC provides tuition assistance based on financial need and has never turned away a rider who cannot self-pay due to their financial situation. Tuition assistance requests must be completed prior to the start of a session and cannot be awarded once a session starts. For more information and application call 716-655-1335 or visit lothlorientrc.org.
Services at LTRC are NOT covered by health insurance, however some insurance companies accept our program as a reimbursable expense. Check with your provider. LTRC does not accept health insurance, manage direct insurance billing or receive any reimbursements directly from insurance companies. Check with your Medicaid service coordinator for other funding options. We provide necessary documentation for reimbursement of tuition paid by client when requested.
If you are receiving OPWDD self-directed services, please ensure your fiscal intermediary is aware that you are registered for lessons at Lothlorien.
Lessons are held in all weather EXCEPT extreme heat, extreme cold, thunder and lightning or other inclement weather (i.e. freezing or heavy rain, flash flooding, high winds, heat or cold advisory, etc.). Lessons are cancelled at the discretion of LTRC and a makeup or credit is provided. Lessons are held in the outdoor arena whenever possible and moved to the indoor arena when needed.
A makeup or credit will be provided if a lesson is cancelled by LTRC. Lessons missed by a rider for any reason will not be offered a makeup or credit. Sessions are not pro-rated.
Cash, check or money order preferred. Please call 716-655-1335 for credit card payment info.