Making dreams come true…it’s what we do.
Dream Catchers has been very fun for me! It’s something I can do when my friends are playing sports that I am not allowed to play. Horseback riding is something that I love! I’ve always loved horses since I was a little girl and Dream Catchers has been the greatest thing to happen to me. I’ve learned a lot, and everyone is so nice. They’ve got some great horses, too!
—Mollie Trainum (age 12)
Our Programs
We offer services to people who come as part of a group, such a classroom of students receiving special education or military service members in our Horses For Heroes program. These groups come for two hours each week for an average of ten weeks. The two-hour period allows participants in these groups to gain the maximum benefit from the experience of working on the ground with the horses and riding.
We also provide lessons to individuals who we put into groups. These group lessons are for one hour. If a student’s needs cannot be accommodated in a group, we will teach that person in an individual lesson.
A PATH certified instructor will lead the lesson that is designed for the specific needs of the rider(s). The lessons are on a weekly basis and last about one hour. During that lesson, the rider will be instructed on horsemanship, grooming, tacking and mounted riding skills. The skills addressed each week are determined by the rider’s capabilities and their assigned instructor. Our primary goal at Dream Catchers is to move each rider towards greater independence, and to be there to support them in whatever way needed as they pursue their dreams.
Students at Dream Catchers have been diagnosed with a variety of disabilities that include cognitive, physical, developmental, and emotional challenges. Below are the most common including and not limited to:
- Asperger’s Syndrome
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Cerebral Palsy
- Development Delays
- Sensory Integration Disorder
- Seizure Disorders
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Bi-Polar Disorder
- Down Syndrome
- Traumatic Brain/Spinal Chord Injury
- Stroke
- PTSD
Horses for Heroes
