Veterans Horsemanship

Ride for Joy offers both riding and groundwork-based lessons to veterans and military personnel in order to promote healing and wellness among those who have served. Participating in horsemanship can have many benefits, including improved strength, balance, coordination, focus, confidence, and mental and emotional health.

Within the Veterans Horsemanship program, we strive to foster a community for veterans of all ages to connect and learn together. Activities include:

  • Learning to observe and understand equine behavior

  • Grooming, tacking, and caring for our equine partners

  • Riding and groundwork skills

Each lesson is planned and facilitated by a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor or Instructor-in-Training*. Instructors individualize lessons with activities that are tailored to each participant’s goals, abilities, and interests.

* Instructor-in-Training is an official PATH Intl. classification signifying an instructor candidate who is in the process of becoming certified.

Ride for Joy works to ensure that Veterans Horsemanship is provided at no cost to those who have served and thanks the sponsors who make this possible.

Groundwork

Learning how to work with your horse on the ground is an essential part of horsemanship. We’ll learn to communicate with a horse using body language, and we’ll practice leading, yielding, liberty work, and more.

Eligibility

  • Any veteran or military personnel

  • Ability to groom and lead a horse on a sandy surface

Riding

Spend time in the saddle while advancing your riding skills. We’ll practice navigating obstacle courses, drill team patterns, trail riding, and more.

Eligibility

  • Any veteran or military personnel

  • Weight limit of 200 lbs.

  • Physically able to sit with torso vertical and legs astride the horse

  • Physically able to maintain head and neck position without assistance

  • Presence of seizures may impact safety

Safety is a priority at Ride for Joy, and each application is carefully screened to determine whether there are any contraindications that would make equine-assisted activities inappropriate for the applicant. 

SCHEDULING

Lessons are offered on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings in four-week and eight-week sessions, which are scheduled throughout the year. Please check the Calendar of Events for session dates.

Throughout each session, participants attend once per week during their scheduled lesson time. Horsemanship classes are 75 minutes and are typically taught in small groups (2-3 participants), depending on the availability of staff, horses, and volunteers.

Sign Up

  1. To sign up for Veterans Horsemanship, please complete the New Student Application and have your medical provider submit the Medical Release Form.

  2. Email your application to info@rideforjoy.org, fax to (208)-550-3208, or mail to 28379 El Paso Rd. Caldwell, ID 83607.

  3. Upon receiving your application and medical release form, Ride for Joy will schedule an in-person new participant evaluation.

Returning veterans: Please complete a Returning Student Application annually

QUESTIONS?

Please contact info@rideforjoy.org