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“Since beginning at Giant Steps, her therapy hours per week reduced from nine hours to three, and her behavior at home is so much better that I can care for her by myself instead of regularly needing an assistant.  She’s much happier–she has been getting repeat invites for playdates and we even had a successful slumber party!  That’s a first!  And such a normal activity for an 11 year old girl!”

-Mother of rider living with reactive detachment disorder, age 11

Giant Steps Programs

Adaptive riding is extraordinarily versatile, as is groundwork and our other programming. Over its many years, Giant Steps has served riders with more than 60+ distinct disabilities, encompassing physical, developmental, cognitive, and behavioral challenges. Over time we have developed various programs to serve the many clients who come to us in pursuit of a more independent life. Here you can discover which program is best suited for your needs.

ADAPTIVE RIDING

Adaptive  riding enhances the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of individuals with disabilities through lessons teaching horseback riding and general horsemanship skills. More…

EQUINE FACILITATED LEARNING

Conducted in small groups, EFL consists of unmounted lessons that include engaging activities with horses that teach character development and reinforce life skills. More…

TAILORED EXPERIENCES

Customized experiences, ranging from one-day trips for members of the disabled community who are unable to ride but who want to interact with our horses, girls building leadership skills over the course of More…

Please note: GPS may not get you to the right location, so use the link below for directions. Look for the Sonoma Horse Park sign on Lakeville Highway.

Adaptive Riding

In therapeutic riding, PATH certified instructors teach equitation and horsemanship skills in mounted horseback riding lessons. As participants with disabilities ride, control and steer their horses they gain physical, cognitive, social and emotional benefits including:

Helps with
Following Instructions

Promotes
Strength

Increases
Flexibility

Develops
Balance

Improves
Coordination

Encourages
Problem Solving

Improves
Motor Skills

Improves
Concentration

Builds
Self-Confidence

Develops
Social Skills

Who Can Ride

Minimum riding age is four. We are able to work with a wide range of disabilities. Common diagnoses include (but are not limited to):

  • ADD/ADHD
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Autism
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Developmental delays
  • Down syndrome
  • Learning disorders
  • Stroke/TBI

Program Tuition Information

Lessons are weekly, and are $71 each. Fees are for a full session, and are based on the number of included weeks. Missed lessons are not refundable.

Scholarships are available for those who qualify; please download the scholarship application below if you are interested in learning more.

Enroll Today!

If you would prefer a hard copy of the application, contact our Business Manager.

Solicitud en español

Equine Facilitated Learning

Conducted in small groups, Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) consists of unmounted lessons that include engaging activities with horses that teach character development and reinforce life skills. EFL is ideally suited to at-risk youth, trauma victims, veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder and other disabilities resulting from service, women’s groups, as well as individuals who are not able to participate in mounted lessons. Giant Steps staff collaborates with the group leader to establish specific goals for the group. A few of the benefits of EFL include:

Collaboration
and Teamwork

Communication

Confidence

Emotional
Identification

Perseverance

Self
Awareness

Awareness
of Others

Trust

Enroll Today!

If you would prefer a hard copy of the application, contact our Business Manager.

Solicitud en español

Tailored Experiences

Giant Steps welcomes groups for time-bound experiences, ranging from one-day field trips for members of the disabled community who are not able to ride but who want to interact with our horses and experience nature, girls building leadership skills over the course of a summer camp, to families of deployed members of the military who want to enjoy a fun family experience. These tailored experiences are developed in partnership with our clinical advisor, who is a licensed psychologist.

If you’d like to schedule a tailored experience, contact our Program Director.

Our programs are made possible by our sponsors and donors. Please consider donating today. GIVE NOW

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