Welcome
Rocking Horse Ranch Therapeutic Riding Program is a not-for-profit organization founded by Eileen Van Houten in 1991 that provides equine assisted activities and equine assisted therapy (HPOT) to children and adults with a variety of physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities. Students who participate in the program come from Pitt County as well as 13 surrounding counties in eastern North Carolina.
The ultimate goal of the program is to improve each rider's quality of life so that they can become more independent, productive and active members of the community. We are a member organization of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATHIntl).
Located at 1721 Blue Banks Farm Road in Greenville, North Carolina, Rocking Horse Ranch is 4 miles west of Vidant Medical Center just off of Hwy 43, and directly across from the Rock Springs Center.
Lessons are scheduled on weekdays from September to May and there is a limited summer program as well. Riders age 3 and up may self-refer to the program; medical authorization and an evaluation by our staff are required as part of the application process. Program components that are offered include therapeutic riding (individual or group lessons) and ground school, as well as group lessons focusing on equine facilitated mental health and learning, and interactive vaulting. For service veterans, we also offer our Equine Services for Heroes program, currently sponsored in full by the Grainger Foundation. Our staff of therapeutic riding instructors and therapists teach all of our lessons and supervise the many community volunteers who assist our riders during these lessons. Cost of the program is $25/lesson - a deposit is required at the time of application; scholarships may be available to low income students with appropriate income documentation. Community involvement, including volunteering with the lesson program, serving on the board, or helping with maintenance projects, as well as through financial support continues to be vital to the success of Rocking Horse Ranch.
You can find our spring, 2014 newsletter, Hoof Prints, at the link on our "News" page.
Each of our horses has a profile on our "Donate to RHR" page, under the Hearts for Horses link, where you will also find opportunities to help sponsor the care of our program horses.
For more information about riding or volunteering with Rocking Horse Ranch, or to become a donor, please call Malaika Albrecht, director, at (252) 752-0153 or email at info@rhrnc.com.
Rocking Horse Ranch is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charitable organization
Annual financial revenue/expense data and IRS Form 990's are available on Guidestar.org
For all the latest info on the barn, plus photos, visit us on Facebook!
