Flying Manes Therapeutic Riding provides therapeutic riding lessons and other equine assisted activities and therapies to individuals faced with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges in the New York metropolitan area.

Therapeutic riding lessons allow children and adults with special needs to experience the many benefits of horseback riding. Lessons follow PATH guidelines and focus on developing riding skills, coordination, and strength through exercises and games, while improving riders cognitive, emotional, and social skills.  Riders are taught horsemanship skills appropriate for their age and level of ability as well as the foundations of equine behavior and equine care. Throughout all activities riders are encouraged to challenge themselves in new and exciting ways.

With the support of a PATH-certified instructor and a dedicated and experienced volunteer staff, Flying Manes participants receive a wide range of significant benefits including improvements in physical strength and range of motion, in balance, endurance, and flexibility, in their sensory motor integration and cognitive development as well as confidence and social skills.

Lessons are conducted in small groups of two to four riders organized by age, ability, and level of riding skills. Lessons last 30 or 60 minutes and include participation in appropriate pre-mounted and post-mounted activities, such as grooming, tacking, and general horsemanship in order to complement the benefits participants receive from therapeutic riding. Where it is beneficial, therapeutic riding and unmounted activities are enhanced through the applied practices of licensed physical, occupational, and speech therapists that support Flying Manes activities in order to maximize the benefits for participants.

All horses used in Flying Manes program activities are sound, of calm temperament, and have rhythmic and balanced gaits. The horses are individually chosen according to the riders size, weight, and abilities.

Prospective Participants

Flying Manes accepts participants of the age of four years and older and with a variety of special needs. Prospective participants or their legal guardian complete an application, including a medical history form filled out and signed by their physician. Upon receipt of the completed application, Flying Manes staff assesses the applicants eligibility, which is predominantly determined in the context of precautions and contraindications to equine assisted activities and therapies as established by PATH. Accepted participants will be enrolled in the program as soon as an opening in an appropriate class with any necessary therapist support and appropriate horse or pony becomes available.

If an applicant is accepted into the program, short-term and long-term therapeutic goals are established based on the participants physical, educational, and recreational objectives, and the progress toward these goals is traced over the duration of the term.

Weekly riding lessons run for a term of twelve weeks and are tuition based. The current lesson fees of $900 for a twelve-week term cover approximately 50% of our costs, while the remainder is covered by donations. Flying Manes is committed to enrolling participants regardless of financial means and offers additional assistance to those unable to pay the established lesson fees.

Flying Manes currently offers therapeutic riding lessons on Saturdays. If you are interested in therapeutic riding lessons on weekdays we encourage you to contact our friends at GALLOP Therapeutic Riding in Brooklyn.

For more information about our program or for an application to participate in Flying Manes program please email us atinfo@flyingmanes.org or call us at (718) 679-5354.