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Welcome:
Welcome and Thank you for your interest in therapeutic riding.
On this website you will find information and forms, which must be filled out and returned prior to enrollment.
Ohio Therapeutic Horsemanship (OTH) is a non-profit therapeutic horsemanship program, which creates a supportive and dynamic environment for the development of children and adults living in Brown and the surrounding counties. Through the use of the horse, physical, psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and communicational goals are achieved and personal strengths are emphasized.
Our students are often challenged by various conditions including developmental and learning disabilities, autism and other spectrum disorders, sight and hearing deficits. Their ages range from preschool through adult years.
Physicians, therapists, teachers and friends refer students to OTH. OTH's Instructors are NARHA certified and design individual lesson plans for each student tailored to their ability level. Through a variety of horse-related activities, our students realize many benefits that can include greater confidence, self-awareness, increased balance, muscle strength and self-esteem.
OTH offers a year round program that includes group and individual riding lessons. For more specific information on these programs, please contact Dan Mitchell at 513-543-8138 or by e-mail danielpaulmitchell@yahoo.com
ENROLLMENT
Please completely fill out all of the forms and have all appropriate parties sign them.
Once the forms have been completed, return them to OHIO THERAPUETIC HORSEMANSHIP to the attention of Student Admissions. After the forms have been received, you will be contacted and an initial pre-ride evaluation will be scheduled when a lesson time becomes available.
After the pre-ride evaluation, the type of lesson (group or individual) will be determined with the clients' and program schedule.
LESSON FEES
Group Classes are taught by certified instructors on a weekly basis in 6 week sessions and are limited to no more than 4 riders-Six week session costs $180.00
A one hour block of time is reserved for group lessons, which consists of 35-40 minutes on the horse and 10-15 minutes for mounting and dismounting, horsemanship, and/or discussion with parent(s)/caretaker(s).
Payment must be made in full at the beginning of each session unless other arrangements have been made.
Rider scholarships are available on a limited basis for those who qualify.
Ground Lessons are scheduled on an individual and space available basis. Weekly for a 6 week session costs $120.00.
OTH does provide ground lessons for those individuals who are unable to participate in riding.
Ground lessons may include grooming, tacking, leading, and general horsemanship education and other barn related activities. These lessons provide many therapeutic benefits, new learning experiences, and opportunities to bond with horses.
ATTIRE
ALL students are required to wear approved ASTM/SEI safety helmets while mounted or when working around horses.
Please wear appropriate footwear, boots with a hard soled heal and leather sole are preferred - NO open toed shoes!
Long pants are strongly recommended.
Dress for comfort and according to the weather.
VOLUNTEERS
We are fortunate to have these committed individuals help with lessons, horse care, and many of the responsibilities of keeping our lessons at a high quality.
Interested parents and caregivers, who would like to volunteer, can contact OTH directly at 513-543-8138 or email Dan from the bottom of this page.
SAFETY RULES
Our program has an excellent safety record. Please read and observe our barn safety rules!
Enclosed in your forms is the OTH Barn and Safety Rules sheet, please read and explain these rules to you child.
Both parents and students are required to sign the OTH Barn and safety rules in the presence of OTH staff.
Visiting Dogs and smoking are not permitted on OTH property.
WEIGHT POLICY: We cannot safely accept participants over 200 pounds.
Unfortunately, riding is not an appropriate activity for everybody and we have occasionally had to decline services to those for whom riding is contraindicated. As a NARHA(North American Riding for the Handicapped Assoc.) center member, we must follow NARHA guidelines.
Contraindicated is a condition or factor that increases the risks involved in participation in this program.
According to NARHA guidelines, riding is contraindicated if:
The staff is unable to safely manage the client in any situation, including an emergency dismount.
Safety or comfort of the horse is compromised.
OTH does provide ground lessons for those individuals who are unable to participate in riding.
Ground lessons may include grooming, tacking, leading, and general horsemanship education and other barn related activities.
These lessons provide many therapeutic benefits, new learning experiences, and opportunities to bond with horses.
Your family members and friends are encouraged and welcome to visit-when lessons are in progress and horses are out, guests are required to remain in the appropriate spectator area. Family and friends are responsible to abide by OTH barn and safety rules.
RIDER SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
If you need financial assistance, we have a limited number of scholarships available for those who quality. It is our policy to keep our services accessible, so please contact OTH directly, if you are in need of assistance to help cover the costs of your lessons.
A scholarship application must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the session's start.
REFUNDS & CANCELLATIONS
Please call if you can not make your scheduled time as soon as possible (24 hours is ideal) so that we do not have horses, volunteers and instructors waiting on you.
Two "no call/no shows" in a session may result in you being asked to forfeit your spot in the lesson.
Please arrive on time or a few minutes early for your lesson. We will make every effort to accommodate each rider; however, late arrivals may result in not being able to ride that day.
If OTH has to cancel a lesson, we will make every effort to re-schedule that lesson time. If a make-up lesson is not possible, a $20.00 credit will be allowed for those riders who are not riding on a scholarship.
No monetary refunds or credits are given to riders who are absent from lessons.
POSSIBLE REASONS FOR DISCHARGE
Occasionally it is necessary for an existing (current) rider to be discharged.
OTH does not have a suitable horse for the rider.
OTH does not have the staff to serve the rider within the established safety guidelines (staff is consisted of instructors, volunteers and therapists)
The rider's weight exceeds the maximum weight limit of 200 pounds.
The rider has developed a contraindication; this could be temporary due to emergency surgery or permanent due to an accident which just by setting on the back of a moving horse, raises safety issues or concerns.
Rider and/or Rider's family violates the OTH barn and safety rules.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please call OTH at 513-543-8138 or e-mail Dan from the bottom of the page. We look forward to having you ride with us!
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