River Valley Riders

For more information about our next volunteer training session: www.rivervalleyriders.org/volunteers

Our Organization

River Valley Riders is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to create a supportive community where people with special needs connect with horses and experience life-changing benefits.  We offer therapeutic horseback riding and carriage driving lessons and hippotherapy.

All of our lessons are open to students in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area and western Wisconsin. We are proud to say that our equine-assisted services are possible with the help of over 200 caring volunteers who dedicated over 5,800 hours annually! As a team, we work together to enhance the participant’s physical, cognitive and emotional health while building a community of structure and support.

Please note: Safety is a high priority and we conduct all lessons in accordance with the safety, training and instructional guidelines of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.

Our 9 staff members and 200 volunteers create a supportive environment where 150 individuals with disabilities connect with horses by participating in activities that are adapted to their physical, social and learning challenges. These services benefit a wide range of participants including people with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental delay and many other types of disabilities.

Benefits

Research demonstrates that therapeutic horseback riding can have many benefits for our participants.

Physical

Because a horse's gait is similar to the human walk, this three-dimensional movement is transferred from the horse to the rider and helps to strengthen spine and pelvic muscles and improve posture and balance. Additional exercises during lessons help to improve coordination and increase flexibility.

Cognitive

Lessons incorporate educational activities to improve hand-eye coordination and communication, as well as reading and math skills.

Emotional

Riders develop self-confidence and self-esteem by accomplishing challenges as independently as possible. The instructors and volunteers always interact with the riders with patience and kindness while our horses offer unconditional acceptance.

Organization's History

Coming together with their combined therapeutic horseback riding experience, in both administration and instruction, Joan Berg, Jenny Elholm and Cheryl Holt founded River Valley Riders as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in August 1999.  The first lessons were offered in the spring of 2000.  The organization began with 18 riders and has grown to serve over 150 riders and carriage drivers.