Our mission is to provide an organization for donors, volunteers and staff to promote wellness for people with personal challenges who can benefit from Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies in a safe and supportive environment.
Therapeutic Horsemanship
Therapeutic Horsemanship is a program for individuals with personal challenges. This program has individualized horse interactions designed for all levels of participants. We serve over 60 different diagnosis' ranging from autism spectrum, neurological disorders, amputees, ADHD, MS, SMA, CP, Down Syndrome, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and sensory integration to name a few. The unique relationship formed with a horse can lead to increased confidence, patience, and self-esteem.
Healing Strides (HSVA) is a Premier Accredited Center with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Int'l) since 2013.All of the programs offered on this website are inclusive to all abilities of riding. All of our Instructors are professionals: Certified through PATH Int'l, Certified Horsemanship Association or are In-Training at the Registered or Advanced levels (CTRI).
For more information please call 540.334.5825
Field Trip Opportunities
Healing Strides aims to support our community through accessible equine assisted services at our facility in Boones Mill, as well as by providing opportunities for people to meet our horses away from our barn. These “Field Trips” connect kids, adults, families and corporations with the power of the Healing Strides herd of equines with a wide range of goals and outcomes.
Mental Health, Education and Coaching Field Trip at HSVA (Not Riding):
For groups of children or adults who are seeking educational/professional/personal development through school, work, or certification programs OR are participants in a learning-oriented program (after school programs, higher education programs, social services programs, and many others) who come to HSVA to participate in activities or learn about Equine Assisted Learning and Education (EAL). These activities may include EAL sessions as a group (team building, professional/personal development, etc.), demonstrations of an EAL session, tours of the facility, educational opportunities to learn about Equine Assisted Services (EAS) (including EAL), or other activities deemed appropriate by HSVA staff. These field trips are unmounted/non-riding with a focus on life skills, personal development, and learning.
Activities-Based Field Trip at HSVA (Riding or Not Riding):
For groups of children or adults participating in a school, camp, or other program who bring their participants to HSVA to participate in one or more activities. These activities may include horseback riding, grooming a horse, leading a horse, arts and crafts, storytime, scavenger hunt, trail walks, and more! Each field trip will include no more than FOUR of these activities to be determined by HSVA staff based on availability and weather.
For more information please call 540.334.5825
Healing Strides Riding Club
Vision Statement for HSVA Riding Club: To help riders improve their horsemanship, riding, and leadership skills through mounted and unmounted lessons and develop a sense of community.
Membership Fee to HSVA Riding Club:$80.00/year (not to be pro-rated)
Cost for Club Saturdays: $75.00 (no makeups offered for club Saturdays)
Commitment: When riders join the HSVA Riding Club they have the opportunity to commit to the riding club for each session during the year. There will be 5 sessions per year. Sessions will include riders weekly mounted lesson(s) and a club mounted/unmounted Saturday lesson once a month. When a rider commits to club for a session(s), they are riding in at least one riding lesson per week and will be committed to the club Saturdays during that session. Club Saturdays are not pay as you go and we do not offer makeups for those Saturdays. When a rider commits to club for a session(s),they are responsible for paying for those club Saturdays whether they attend or not.
Benefits of being an HSVA Riding Club Member:
- Riders will be able to develop their horsemanship skills both on and off the horse.
- Help riders develop positive character traits
- Improve rider’s interpersonal skills & socialization skills
- Riders will have the option to compete in HSVA’s home schooling shows
- Away shows will be offered at the discretion of the trainer
- Being part of a fun organization and making friends!
The HSVA Riding Club is coached by Margaret Cornwell.
For more information please call 540.334.5825 or email schedulinghsva@gmail.com
Para-Equestrian Dressage
What is Para-Equestrian Sport?
Para refers to parallel to able-bodied sports, designed for the independent rider/driver with permanent, physical, and visual disabilities seeking a competitive track. Athletes may pursue a national or international sport classification which allows them to compete at recognized national and international horse shows in Para-Equestrian dressage or Para-Equestrian driving.
Both sports are governed by USEF (national) and FEI (International) and are conducted in a similar fashion to their conventional counterpart (dressage and combined driving), but with riders divided into different competition sport classes/grades based on their functional abilities. Para-Equestrian dressage is the only equestrian discipline recognized at the Paralympics.
The Paralympic Equestrian Sport Initiative for Veterans is a national initiative designed to support the growth and participation of eligible veterans with disabilities in Para-Equestrian sports (specifically Para-Dressage and Para-Driving). This initiative is coordinated by Carlisle Academy Integrative Equine Therapy & Sports, and is funded by a Federal Adaptive Sports Grant under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation and PATH Int’l, the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.
Healing Strides of VA is a participating USEF/USPEA International Para-Dressage Centers of Excellence (COE) and is an approved center offering clinics, outreach, and ongoing education to emerging athletes and coaches to develop the sport pipeline.
We do not offer driving at this time.
Pipeline Development Goals Include:
- Utilizing gold-medal coaching experts to provide Para-Dressage and Para-Driving clinics and symposia at COEs and other select national locations as training, sport classification, and awareness-building opportunities.
- Providing a National Para-Equestrian Coach Development Program to enhance coaching support of eligible veterans.
- Creating a strong foundation of Para-Equestrian education through online workshops/webinars.
- Encouraging Para-Eligible veterans to participate with the VA’s Monthly Assistance Allowance Program to fund training and competition.
- Coordinating with veteran-oriented competitions and games to promote inclusion of Para-Equestrian sports.
For more information please call 540.334.5825
Healing Strides Athletic Equestrian League Team
The Athletic Equestrian League is an organization of equestrian athletes who compete in practical horsemanship. The individual competition is offered in English disciplines and has a Minis development division for 1st-3rd graders and competition for 4th-12th graders and adults.
Riders in the AEL are judged against a set of standards, both on the flat or in horsemanship and over fences or in patterns, and receive a score on their ride. In addition, each rider does an unmounted practicum, and that score is added to their mounted score. Each rider receives a flat score worth 40 points, a fences or patterns score worth 40 points, and a practicum score worth 20 points, and all three scores are added together for their score for the day.
The HSVA AEL Team finished the 2022-2023 season as the fifth-place team in the nation with three riders finishing as the national champion in their division. HSVA Riders typically compete in 5 regular season competitions throughout the school year and then compete in the national competition in May. Riders do not need to own a horse in order to be on the team or compete .The AEL Team is coached by Margaret Cornwell.
For more information please call 540.334.5825 or email schedulinghsva@gmail.com
Collegiate Riding Teams at Healing Strides
Ferrum College IHSA Team
Ferrum College’s IHSA Team has been riding out of HSVA since the fall of 2013. The team competes in IHSA Zone 4 Region 2during the fall and spring semester. As part of Ferrum College’s athletics program, the IHSA team riders have access to the colleges athletic training staff and facilities.
Evaluation rides are offered to all level of prospective student athletes in conjunction with a college tour. For more information please contact head coach Margaret Cornwell – mcornwell@ferrum.edu
Healing Strides Athletic Equestrian League Team
The Athletic Equestrian League is an organization of equestrian athletes who compete in practical horsemanship. The individual competition is offered in English disciplines and has a Minis development division for 1st-3rd graders and competition for 4th-12th graders and adults.
Riders in the AEL are judged against a set of standards, both on the flat or in horsemanship and over fences or in patterns, and receive a score on their ride. In addition, each rider does an unmounted practicum, and that score is added to their mounted score. Each rider receives a flat score worth 40 points, a fences or patterns score worth 40 points, and a practicum score worth 20 points, and all three scores are added together for their score for the day.
The HSVA AEL Team finished the 2022-2023 season as the fifth-place team in the nation with three riders finishing as the national champion in their division. HSVA Riders typically compete in 5 regular season competitions throughout the school year and then compete in the national competition in May. Riders do not need to own a horse in order to be on the team or compete .The AEL Team is coached by Margaret Cornwell.
For more information please call 540.334.5825 or email schedulinghsva@gmail.com
Horses Inspiring Hope: valuing an inclusive, supportive culture through relationship, integrity, and excellence.
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