Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship

Download our brochure here:   BRCTH Brochure

Our mailing address is BRCTH, P.O. Box 438, Boyce, VA  22620

Welcome to our BRCTH Home page!

We recently finished our 10-week Fall Session which started in early September. It’s so thrilling to watch the progress our students make, week to week and session to session. In October, our students and horses participated in the Therapeutic Riding Association of VA Horse Show where we were awarded Champion Center! 

Looking ahead, our 10-week Spring Session will start March 25th. And we are pleased to announce that we will be offering at least one more afternoon of lessons next spring! Learn more about our therapeutic services on our Programs page. Contact us for more information or to schedule an intake interview over the phone. Registration materials will be sent following the interview.

2023 marked the second year that we have provided Equine Assisted Learning services to residents of Shenandoah Valley Westminster Canterbury through our Equines Serving Elders program. Connecting with the horses sparks joy, curiosity and memories for these elders living with dementia and other illnesses.

We are always in need of volunteers, particularly to help with lessons and with caring for our horses. Prior to each spring and fall session and our week of day camp, we provide training for horse leaders and side walkers. For more information, check out our Volunteers page.

We are currently developing new fundraising and community education events for 2024. We will be updating the Events page in the near future.

Meanwhile, we have been meeting the challenge of raising needed funds by holding online fundraisers and providing other opportunities for people to support our therapy horses such as being able to donate directly to our feed store accounts. Check out our Donations page to learn more about this and other opportunities.

Therapeutic riding makes a difference and changes lives! 

For people with disabilities and those who are at risk, the horse and its environment can provide unique healing and learning experiences.  Under the watchful eye of a certified instructor, trained volunteers, educators and health care professionals, a student’s interaction with a horse can be therapeutic as well as a fun and freeing experience. 

Therapeutic riding is fun.  It also produces results.  Some of the benefits one can expect:     

Physical…

Improved coordination and muscle tone

Increased range of motion

Cognitive…

 Improved attention and concentration 

Improved sequencing and planning

Improved flexibility in thinking

Improved judgement

Psycho-Social…

Increased self confidence and self-cont

Increased understanding of consequences

Improved social interaction

Increased empathy and empowerment