Since 1976, we have led the effort to help those with disabilities to lead more enriched lives through adaptive horseback riding and hippotherapy.

Our Mission

Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center is a community where horses transform the bodies, minds, and spirits of people with disabilities.

A history of transforming lives

Little Bit was founded in June 1976 by a woman named Margaret Dunlap. Margaret had Multiple Sclerosis and found that being on the back of a horse slowed the advance of her disease. From our humble beginnings of one horse and five riders, we have grown to be one of the largest nationally accredited, industry-leading PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International centers and one of the largest full-time therapeutic horsemanship programs in the United States. We offer Adaptive Riding and Hippotherapy, and serve over 500 clients annually with 29 horses and the help of more than 1,200 volunteers.

MAKING STRIDES THROUGH THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP

Our flagship programs—Adaptive Riding and Hippotherapy—both utilize the unique qualities of the horse to effect positive change in the lives of children and adults with disabilities.

Adaptive Riding and Hippotherapy provide life-changing physical benefits including strengthening muscles, preventing bone weakness and joint dislocation, improving balance, and enhancing hand/eye coordination. These benefits improve a rider’s overall health, which, in turn, can increase life expectancy.

They also ripple into other aspects of daily living: promoting confidence and independence, improving communication skills and peer interaction, enhancing concentration and memory, stimulating problem-solving, and providing achievable goals.

EFP is defined as an interactive process to address psychotherapy goals set forth by the mental health professional and the client. It uses the horse as a large “biofeedback machine” to help understand clients’ moods and changes within those moods.