Riding for the Handicapped of Western PA

To enhance the physical and educational development of children with physical, mental or emotional disabilities through a program of therapeutic horseback riding activities. To provide a therapeutic program with no fee to families with disabled children.

RHWPA Program Description Riding for the Handicapped of Western PA is a therapeutic horseback riding program that has helped children and young adults with disabilities for more than 35 years. It is staffed entirely by volunteers; there are no paid positions; and funded exclusively by donations, fundraising and grants.
The program was started in 1979 as one of the first of its kind in the United States. The program evolved from a dream of physical therapist Maria Kyme to create a program that could benefit people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities was based on therapeutic riding programs that had evolved in England after 1952 Olympic equestrian Liz Hartel revealed that exercise with a horse helped her to heal following polio.
Since the inception, therapeutic riding has documented benefits for various disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, down syndrome, brain injuries, speech impairments.
In 2012 RHWPA opened a new facility near Allegheny County's North Park. This location allows us to serve children and their families from Allegheny, Butler, Beaver and Westmoreland counties. Throughout the years RHWPA has remained faithful to the vision of its founder.

Testimonials

" This program has helped my daughter in more ways than I can say! It has helped her physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. Everyone is so caring, kind and so much fun. The organization is run like a well oiled machine. My daughter and I feel so blessed to have this experience in our lives!"