A Little About Us:
Courage Reins was founded in 1998 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization to improve the lives of people with these and other disabilities through hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. The farm provides hippotherapy, equine assisted psychotherapy and therapeutic riding for people with disabilities.
Courage Reins has successfully offered lessons to approximately 3,000 riders from 22 months to 79 years old with an even broader range of disabilities. Courage Reins has helped people with Down syndrome, visual impairment, traumatic brain injuries, para- and quadriplegia and a variety of mental health problems. The barn serves approximately 120 riders per week.
The organization has seven paid staff and more than 150 active volunteers. We select horses based in their caring disposition and careful nature.
Why Horses?
According to the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, horses are ideal for helping with a variety of physical and psychological disabilities. They are large, powerful, intimidating animals that can think for themselves. In many ways, they act like humans in the way they walk, interact with others and respond to situations. They also mimic and respond to human body language.
A Brief History:
Courage Reins began in 1998 in a rented facility with borrowed horses and equipment. There was one paid staff member and a handful of local volunteers. The vision and commitment of our founders not only sustained them during that time, but created excitement about the organization.
Later that year, Courage Reins created a Board of Trustees. The current president of the board became involved in 2000. Since then, he has purchased a new facility for Courage Reins nestled at the base of the Wasatch Mountains and less than an hour from Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. The new facility rests on more than 15 acres and is equipped with heated and air-conditioned offices and an indoor arena.
In the spring of 2012, Courage Reins reached full enrollment for the first time with approximately 120 riders. Courage Reins now needs more volunteers and space to continue its growth.
