History and Mission

About REINS  –  Organization Info

REINS (Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths) Therapeutic Horsemanship Program a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization located in Fallbrook, CA. Our unique approach to therapy for people with disabilities uses horses as a therapy tool. We have seen paraplegic riders learn to walk, non-verbal students learn to sing and people with all sorts of disabilities overcome some of the challenges in their lives and live with a little more ease. REINS is not just a place for our students to thrive but it is also a supportive community for our special riders and their brave families, people who rarely find a place where they are the majority.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide physical and emotional therapy to a wide range of disabled children and adults through the use of carefully supervised horseback riding. The benefits of this therapy are both mental and physical and include normalization of muscle tone, increased balance and coordination, developments of speech and language, and improvements in body awareness and self-esteem.

Our students come from all over the southern California counties of Orange, Riverside and San Diego. Our unique students range in age from 2 - 83 and have a variety of disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, seizure disorders, developmental delays and other mental and physical challenges. This expanding form of therapy not only gives our riders a fun way to get outside and make new friends but it immensely improves their mental, emotional and physical health. With the growing popularity of therapeutic riding, improvements have been documented in normalization of muscle tone, balance reactions, fine & gross motor coordination, equilibrium responses, pelvic stability, speech & language development, and visual-spatial skills. In addition to passive therapy, at REINS riders are taught real horsemanship skills according to their abilities. Unlike conventional therapies, the rider is in a natural , outdoor environment, interacting with peer riders, program volunteers, and professional instructors. Perhaps the greatest benefit of the program is the renewed self-awareness and self-esteem these riders experience through therapy on horseback.

Our History

REINS began in a backyard in San Marcos, California in 1984 with a handful of students who were disabled and their devoted parents. We have since moved twice in our effort to embrace as many students as possible. In 1999 we purchased our permanent property in Fallbrook. In 2009, through a generous donation, we paid off our mortgage and are now able to devote our full attention to expanding the program, welcoming more students and increasing the quality of the therapy we provide.

REINS currently serves over 185 students each week. We have 2 North America Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Advanced Instructors and 12 NARHA Registered Instructors who facilitate our students' therapy. Out team is completed with the help of over 300 weekly volunteers and our gentle herd of 20 Equine Therapists. REINS has hosted NARHA Teaching Seminars, Hippotherapy Clinics and even Para-equestrian Ride-A-Tests for those who are working towards the Olympics! REINS is always open for visitors and we invite anyone who is interested about Therapeutic Horsemanship to come down and see it first hand.

The Mission of REINS is to bring the benefits of therapeutic riding to as many people as possible, and to provide a safe, friendly environment for riders and horses alike. To accomplish these goals, we need your help. To find out how you can support REINS, please contact us. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and accept donations of all kinds. All donations to REINS are tax-deductible and support a worthwhile cause. Thanks in advance for your support!

REINS student, Austin, abandons his wheelchair for a trail ride in the summer sun.

Written by REINS Staff Last Updated on Thursday, August 26, 2010