Some children with various severities of autistic spectrum disorder actually learn to speak while in the saddle of a horse.

At Connections, our goal is to assist riders, in the most honoring fashion, to attain new levels of communication, coping strategies, life skills and strategies that, along with core strength, balance and control provide individuals with an opportunity to discern and internalize a new orientation. Self regulation and motivation surface as individuals realize both their control over and ability to participate in activities.

In every session, right/left, top/bottom and front/back regions of the brain are addressed through structured exercises and movement of the horse--which is the closest gait to a human’s gait --providing deep, global changes and integration.

The Connections Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit organization designed to enhance the overall well-being of children with a wide range of special needs through equine-assisted therapeutic programs. The programs include therapeutic riding, instructor training, and summer camps. We do this work with the help of riding instructors, horses and more than 100 volunteers.

Therapy is CTRC's reason for being. Our goal of the highest order is to help our participants gain independence or as close to independence as possible. CTRC is an NAHRA center which is the governing body for all participating therapeutic riding programs in the United States.  We consistently have a safe facility, reliable, educated, and consistent staff and volunteers, and healthy horses do this.  Our primary focus is the development of the Connections children through our sessions and interactions with the staff and volunteers.

Connections is also building an education and awareness program that will reach out to the community at large.  The entire goal of this program is to make the general public aware of the affects of therapeutic riding on ASD.  It is believed by many that horse therapy is one of the most effective forms of physical and emotional therapy.