Schools and Organizations

We offer our therapeutic horseback riding, horse-assisted learning and garden-assisted learning programs to many types of groups, including those from schools, adult day programs, treatment services, senior in assisted living or specialized programs, and veterans.

With educator or staff input, we can customize curriculum to complement groups' interests, address pre-vocational training needs, social skills development, and/or to help schools fulfill State of New Jersey Community-Based Instruction (CBI) requirements.

Groups can come for a single visit or choose a more intensive experience that takes place over 4 or 6 weeks.

Age: Elementary age through adulthood

Lesson duration: School groups are typically 1 hour; duration for other types of groups may vary depending on the objective and number of participants.

Semesters offered: Fall (Sept-Dec), and Spring (Mar-June): Groups are booked between Monday through Thursday,10am and 12pm.

Summer information is included below.

Potential benefits: Depending on your group’s goals, benefits may include life skills building such as: safety, respecting boundaries, problem-solving and following multi-step directions; connection with animals and nature; time spent outside of a classroom or facility; and working through common classroom or group dynamics; feelings of self-confidence, independence and accomplishment.

  • Elementary and middle schools choose a 4 or 6-week experience. Students’ time is split between therapeutic riding and horse-assisted learning activities. We can accommodate 6-8 children for this type of programming.

  • We offer our horse- and garden-assisted learning programs for groups of high school students and adults. This program is flexible, inclusive and can accommodate up to 10 participants.

SUMMER GROUPS

During our summer mornings, we partner with service organizations and hospitals to provide children of veterans, at-risk youth and children with life-limiting or life-threatening diseases with a week of riding and learning basic horsemanship skills and enjoying farm fitness activities, gardening and nature-based arts and crafts.

We work with children and families referred to us by:

  • Oasis - A Haven for Women and Children

  • Center for Hope and Safety

  • Hackensack Meridian Health’s Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital

  • The Valley Hospital

EXPERIENTIAL GROUP ACTIVITIES

Pony Power partners with agencies and organizations to create experiences that complement traditional therapeutic modalities. Horses in nature offer immediate feedback, giving clients the opportunity to safely practice newly-acquired skills.

We also work with schools of social work to provide opportunities for their students to apply theory to real-life settings.

Past experiential groups have included:

  • Intensive outpatient rehabilitation programs

  • War-impacted young people

  • Masters- and PhD-level social work students

Winter 2025 Schedule

Winter Registration Opens: Nov 11

Winter Semester Starts: Jan 5

Winter Breaks: Jan 19-23, Feb 16-20

Spring Registration Opens: Feb 10

Winter Semester Ends: Feb 27

“This was one of the best run recreational activities my child has participated in. It’s really accessible for so many types of people and a great all-around experience.”

— Shelley, parent of a participant

FAQ

  • No, our programming is open to those who need more support or different programming options than traditional equestrian centers offer. There is no requirement for proof of a medical diagnosis or a doctor’s prescription.

  • No. Since we are not a medical facility, we are unable to accept insurance, Medicaid or Medicare.

  • No, our programming is open to those who need more support or different programming options than traditional equestrian centers offer.

  • The minimum participant age for riding is 2.5 years old. There is no maximum age as long as our staff deem the activity safe and appropriate for an individual and a doctor has cleared the individual medically. Our Forest Babies program is open to children as young as 18 months old.

    Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. There is no maximum age for volunteers. All volunteers must be able to walk for at least 90 minutes and jog for short stints during each lesson.

  • During the school year, lessons are given on Sunday mornings and Monday through Thursday, 3-6 pm. In summer, lessons are given Monday through Thursday, 3-6pm.

  • Individual lessons are 30 minutes. School groups are usually one hour, but duration for other types of groups may vary depending on the objective and the number of participants.

  • We book by semester and do not offer single lessons because we find some participants may need time to adjust to the environment and become familiar with our routine.

  • Hippotherapy focuses on achieving specific, clinical goals in the areas of occupational, physical or speech therapy. Therapeutic riding is a recreational activity that focuses on teaching each individual to ride a horse within his or her ability. Many riders experience therapeutic benefits such as increased focus, greater flexibility and balance and better fine and gross motor planning. To learn more about the benefits of therapeutic riding, click here.

  • All participants (riding and non-riding), must wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and long pants, as well as dress accordingly for outdoor weather conditions. All riders must wear a properly fitted ASTM-SEI-approved helmet and closed-toe shoes. While we use safety stirrups, we require riders working toward independence to wear a boot with a heel, instead of a sneaker.

  • We are committed to providing this unique recreational activity to as many people as possible. Our costs continue to increase annually, but we have maintained client fees at the same level for more than a decade in order to provide affordable access to our service. Session fees currently cover only a portion of the actual cost to run lessons; we rely on the generosity of our donors to help underwrite the remaining amount each year. Our hope is that we can continue facilitating all of our participants’ personal growth with subsidized tuition for years to come.

  • Once new participants are enrolled and scheduled, we invite families to come for a tour to become familiar with the location, parking and facilities before a semester begins.