Apply to Ride

Eligibility and Requirements

CTREE will make eve1y effort to meet the needs of all participants who apply for therapeutic riding or equine assisted activities. However, the nature of these activities includes limitations, precautions and occasionally contraindications. These are due to a variety of causes. Please see our Participant Eligibility and Requirements below.

Thank you for understanding these guidelines. It is the intent of CTREE to provide the safest possible therapeutic riding lessons for our participants. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at (631)488-0142 or email us a program@ctreeny.org.

  • Therapeutic riding participants must be at least 5 years of age. Participants under the age of 5 are accepted under special circumstances.

  • CTREE reserves the right to impose a weight limit in the event that no horse is available to safely carry a participant weighing over 175 pounds. A lower limit may be imposed if illness or injury prevents the use of a suitable horse.

  • Inappropriate, unsafe or disruptive behavior or any condition where the client is harmful to him/herself or others is a contraindication to therapeutic horseback riding.

  • The following medical/emotional challenges may be precautions or contraindications to therapeutic horseback riding. You will have a chance to further explain these challenges in your application so that we can have a better understanding of how these challenges may impact therapeutic riding safety. We will reach out to you if we have any questions.

    • Acute exacerbation of chronic disorder

    • Allergies to Grasses, Animals and Dust/Other Allergies

    • Asthma/Breathing/Lungs

    • Atlantoaxial Instabilities

    • Behavioral

    • Bone/Joint

    • Cancer

    • Circulation

    • Cognitive

    • Communication

    • Coxarthrosis

    • Cranial Deficits

    • Diabetes

    • Digestive/Elimination

    • Emotional/Mental Health

    • Hearing

    • Heart

    • Hemophilia

    • Heterotopic Ossification

    • Hip Subluxation and Dislocation challenges and needs

    • Hypertension

    • Hypoesthesia/Sensation

    • Indwelling catheter

    • Internal Spinal Stabilization Devices (such as Harrington Rods)

    • Kyphosis

    • Lordosis

    • Muscular

    • Osteogenesis Imperfecta

    • Osteoporosis

    • Pain

    • Pathologic Fractures

    • Peripheral Vascular Disease

    • Poor Endurance

    • Recent Surgery

    • Scoliosis

    • Seizures

    • Spinal Fusion

    • Spinal Instabilities/Abnormalities

    • Spinal Orthoses

    • Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)

    • Varicose Veins

  • All CTREE participants must have the physician form fill out, signed, and dated by their doctor. You will be prompted to download the form when filling out the application.

  • Each potential CTREE participant will receive an initial evaluation by a PATH Int'I. certified instructor. Based on this evaluation and the participant's medical reports, the participant will be advised if therapeutic riding is a recommended form of recreation.

    Under certain conditions a participant's condition may change and a re-evaluation becomes necessary. Based on this re­evaluation, the participant may have to cease riding. A doctor's written verification is required for the participant to resume riding.

    Thank you for understanding these guidelines. It is the intent of CTREE to provide the safest possible therapeutic riding lessons for our participants. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us.

  • If therapeutic riding lessons are recommended and approved for the applicant following the evaluation, the applicant may register for a session of lessons.

    We offer weekly private or semi-private lessons in 8-10 week long sessions, year-round. Participants must enroll for an entire session. Lessons are held on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday late afternoons/early evenings, and Saturday afternoons. Please see our calendar for session dates and holiday closures.

    Enrollment is at the beginning of each session but if you are applying and joining us part way through a session you may enroll for the remainder of the session with availability.

    Please contact the office to enroll and schedule lessons at (631)488-0142 or program@ctreeny.org.

  • Lessons are $50 per lesson and are 30 minutes long. We strive to make our therapeutic lessons affordable for all. We offer scholarships for riders in need.

    Please note, lessons canceled less than 24 hours prior to the start of the lesson and no shows will be charged.

    CTREE may need to cancel lessons due to severe weather or other reasons. You will be notified if CTREE must cancel lessons.

    Please see Our Policies for more information.

The Participant Application

After reading the Eligibility & Requirements listed above, click the button below to start the application. The application has five steps. You will need your/your child’s physician contact number, health insurance policy number, and emergency contact information. Please have this information ready so you can complete all the steps at once to ensure timely and proper processing of your application. After you application has been reviewed and processed you will be contacted regarding an evaluation.