THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK RIDING

Therapeutic Horseback Riding for individuals with disabilities sessions are taught by a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor with a team of 1-3 volunteers per rider. Our sessions are held Monday through Friday with specific goals set for each rider at the beginning of the semester. Riders are encouraged to participate in tasks and games that help develop physical strength and cognitive improvement with an emphasis on horseback riding skills, which are performed in a safe environment that is both therapeutic and fun.

How To Participate

In order to participate in our Therapeutic Horseback Riding program you must complete our New Rider Registration  packet and return the originals to the Freedom Ride office. Once we have received your paperwork, our office will contact you to schedule a New Rider Evaluation. The evaluation allows us to determine rider skill level, abilities, best horse, volunteer needs, and the most suitable time slots that are available. It is ONLY after we complete an evaluation that we can determine if there is a place on the schedule for the rider.  Our New Rider Registration packet is located under the Forms tab.

Basic Fees

New Rider Evaluation Fee:

$75 (payable at time of service)

Individual or Group Session (45-minutes):

$75 per session

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“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in a saddle.” – Winston Churchill

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    Joanne Grant

    Mills 50 District

    Joanne has a Master of Arts in Speech & Journalism from Marshall University in Huntington, WV.
    She has experience in venue management, at Orange County Convention Center, Ocean Center in Daytona Beach and Orlando Centroplex and in entertainment management as Director of Entertainment for Universal CityWalk and Director of Entertainment Production for Universal Orlando.
    Currently, she is Executive Director of Mills 50, one of the City of Orlando’s ten Main Street Districts, and has overseen its growth since 2010. Mills 50 is known as the “foodie” district due to its abundance of locally owned restaurants and the “artsy” district because of its focus on public art including murals, painted utility cabinets, storm drains and dumpsters.
    Joanne is Secretary of the Board of Directors of The Center Orlando, Secretary of the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation Board of Directors, past President of the Board of Directors of Freedom Ride and a former member of the Board of Directors of Harbor House.
    In 2017, Joanne was a recipient of the Summit Award, presented by the Women’s Resource Center of Central Florida. She has won two Telly Awards for the videos she produced for Primrose Center and Harbor House.

    Jan Coudriet

    Jan is working at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Results Realty. She has specialized in the Orlando vicinity helping buyers and sellers for over 30 years. Jan has vounteered at the National MS Society, Girl Scouts of America, and Canine Companions For Independence. She is a proud Mom and Grandmother. As a lifetime equestrian herself, Jan believes in the bond between horses and humans that is healing in so many ways. In Jan's words, 'it is an honor to be on the board and give back to this community'.

    Amy Daly

    Secretary

    Amy Daly is Vice President, Principle Scientist and Director of Environmental Services for CPH, Inc., a full service A&E firm. She assists clients with navigating the regulatory world to obtain approvals for residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, water & wastewater treatment plant projects with state, federal and local governments. Mrs. Daly develops and implements permitting strategies to address wetlands, threatened and endangered species, water quality and industrial discharges. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Master of Business Administration. Amy is always interested in volunteering her time to worthwhile non-profit endeavors and Freedom Ride has provided an excellent opportunity to give back to others. When not working and volunteering, Amy enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends.

    “I believe that Freedom Ride provides a wonderful opportunity to help someone improve their physical and mental well-being and provide them with a sense of accomplishment. I take great pride in knowing I can be a part of that experience.”

    TJ Houmes

    Treasurer

    TJ Houmes, CPA is an audit manager for Withum, Smith and Brown, PC, an accounting firm located in Orlando, FL. He manages financial statement audits for clients in the not-for-profit, government, hospitality, and agriculture industries. He attended the University of Central Florida and holds Bachelors of Science degrees in Accounting and Finance, and a Master of Business Administration. He has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Florida since 2014, and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Florida Institute of CPAs. He believes in the importance of helping those in need, and is proud to be a part of an organization that the provides services to individuals with disabilities in our community and help enrich their lives. When he is not working and volunteering his time to Freedom Ride, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing softball with his firm’s softball team, and attending UCF football games.

    Chris Nemethy

    Vice President

    Christopher Nemethy is a Project Manager – Senior Architect II for HuntonBrady Architects. He has been with the firm for over 28 years with a total of 33 years in the practice. He holds a Bachelor of Design from the University of Florida and a Bachelor of Architecture from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. He leads his team of architects, designers, project coordinators and consultants for various types of projects from design all the way through construction. His specialty is Medical Office Buildings, Outpatient Surgical Centers and Physician Interiors although he has experience in working on Commercial Buildings, Commercial Interiors and Convention Centers. He is currently a member of the American Institute of Architects and a past member of the Executive Committee for the local AIA chapter.

    As a professional and long-time resident in the local community he feels it is our obligation to give back to the community as much as possible. By engaging in Freedom Ride, Inc. and reaching out to local organizations as volunteers, we can help shape the community and help out those in need so that they can all feel like they are a part of the community.