At the Therapeutic Riding Institute, horses and humans help each other
Ever had an appointment with a four-legged therapist?
Dayton’s Therapeutic Riding Institute (TRI), which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, offers equine-assisted therapies for children and adults with special needs.
At TRI’s 23-acre farm at 3960 Middle Run Road in Spring Valley, students can interact with, ride and care for horses. TRI’s accredited instructors mold their lessons to the needs of the student—whether the challenges they face are physical, cognitive or emotional.
“The joy on people’s faces when they’re riding, there’s just nothing quite like that,” says Stephanie Llacuna, TRI’s executive director.
Backyard Beginnings
Fifty years ago, the concept of equine therapy was still new, especially in America. Betty Lou Townley, a horse lover and health care professional, began the TRI in her own backyard with the help of cofounder Linden Moore.
“They both recognized the therapeutic benefits of horseback riding,” Llacuna says, “and they decided to start their own therapeutic riding program to help people with disabilities.”
In creating TRI, Townley and Moore established one of the earliest therapeutic riding programs in the region—and one of the first in the country to be accredited by the organization now known as PATH, the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship.
Over the next several decades, the organization grew “slowly and organically,” Llacuna says, renting space at various boarding facilities and relying largely on volunteers to operate. When Townley retired from the program, TRI finally began to hire full-time staff, and in 2019, the nonprofit moved to its current home in Spring Valley. Its herd consists of 10 horses, most of which it leases.
Along for the Ride
Llacuna notes that equine therapy is a complement to traditional talk therapy and other treatments, not a replacement. Often, she says, equine therapy can be a positive early step for patients who aren’t comfortable with the idea of talk therapy.
“Horses are very in tune to what we’re thinking and feeling,” Llacuna says. “If we approach them with a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety, a little bit of nervous energy, they’re going to sense that.”
Right now, Llacuna and the rest of her team are looking forward to TRI’s next 50 years, including a full slate of events and programming in 2024.
On May 4, the day of the Kentucky Derby, TRI will host its popular Derby Day event—a sensory-friendly family activity day at the farm with Derby-themed crafts, games and other activities.
Llacuna is also looking forward to growing some of TRI’s newer programs, like Warriors in Step with Horses (WISH), which connects veterans and first responders with TRI equine therapy. Another program, Taking the Reins, teaches students about healthy ways to manage, express and process emotions.
Interested in learning more about TRI’s offerings? Visit triohio.org or call 937-317-4001 for more information.
