TROT 2025 Adaptive Riding Season Ends with Gratitude and Growth

Reflecting on the impact of the 2025 Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities Adaptive Riding season

The 2025 TROT Adaptive riding season has officially come to an end!

Adaptive riding is TROT’s core flagship program. Adaptive riding is a joyful and empowering experience where individuals with physical or mental challenges learn to ride horses in a safe, supportive environment. Through a thoughtfully designed progression of lessons, riders build strength, coordination, and confidence while developing meaningful connections with their horses and instructors. As part of TROT’s broader mission to enhance wellness through equine-assisted therapy, adaptive riding also fosters community, inclusion, and personal growth. TROT also celebrates each rider’s unique journey towards independence and self-discovery.

As the season finished, we reflected on the quiet victories and bold breakthroughs that unfolded in the arena. For many riders, the adaptive riding began with much uncertainty. mounting a thousand-pound horse is not easy, especially when fear is part of the equation. But week by week, we watched as fear began to fall.

When asked how the riding season went for their family, one parent said,

“Now that he is in the intermediate class, this riding season he was able to practice taking the lead so that he was able to steer the horse a little bit. And he started trotting, going faster, and it is exciting. You know, every kid has a sport or hobby. Other kids can run around. These sessions give him something that is special, something that he can call his own.”

A grandparent of another adaptive rider had this to say about their grandchild,

“I have seen her just grow with her love for animals. And it has really helped her confidence.”

This season reminded us of what adaptive riding is all about. It is ot just about learning to ride. It is about growing into yourself, one stride at a time.

Our adaptive riding classes will resume in the Spring, Registration will open in April of 2026. If you are new to our program please fill out our New Rider Application.