Heartland Therapeutic Riding, Inc.

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Overland Park, KS
Heartland Therapeutic Riding, Inc.

Heartland Therapeutic Riding is a therapeutic riding center serving children and adults with disabilities in the Kansas City area, since 1978.

Heartland Therapeutic Riding, Inc. was founded because of the determination and drive of one mother who refused to accept that an individual with a disability should be excluded from horseback riding, because of their diagnosis. Literally proving where there is a will, there is a way. In 1977, Jean Baum established Heartland Therapeutic Riding after horseback riding was suggested as a potentially

helpful (future) activity for her nine-month old daughter, who had special needs. Jean learned more about the benefits of therapeutic riding from Lida McGowan, who founded the Cheff Center for therapeutic riding, in Minnesota. After attending the lecture, Jean was convinced that the Kansas City area would greatly benefit from this type of center. After discovering a staunch opposition to the very idea of individuals with disabilities riding horses, Jean established the first therapeutic riding center in Kansas City. was one of the first therapeutic riding centers in the country, and has earned the status of PATH, Intl. Premier Accredited Center. Heartland currently serves more than 100 incredible riders and has a team of more than 120 amazing volunteers, yet we have never forgotten all of the hard work, determination and dedication that it took to get here. We are committed to helping individuals with disabilities through equine assisted activities and therapies. We strive to change lives, one ride at a time.

08/21/2026

Solo and Ace are happy it's the weekend and they get to rest... It's safe to say that the first week of classes were a success! 💗

08/20/2026

Did You Know?

Our handsome boy Ace cleans up nice but he is a BIG fan of mud and dirt😁 If there is a puddle, Ace is rolling in it! He has mastered the art of covering every inch of himself in a nice layer of mud... You can often catch the barn staff bringing him in early before lessons to hose him off in the wash bay.

08/19/2026

🧠 Educational Wednesday: Rider Safety in Adaptive Riding 🐴💙

Safety is our top priority—always. But what does that actually look like in adaptive riding?

✨ Every rider is carefully matched with a horse based on their needs, size, and riding level
✨ Our instructors are specially trained and certified to work with riders of all abilities
✨ Each session includes a team—side walkers and horse leaders—to provide hands-on support as needed
✨ All riders wear properly fitted helmets and use adaptive equipment when needed
✨ Horses are selected for their calm, gentle temperament and are put through training even as they are in the program to ensure that they stay sharp and are able to take care of our riders

We also take time to understand each rider’s needs so we can create a safe and supportive environment 💙

08/18/2026

🌟Horse Spotlight: Our Sweet Karo!🍯

08/17/2026

👀✨Guess the Eye!👀🐴

Can you figure out which member of our herd this eye belongs to?

💡 Here are your clues:
• She’s a proud member of our “pony herd”🐴
• You can often hear her calling out to her friends around the barn—she likes to make sure everyone knows where she is! 📣
• She’s a staple in our Hippotherapy program, helping our riders reach their goals one session at a time. 💙
• She may be smaller, but she plays a BIG role here at Heartland!

Think you know who it is? 👀
Drop your guess in the comments and see if you can identify this familiar face from just one eye! 👇🐴

08/14/2026

Gear up for Fall Sessions!

08/13/2026

Oh my it seems we have interrupted a very important meeting. What do you think Randy, Solo and Trigger are discussing?🤨

08/12/2026

📚Educational Wednesday: PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center... What's Up With That??

For over 25 years, Heartland Therapeutic Riding has proudly maintained its status as a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center—but what does that actually mean?

PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) is the organization that sets the industry standards for equine-assisted services. While becoming accredited is completely voluntary, centers that earn Premier Accreditation have demonstrated that they meet nationally recognized standards for safety, horse welfare, program quality, facility management, and participant care.

🌟So, how does a center become accredited?

The process is much more than filling out an application! Centers complete a comprehensive review of their operations, submit detailed documentation, and host a team of trained PATH Intl. site visitors who conduct an in-depth, on-site peer review. During the visit, they evaluate everything from our horses' care and facility safety to emergency procedures, instructor qualifications, and program operations. If a center successfully meets all applicable standards, it earns Premier Accredited status for five years before going through the reaccreditation process again.

🌟Why is accreditation important?

Being a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center means our participants, families, volunteers, and donors can trust that we are committed to providing safe, ethical, and high-quality equine-assisted services. Accreditation also encourages continual growth through education, professional development, networking opportunities, and access to scholarships and grants that help strengthen our program.

For 36 years, we've remained dedicated to these high standards because our riders, clients, volunteers, horses, and community deserve the very best. 💙🐴

Thank you for trusting Heartland Therapeutic Riding—we're honored to serve our community as a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center!

08/11/2026

Our horses change lives every single day.

Give this post a ❤️ if they've made you smile, inspired you, or stolen your heart.

👇 Tell us in the comments: What's your favorite thing about our amazing therapy horses? Feel free to share your favorite photos of our hard working friends here at Heartland Therapeutic Riding!

08/10/2026

👀✨Guess the Eye!👀🐴

It's Monday, so you know what that means... it's time for another round of Guess the Eye!

Can you identify this mystery horse from just one eye?

💡Here are your clues:
• This mare is the only gaited horse in our herd.
• She has a beautiful white overo coat that's hard to miss.
• Before joining Heartland, she had plenty of experience on the trails.
• Fun Fact: Have you noticed her white eyelashes? 🤍 Horses with large white markings around their eyes often have white eyelashes because the hair growing from pink skin lacks pigment—just another one of the unique features that makes her so special!

Who do you think it is? Leave your best guess in the comments, and let's see who knows our herd the best! 🐴👇

Address

19655 Antioch Road
Overland Park, KS
66013

Website

http://www.HTRkc.org/

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