Brady Therapeutic Riding

Brady Therapeutic Riding James S Brady Therapeutic Riding provides equine assisted therapy for SF children & youth with special needs.
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Every single rider went home a champion. 🏅🐴At our most recent end-of-season celebration at Brady, we honored the culmina...
08/25/2026

Every single rider went home a champion. 🏅🐴

At our most recent end-of-season celebration at Brady, we honored the culmination of all the hard work, determination, and courage our riders brought to every lesson.

There is nothing quite like the moment they show off their brand-new riding skills to a cheering section of proud parents, siblings, and friends.👏👨‍👩‍👧‍👦📣

To mark their accomplishments, each rider went home with a special keepsake—photos from their time at Brady, horse stickers, and their personalized, hand-painted frame to remember their journey. 📸🖼️🐴

Seeing the pride on their faces as they held their frames is exactly why we do what we do. They aren’t just learning to ride, they’re learning to thrive. ✨

We are so proud of every single boundary crossed, fear conquered, and smile shared this session.🥹❤️

❤️ To our donors, supporters, and volunteers: Thank you for providing the resources, time, and love that make these milestone moments possible for our community. 💙🐴🤝✨

   

08/22/2026

Meet Magpie! 🐴☯︎

Magpie, aka Maggie, was rescued from an abandoned fairground, where she had been left completely alone without food or water. Because horses are herd animals, that isolation took a real toll on her. We’ll never know her full story, but we do know she came to Brady with some pretty big abandonment issues.

Over time, with Sarah, the herd, and the Brady community around her, Magpie has been able to work through a lot of that. And now, she gets to offer that same sense of trust and connection to the people who come to Brady. Like we always say, everyone is in therapy here.

Magpie has formed especially meaningful connections with some of the young women we work with who have experienced abandonment or trauma. They’re often immediately drawn to her, and she has a way of helping them come out of their shells.

Magpie is a Quarter Horse with a piebald (black-and-white ☯︎, hence the name!) overo coat. At around 12 years old, she’s also our youngest and strongest horse, making her a great partner for some of our older riders.

And if we had to guess Maggie’s favorite part of being a therapy horse? The purpose. Purpose and the true love that has helped heal her heart. ❤️

Show Maggie some love in the comments below!!

quarterhorse

08/19/2026

Brady Barn Quiz Answer! 🐴❓🙋🏻

QUESTION: What is the first brush we use when grooming a horse?

➡ ANSWER: A. Curry Comb!!
The rubber curry comb loosens dust in circular motions.

08/18/2026

NEW SERIES ALERT‼️ Brady Barn Quiz! 🐴❓🤔

QUESTION: What is the first brush we use when grooming a horse?
A) Curry Comb
B) Dandy Brush
C) Mane & Tail Brush

➡ Find out the answer (and a demo) in our next story in 24 hrs!

08/15/2026

NEW SERIES ALERT‼️ Meet the Brady Herd! 🐴

Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to the therapy horses (and ponies!) who make our work at Brady possible.

Many of you already know and love our herd, but as our community continues to grow, we thought it was time for a proper introduction. First up: “Pistol” Pete!

Pete is our head of herd, class clown, and keeper of the peace. He was rescued from a slaughter yard in El Paso, Texas, alongside our other horse, Phoebe (stay tuned to meet her!).

Like many rescue horses, we don’t know much about Pete’s life before he was rescued. We think he’s around 13 or 14 years old, and our best guess is part Mustang, maybe crossed with Quarter Horse...and possibly part alien. 👽

Pete is loving, generous, and incredibly personable. He can be a safe place for a child who needs a shoulder to cry on, but he’s just as likely to make you laugh with his playful, goofy personality.

More than anything, Pete is compassionate. He looks out for his students and his herd, while never being afraid to set a boundary when he needs to.

It’s something Pete seems to understand naturally: caring for others doesn’t mean forgetting what you need yourself.

As Brené Brown puts it, “Boundaries are a prerequisite for compassion and empathy. We can’t connect with someone unless we’re clear about where we end and they begin.”

We think Pete would agree. ❤️

Let us know your favorite thing about Pete in the comments below! ⬇️

A HUGE THANK YOU to our 2026 Brady Summer Camp volunteers! ❤️This summer was a big one for Brady. For the first time, we...
08/14/2026

A HUGE THANK YOU to our 2026 Brady Summer Camp volunteers! ❤️

This summer was a big one for Brady. For the first time, we expanded camp from two to three weeks, giving us the chance to welcome more campers and families and bring the healing power of horses into even more lives. And none of it would have been possible without our volunteers.

For three weeks, they arrived at the barn an hour before camp to feed horses, clean paddocks, water the arena, set up crafts, and get everything ready for the day. Some even showed up with breakfast to share, which certainly helped with the early mornings. Once campers arrived, our volunteers were by their sides every step of the way.

When working with kids and horses, safety always comes first. Our volunteers gave us the extra eyes, ears, and hands we needed while teaching with so much patience and care. They encouraged campers to ask questions, led horses confidently through the arena, helped campers try new things, and took part in activities alongside them.

For many of our campers, seeing the volunteers they had gotten to know became one of the things they looked forward to most each morning (second to seeing the horses, of course😉).

To everyone who gave their time and energy to camp this summer, THANK YOU. Three weeks of camp was a big undertaking, but it meant reaching more children, building more relationships, and sharing what makes Brady so special with more families. We are so grateful for all of you. ❤️🐴

   

What happens when a therapeutic riding program and a world-class zoo come together? Something pretty special. 🐴🦒This sum...
08/11/2026

What happens when a therapeutic riding program and a world-class zoo come together? Something pretty special. 🐴🦒

This summer, Brady campers got to experience more than time at the barn. Thanks to our extraordinary partnership with San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, campers and counselors were welcomed into Zoo experiences including Dinos Rule! and Mindful Moments—adding exploration, learning, and connection to their time at Brady.

Our partnership with the SF Zoo began in 2019, when Brady became the first equine-assisted therapy program in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facility. Since then, Brady has grown its programs on Zoo grounds and expanded access to the healing power of horses for children, families, and the San Francisco community.

The partnership is a natural fit. The Zoo’s commitment to Care, Connect, Conservation, and Community aligns beautifully with Brady’s mission to bring strength and healing to children with special needs and the San Francisco community through the love and care of horses.

Together, Brady and the SF Zoo are building a scalable model for other zoo-therapy program partnerships to follow.

We’re proud to be part of the SF Zoo community—and grateful for the ways the Zoo continues to welcome our participants, volunteers, and programs.

Thank you, San Francisco Zoo & Gardens, for helping make this summer—and this partnership—so special. 💚

HealingPowerOfHorses

08/08/2026

“Exhilarating, calm, and... always touch their butt!” 🐴✨

We interviewed our amazing campers, and their answers did not disappoint! From learning how to ride and lead their favorite horses to arts & crafts, meditation, and building major confidence—this summer camp was full of core memories. 🎨🧘‍♀️🏇

A few highlights from the kids:
🐴 Favorite horses: Pete (“because he’s soft”) & Lola (“very sweet and calm”)
💨 How riding feels: Exhilarating for some, super calming for others! 💡 Pro-tip from a camper: “Word of advice: do not go behind them without touching their butt!” 😂

It takes a community to build moments like these. ❤️

👇 Which camper quote was your favorite? Drop a comment below to show our incredible campers and horses some love! 💬👇

 

08/06/2026

🐴☀️In our third and final week of summer camp, we asked a few parents to share what the experience meant to their child. 🗣️🎙️

Every family had a different story to tell because every camper’s experience at Brady is unique. But one thing came up again and again: having a place where their children felt safe, supported, and free to be themselves.

Over the course of the week, we watched campers grow more confident, build trusting relationships with the horses, and look forward to coming back each morning. It’s always amazing to see how much can happen in just five days.

Thank you to Sophia, Krissi, and Jen for sharing your families’ experiences with us, and to every parent and guardian who trusts us with your children. Your support, encouragement, and partnership are such an important part of the Brady community. ❤️ 🐴

If you’d like to help make experiences like this possible for more children, you can support Brady through the link in our bio.

🧘🏻‍♀️Every week of Brady Summer Camp included one afternoon at the SF Zoo & Gardens’ Wildlife Theater for a guided mindf...
08/05/2026

🧘🏻‍♀️Every week of Brady Summer Camp included one afternoon at the SF Zoo & Gardens’ Wildlife Theater for a guided mindfulness session with Christina Resasco.

Through gratitude, breathwork, and mindful listening, campers had the chance to step away from the often busy pace of daily life. It quickly became one of our favorite parts of the week.

A huge thank you to Christina for sharing her time, kindness, and experience with our campers. We’re so grateful for everything you brought to Brady this summer. 🙏🩷

And a special shout-out to San Francisco Zoo for hosting our campers each week! The next Mindful Moments at the Zoo is tomorrow, Wednesday 8/5 @ 10:30am & 1pm. See the Zoo’s calendar of events for more information: sfzoo.org/calendar-of-events/) 💚

We’ll end this post the same way every mindfulness session began: What are you grateful for today? Let us know in the comments! 💬

 

Address

1 Zoo Road
San Francisco, CA
94132

Telephone

+14156082530

Website

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