Therapeutic Riding Institute, Inc.

Therapeutic Riding Institute, Inc. The Therapeutic Riding Institute provides Equine Assisted Services to the Miami Valley Riders learn basic skills by learning to ride a horse.

About The Program

TRI was co-founded in 1973 by Betty Lou Townley and Linden Moore to provide riding therapy for people with disabilities. The riding therapy program contains six learning components: mounting, warm up, lesson, exercise, games and dismounting. Students benefit from physical activity, mental stimulation, extended communication opportunities and new peer relationships. The experienc

es carry over into the students’ every day activities by giving them confidence to try new challenging experiences. TRI's Programming serves:
1) Youth and Adults with Disabilities
2) At-Risk-Youth
3) Veterans
4) Equine Facilitated Psycotherapy

06/20/2026

Rowdy has officially clocked out for the weekend. 🐱

Happy Friday from the barn. 🌿

06/15/2026

When we say it takes a village, we truly mean it. 🌿

This week, our "Why We Come Back" is a little different — because sometimes the thank you is the whole story.

To our incredible facility volunteers: THANK YOU.

Week after week, you show up to mow, weed-eat, mulch, plant flowers, herbs, and vegetables, and handle the countless behind-the-scenes tasks that keep TRI's property beautiful and welcoming. Because of you, every participant who drives through our gates feels the care and intention that goes into this place before they ever set foot in the barn.

You are the reason TRI feels like home.

We are so grateful for every hour you give, every task you take on, and every way you pour your heart into this farm. 💚

Want to be part of this incredible volunteer family? The link to get involved is in our bio.

06/10/2026

The power in therapeutic riding comes from the partnership between horse and rider, and horses like Ivan make that possible. 💙

As one of our larger horses, Ivan helps support riders who benefit from a bigger build and a steady, smooth trot. His calm, kind nature creates confidence, comfort, and connection for those he carries.

A true gentle giant, Ivan quietly changes lives one ride at a time.

Thank You Tuesday! And today we're celebrating a sponsor whose generosity goes straight to the heart of what we do. 🤠A ...
06/10/2026

Thank You Tuesday! And today we're celebrating a sponsor whose generosity goes straight to the heart of what we do. 🤠

A heartfelt thank you to the Jesse & Caryl Philips Foundation for serving as the **Mission Moment Sponsor** of our 2026 Stetsons & Sterling Gala.

At TRI, some moments are unforgettable.

The first time a participant realizes they can do something they never thought possible. The quiet connection between horse and human. The stories of resilience, growth, healing, and hope that remind us why our mission matters.

Through this sponsorship, the Jesse & Caryl Philips Foundation is helping shine a spotlight on exactly that the heart of TRI's work.

The Jesse & Caryl Philips Foundation has a longstanding commitment to strengthening our community by supporting organizations that improve quality of life and create meaningful opportunities for individuals and families. Their investment in TRI reflects a shared belief that every person deserves the opportunity to build confidence, overcome challenges, and thrive.

Because of partners like the Jesse & Caryl Philips Foundation, we can continue providing high-quality, accredited equine-assisted services in a safe, fun, and compassionate environment ensuring more individuals have access to the life-changing benefits of working with horses.

Thank you for helping make our Mission Moment possible, and for standing alongside TRI as we create brighter futures, one horse and one participant at a time. 🐴💛

Meet Stephanie Llacuna, CFRE — Executive Director of TRI and the steady force behind everything we do. 🐴A proud mom, dev...
06/08/2026

Meet Stephanie Llacuna, CFRE — Executive Director of TRI and the steady force behind everything we do. 🐴

A proud mom, devoted grandma (to her daughter's cat and dog 🐾), lifelong horse lover, and — wait for it — a professional harpist. Stephanie is many things, and we are lucky she brings all of them to TRI.

Since joining in 2022, Stephanie's leadership has helped TRI reach 212% more participants, grow the therapy horse herd from 8 to 14, expand PATH Intl. certified professionals from 6 to 14, build a volunteer community of 300+, and double operating revenue. That's not just growth — that's a mission catching fire.

Before TRI, Stephanie spent nearly seven years at Dayton Children's Hospital, securing more than $7 million in philanthropic support for children's health. She also held leadership roles with Clothes That Work and Discover Classical, and her roots in this community run deep — Leadership Dayton Class 50, Centerville Noon Optimist Club, Muse Machine Board of Trustees, and a past president of AFP Greater Dayton.

She puts it best herself:

"Being part of TRI allows me to bring together so many of the things I love most: horses, health and wellness, and serving others. Watching participants, veterans, volunteers, and families grow through the power of equine-assisted services is a privilege I never take for granted."

Thank you, Stephanie, for your vision, your heart, and your dedication to this mission — every single day. 💛

Every Monday we're pulling back the curtain and introducing you to the people who make TRI run — from the board room to the barn.

☀️Summer Camp starts TOMORROW at TRI🐴 We are so excited to welcome our campers for Summer Camp Week I (June 8-11). Four ...
06/07/2026

☀️Summer Camp starts TOMORROW at TRI🐴

We are so excited to welcome our campers for Summer Camp Week I (June 8-11). Four days of horses, horsemanship, outdoor activities, and the kind of connections that last long after the last ride.

Campers will spend the week learning to care for and ride our therapy horses, exploring the farm, making new friends, and discovering what they're capable of in a safe, fun, and supportive environment.

To every family joining us this week — we can't wait to see you on the farm. 🌿

Another year, another AMAZING day with our friends at CESO, Inc. who brought 20 volunteers out to complete critical jobs...
06/05/2026

Another year, another AMAZING day with our friends at CESO, Inc. who brought 20 volunteers out to complete critical jobs around the farm.

These incredible individuals helped repair the side of our barn that was allowing major flooding in one of our stalls causing it to be unusable, they adjusted our manure ramp to make it more accessible for our stable support volunteers, and helped chop down part of a ginormous tree that fell and took out 16 feet of pasture fencing, in additional to other various jobs.

Each year we are blown away at the incredible generosity of this group and all they can accomplish in a single day. Thank you so so much!

06/05/2026

🚔🐴 Officer Poncho is on duty today! 🐴🚔

Keeping the barn safe, handing out smiles, and making sure everyone follows the carrot laws. 🥕😄

We think Officer Poncho deserves a promotion for looking this adorable in uniform! Drop a ❤️ if you’d trust Poncho to patrol your neighborhood.

Introducing TRIumph Moments. 💛At TRI, we define a TRIumph as one of those moments — big or small — when something shifts...
06/04/2026

Introducing TRIumph Moments. 💛

At TRI, we define a TRIumph as one of those moments — big or small — when something shifts. When a rider surprises themselves. When a parent sees their child in a new light. When connection with a horse opens a door that nothing else could.

These moments happen every single day on our farm. And we don't want a single one to go unnoticed.

So we're starting something new: TRIumph Moments. A space to celebrate the breakthroughs, the milestones, and the quiet victories that remind us exactly why this work matters.

We're kicking things off with words straight from some of our families:

"TRI has made such a positive impact on our daughter. I have seen a change in her confidence level and reduced stress levels. She just loves and looks forward to her lessons each week."

And this one, which says it all:

"TRI is part of my child's identity. She loves what she learns and the connections she has with the horses."

Part of her identity. 💛

That's what we're here for — not just progress toward goals, but the kind of belonging that stays. The kind that shapes who someone is becoming.

Have a TRIumph moment of your own to share? We want to hear it. 🐴

Look for the nomination form posted around the farm —

Or use the form link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSchqjIT57IXKp24mngvqEJRJO6rEDVbgFyyEeVRD2SdPuXKxA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=117846244107036036599

Every story matters here.

06/04/2026

Horses don't ask how your day was.

They just notice.

A shift in your breathing. A tightening in your shoulders. The way you walk into the barn.

Before you say a word, they already know something is off — and they adjust.

There's something quietly powerful about being truly seen without having to explain yourself.

🐴 Poncho has been doing this for 5 years at TRI. Some of our riders say he's the best listener they know.

Address

3960 Middle Run Road
Spring Valley, OH
45370

Telephone

+19373174001

Website

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