A parent stood quietly watching her son approach his horse partner.  Her child, who had never spoken clearly in a social setting, walked up to the horse named Glóa, smiled widely, and said: “Hi Glóa.” It was the first time he had initiated speech so confidently.

This is the power of equine-assisted services at Hestóvin Stables Therapeutic Riding Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A Different Model of Therapeutic Riding

Hestóvin Stables was founded on a simple but powerful belief: healing happens in relationship.

Traditional therapy models often operate on timelines and clinical outcomes. At Hestóvin Stables, growth unfolds through consistent, long-term connections between rider, horse, instructor, and volunteer.

Participants work with the same horse week after week. They groom, lead, ride, and care for their equine partner. They set goals. Progress is tracked. Growth is celebrated.

One parent shared that after trying multiple traditional therapies with limited success, their son finally found something that worked.

“The instructor feels like family,” they said. “For the first time, we receive direct, meaningful feedback and see steady growth.”

Services That Meet People Where They Are

Hestóvin offers:

Adapted Riding Lessons
Individualized sessions for children and adults navigating cognitive, physical, emotional, or social challenges. These lessons build balance, coordination, strength, confidence, and coping skills.

On-Ground Horsemanship Lessons
Participants engage in grooming, feeding, leading, learning the body language of horses, journaling, and mindfulness walks. This is ideal for those who benefit from connection outside of the saddle.

Equine-Assisted Mental Health & Learning
Certified instructors trained as Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning collaborate with licensed therapists to support emotional regulation and social development.

Community Programs in Grand Rapids

• • Read-to-a-Horse literacy sessions 
  • Books and Bridles
  • Horses in the Moment mindfulness workshops 
  • Inclusive horse shows and summer camps 
  • Monthly family events 
  • Programs designed specifically for siblings of children with developmental disabilities
  • Birthday parties, Country Line Dancing parties, weddings, receptions, photography sessions 

Hestóvin is not just a therapeutic riding center. It is a community builder.

Why Donor Support Matters

The need for accessible mental health and developmental services continues to grow in West Michigan. Families are searching for:

• • Alternatives to traditional therapy
  • Affordable equine therapy options
  • Programs that prioritize individualized care
  • Safe, certified instruction
  • Community connection in a screen-saturated world

Hestóvin Stables meets that need in an urban setting, removing transportation barriers and making therapeutic riding accessible within Grand Rapids. But maintaining PATH Intl. certification standards, caring for Icelandic horses, subsidizing lessons, and preserving this historic equestrian property requires community investment.

Your Gift Creates Tangible Impact

Your support helps provide:

• Consistent one-on-one therapeutic riding sessions
• Scholarships for families facing financial hardship
• Professional training and certification
• Safe, high-quality adaptive equipment
• Care and well-being for our gentle Icelandic herd
• A preserved green space oasis for Grand Rapids families

Whether you give $25 per month or make a transformational leadership gift, you are helping ensure that healing through horses remains accessible to those who need it most.

You are helping a child find their voice.
You are helping a teen find belonging.
You are helping families find hope.

And sometimes, you are funding a child’s very first words spoken aloud to a horse:

“Hi Glóa.”

In a time when many young people are disconnected from nature and meaningful relationships, you are investing in something profoundly human:

Connection.