FAQs
What is the difference between our traditional and adaptive lessons?
Traditional lessons teach standard riding skills without specialized support. Adaptive lessons incorporate specialized equipment, specially certified instructors, and trained volunteers to individuals with special needs.
What are the benefits of therapeutic riding?
Therapeutic riding supports physical, sensory, social, and emotional development. Riders build strength, balance, coordination, motor skills, and sensory awareness while improving core stability through the horse’s movement.
Beyond physical benefits, riding helps build confidence, independence, friendships, and a sense of accomplishment through meaningful, rewarding experiences.
Who can participate?
Almost anyone! While there are some medical and safety considerations that may prevent participation—such as a recent history of seizures, behavioral safety concerns, or conditions affecting spinal stability, core muscle control, or bone integrity—we encourage you to reach out. Sharing the participant’s primary diagnosis and mobility level will help us determine whether therapeutic riding is an appropriate and safe option.
What ages do you serve?
Riding lessons begin at age 5, though some seasonal programs, such as our Tiny Trotters program, are available for younger participants. Please visit our Tiny Trotters section for schedules and program details.
Our Adult Day Program starts at 18 years. Please visit our Dayhab page for more information.
What should I wear?
Dress appropriately for the weather. Long pants (jeans, leggings, or breeches) and closed-toe shoes are required; Crocs are not permitted. Shirts must cover the shoulders and midsection. Shorts are acceptable in very warm weather. Helmets are required at all times.
Are helmets provided?
Yes. Riders are welcome to borrow from our collection of helmets. We also recommend Green Valley Tack (www.greenvalleytack.com/) in Pine Island to purchase a helmet and they will make sure your helmet is properly fitted. Be sure to mention Winslow, as they generously provide our clients with a discount!
How do I enroll in lessons?
Complete the New Participant Packet (insert link) in its entirety and submit it to us via email at info@winslow.org, via fax at 845-988-5980, or in person at 1433 State Route 17A in Warwick, NY. We will reach out to schedule an Introductory Evaluation Visit soon after receiving the paperwork!
What will my first visit be like?
After submitting your New Participant Packet, we will schedule a 30-minute Introductory Evaluation. This appointment may occur on a day/time that is different from your future lessons. You will meet with an instructor to discuss your goals, followed by time on a horse to assess current riding skills, balance, ability to follow directions, focus, and comfort around and on horses.
Based on the evaluation, the instructor will recommend the learning approach that best fits your needs and goals. After this process, we will contact you to find a spot in our schedule that works well for you.
Do you ride year-round?
Yes! Lessons are offered year-round, weather permitting. We have both indoor and outdoor arenas, with the indoor arena heated during the winter. In extreme temperatures, ground lessons may be offered as an alternative to mounted riding.
What happens in the case of bad weather?
Lessons will occur as scheduled unless staff contact you directly as soon as the decision has been made to cancel.
Instructors may modify or cancel mounted lessons due to weather or unsafe conditions. Unmounted activities may be offered instead, including grooming, groundwork, horsemanship, or classroom lessons.
Mounted lessons may be replaced by unmounted activities when temperatures are extreme, or during unsafe conditions such as thunder and lightning.
How can I pay for my lesson?
Payment is due at the time of the lesson. We accept cash, checks, all major credit cards & ApplePay. You are welcome to keep a credit card on file with us which we will charge after your arrival. We also offer a Buy 10 Get 1 Free Package where you can purchase 10 lessons in advance and you will get the 11th lesson for free!
Do you accept insurance?
Unfortunately, we do not accept insurance for lessons.
How do you work with OPWDD?
While we cannot accept payments directly from OPWDD, we provide all of our clients who have benefits through OPWDD with a monthly statement to submit so that they can receive reimbursement for the lessons they paid for.
What is Winslow’s cancellation/late arrival policy?
Participants should arrive 5 minutes before their scheduled riding time to allow for a prompt start. If a participant arrives more than 15 minutes late, the remainder of the lesson will be used for an unmounted activity.. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the scheduled lesson may incur a $25 cancellation fee. If you do not show up for your lesson, there will be a $25 “No Call/No Show” fee.
What qualifies Winslow’s horses to be therapy horses?
Choosing a horse for our program involves many factors. After arriving, each horse spends 14 days in quarantine while our staff helps them adjust to their new environment, both indoors and outdoors.
Once acclimated, our Equine Team works with each horse on the ground and under saddle to evaluate their temperament, health, manners, responsiveness, and ability to handle a variety of interactions with riders. Horses must be adaptable and comfortable working with participants of different ages, abilities, and confidence levels.
Therapy horses are typically middle-aged, as they often have a well-rounded foundation of training and experience. Breed is not a determining factor—the horse’s temperament, health, and suitability for therapeutic riding are what matter most.