SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center Programs & Camps
SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center, 4 Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon, CA 94503
About
SpiritHorse Therapeutic Riding Center Programs & Camps includes horseback riding, Western and English riding lessons, therapeutic riding, and horsemanship. Participants may take part in farm animal care, grooming horses, stall cleaning, horse feeding, crafts, snack time, and an overview of equipment. Some activities also include grooming and leading ponies or mini donkeys, painting animals, riding ponies, lounging horses, and helping with office paperwork.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Classes are taught in 45-minute lessons within sessions that range from 6 to 12 weeks, and students are asked to arrive 10 minutes early.
• Price: Tuition by month is $280, tuition twice a month is $180, Homeschool Enrichment is $280 per month, and pony party packages range from $800 for 2 hours to $1,500 for 3 hours.
The program offers Western riding and bareback lessons with a focus on teaching balanced riding, and English riding enrichment classes that give a direct connection with the horse and engage the whole body while riding. Therapeutic riding uses equine-assisted activities for the purpose of contributing positively to cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals with disabilities, and provides benefits in the areas of health, education, sport, recreation, and leisure for ages 5 and up. Western riding and English riding are offered for ages 5 and up, and as riders progress, SpiritHorse coordinates opportunities for them to participate in the Spirithorse Rider Showcase.
Camps at SpiritHorse are for students 3 and older and give an overview of different aspects of horse care and riding, with camp sizes kept small at only 6–12 participants per camp. The homeschool enrichment program introduces homeschooled children to basic horsemanship and farm animal care, and participants learn qualities such as patience and compassion. The objective of these programs is for students to leave with knowledge of horse and animal care, appreciation for hard work, appreciation for animals, and appreciation for themselves, while encouraging problem solving and teamwork between students and their horses and between each other.
The Horses Empowering Youth (HEY) program is a partnership with Camille Creek Community School in Napa, whose mission is to empower disenfranchised youth toward a productive future through restorative relationships, targeted instruction, and inspiring opportunities for growth. In HEY, SpiritHorse and the school align their missions to invest in these youth, using regular training and relating to horses to develop compassion, problem-solving, communication skills, leadership skills, and self-confidence. As part of HEY, guest speakers present different career paths in horses, including options involving college, trade school, or no further education beyond grit and determination.
Teens starting at age 12 can join the Junior Intern Program, where they get horses ready for each class by grooming, tacking, leading, and lounging. Interns help with lessons by leading horses and teaching what they have learned to new students under the supervision of a Certified Instructor, and they also help with all aspects of horse care such as cleaning and watering, as well as office paperwork. Interns learn lifelong skills with horses, business, teamwork, and giving back to the community, and they are described by the program as an important part of running SpiritHorse.
Pony parties at SpiritHorse are available to celebrate birthdays or other occasions, and all parties include exclusive use of the space for the group, all supplies needed for the animals, and pony experts to keep children engaged and safe. The program states that it makes space for every body at SpiritHorse and that it finds joy in serving those who are often overlooked in today’s society. SpiritHorse has partnered in the past with groups such as special needs groups, homeless families, children with chronic illness, women in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, fostered youth, military families, and Veterans through free camps, and invites interested groups to contact them about this free service.
SpiritHorse teaches in sessions that range from 6 to 12 weeks, allows students to register or drop out of a session at any time, and bills on a monthly basis, with tuition sent out the first week of the month and due by the next cycle. The program asks for 24-hour cancellation notice or the lesson will be charged. Interns help with lessons under the supervision of a Certified Instructor, and the leadership includes Charlotte Dougherty. The stated mission of SpiritHorse is that every life can be empowered through horses.
Last updated March 10, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Classes are taught in 45-minute lessons within sessions that range from 6 to 12 weeks, and students are asked to arrive 10 minutes early.
• Price: Tuition by month is $280, tuition twice a month is $180, Homeschool Enrichment is $280 per month, and pony party packages range from $800 for 2 hours to $1,500 for 3 hours.
The program offers Western riding and bareback lessons with a focus on teaching balanced riding, and English riding enrichment classes that give a direct connection with the horse and engage the whole body while riding. Therapeutic riding uses equine-assisted activities for the purpose of contributing positively to cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals with disabilities, and provides benefits in the areas of health, education, sport, recreation, and leisure for ages 5 and up. Western riding and English riding are offered for ages 5 and up, and as riders progress, SpiritHorse coordinates opportunities for them to participate in the Spirithorse Rider Showcase.
Camps at SpiritHorse are for students 3 and older and give an overview of different aspects of horse care and riding, with camp sizes kept small at only 6–12 participants per camp. The homeschool enrichment program introduces homeschooled children to basic horsemanship and farm animal care, and participants learn qualities such as patience and compassion. The objective of these programs is for students to leave with knowledge of horse and animal care, appreciation for hard work, appreciation for animals, and appreciation for themselves, while encouraging problem solving and teamwork between students and their horses and between each other.
The Horses Empowering Youth (HEY) program is a partnership with Camille Creek Community School in Napa, whose mission is to empower disenfranchised youth toward a productive future through restorative relationships, targeted instruction, and inspiring opportunities for growth. In HEY, SpiritHorse and the school align their missions to invest in these youth, using regular training and relating to horses to develop compassion, problem-solving, communication skills, leadership skills, and self-confidence. As part of HEY, guest speakers present different career paths in horses, including options involving college, trade school, or no further education beyond grit and determination.
Teens starting at age 12 can join the Junior Intern Program, where they get horses ready for each class by grooming, tacking, leading, and lounging. Interns help with lessons by leading horses and teaching what they have learned to new students under the supervision of a Certified Instructor, and they also help with all aspects of horse care such as cleaning and watering, as well as office paperwork. Interns learn lifelong skills with horses, business, teamwork, and giving back to the community, and they are described by the program as an important part of running SpiritHorse.
Pony parties at SpiritHorse are available to celebrate birthdays or other occasions, and all parties include exclusive use of the space for the group, all supplies needed for the animals, and pony experts to keep children engaged and safe. The program states that it makes space for every body at SpiritHorse and that it finds joy in serving those who are often overlooked in today’s society. SpiritHorse has partnered in the past with groups such as special needs groups, homeless families, children with chronic illness, women in drug and alcohol rehabilitation, fostered youth, military families, and Veterans through free camps, and invites interested groups to contact them about this free service.
SpiritHorse teaches in sessions that range from 6 to 12 weeks, allows students to register or drop out of a session at any time, and bills on a monthly basis, with tuition sent out the first week of the month and due by the next cycle. The program asks for 24-hour cancellation notice or the lesson will be charged. Interns help with lessons under the supervision of a Certified Instructor, and the leadership includes Charlotte Dougherty. The stated mission of SpiritHorse is that every life can be empowered through horses.
Last updated March 10, 2026.
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