Therapeutic Riding Center
Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center, 18381 Goldenwest Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
About
Therapeutic Riding Center offers therapeutic riding lessons, an unmounted equine learning program, and equine therapy that includes both Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Activity. Participants may take part in activities such as grooming horses, cleaning tack, and assisting lessons as side-walkers or horse leaders. The program also arranges field trips with TRC horses and birthday parties with TRC horses, which can include a therapeutic riding class demonstration and an equestrian center barn walk tour.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Price: Minimum donation is $350 for bringing a horse to a school, group or organization; minimum donation of $200 for field trips to TRCHB.
Therapeutic Riding Center was founded in 1990 by David Allen and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1992. It was certified through the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (now known as the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) in 1992 and is a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International. It is one of two PATH-accredited adaptive riding centers in Orange County and has a voluntary, peer-reviewed accreditation confirming that it demonstrates excellence in adaptive riding, incorporates best-practices, and maintains proper safety standards. In 2019, the program provided services to a record 80 students per week, and as of the end of 2025, the Huntington Beach location has risen to over 140 students per week.
The program offers adaptive, sensory-informed equine programs that support autistic and neurodiverse youth, as well as children and adults with a wide range of physical, developmental, and emotional needs. All Therapeutic Riding Center programs are designed with autistic and neurodiverse riders in mind, incorporating sensory-friendly instruction, predictable routines, emotional-regulation strategies, and opportunities for social communication and confidence-building. Every class is adapted to meet each rider’s individual needs, strengths, and learning style, and the program incorporates physical activities, occupational activities, speech and language skills, and emotional support. It provides low-cost adaptive riding services to children, youth, and adults with a variety of physical and developmental challenges and offers both mounted and unmounted group formats for equine therapy.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy at the program uses groundwork activities to encourage emotional processing, build self-awareness and resilience, strengthen social skills, and regulate stress. The Horses on the Move program brings a horse to external locations for visits, and field trips to TRCHB include a therapeutic riding class demonstration and an equestrian center barn walk tour. The program is designed to improve balance, focus, independence, motor skills, and social skills.
Sessions are led by PATH-certified instructors, and equine therapy is provided in conjunction with local mental health facilities, with sessions led by mental health professionals who work alongside equine specialists. The program serves children and adults from throughout Orange and Los Angeles County and is expanding into a new Long Beach location. The organization states that its mission is self-reliance through the special relationship with a horse and that it strives to empower people with physical and developmental challenges to discover their greatest strengths and gain a sense of self-confidence and self-reliance through the special relationship with a horse. One parent shared that “TRC has helped Amy overcome physical obstacles, gain her core strength, as well as helped her with emotional and social benefits, gaining lifelong friendships.”
Last updated June 25, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Price: Minimum donation is $350 for bringing a horse to a school, group or organization; minimum donation of $200 for field trips to TRCHB.
Therapeutic Riding Center was founded in 1990 by David Allen and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1992. It was certified through the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (now known as the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) in 1992 and is a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International. It is one of two PATH-accredited adaptive riding centers in Orange County and has a voluntary, peer-reviewed accreditation confirming that it demonstrates excellence in adaptive riding, incorporates best-practices, and maintains proper safety standards. In 2019, the program provided services to a record 80 students per week, and as of the end of 2025, the Huntington Beach location has risen to over 140 students per week.
The program offers adaptive, sensory-informed equine programs that support autistic and neurodiverse youth, as well as children and adults with a wide range of physical, developmental, and emotional needs. All Therapeutic Riding Center programs are designed with autistic and neurodiverse riders in mind, incorporating sensory-friendly instruction, predictable routines, emotional-regulation strategies, and opportunities for social communication and confidence-building. Every class is adapted to meet each rider’s individual needs, strengths, and learning style, and the program incorporates physical activities, occupational activities, speech and language skills, and emotional support. It provides low-cost adaptive riding services to children, youth, and adults with a variety of physical and developmental challenges and offers both mounted and unmounted group formats for equine therapy.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy at the program uses groundwork activities to encourage emotional processing, build self-awareness and resilience, strengthen social skills, and regulate stress. The Horses on the Move program brings a horse to external locations for visits, and field trips to TRCHB include a therapeutic riding class demonstration and an equestrian center barn walk tour. The program is designed to improve balance, focus, independence, motor skills, and social skills.
Sessions are led by PATH-certified instructors, and equine therapy is provided in conjunction with local mental health facilities, with sessions led by mental health professionals who work alongside equine specialists. The program serves children and adults from throughout Orange and Los Angeles County and is expanding into a new Long Beach location. The organization states that its mission is self-reliance through the special relationship with a horse and that it strives to empower people with physical and developmental challenges to discover their greatest strengths and gain a sense of self-confidence and self-reliance through the special relationship with a horse. One parent shared that “TRC has helped Amy overcome physical obstacles, gain her core strength, as well as helped her with emotional and social benefits, gaining lifelong friendships.”
Last updated June 25, 2026.
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