Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center
Brooksville, Florida
Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a 20-acre farm near Brooksville, Florida. According to its website, it serves children ages two to eighteen through physical therapy, adaptive riding, reading intervention, and emotional and behavioral health programs.
- Physical therapy
- Adaptive riding
- Horse Powered Reading (certified program)
- Gallop small-group reading program
- P.E.A.S.E. emotional health program
- Blazing New Trails program for foster and adopted children
- Childhood cancer program (Ansley's Army of Angels)
- Private, family group and support group counseling
- Children ages 2 to 18
- Struggling readers
- Children dealing with anxiety, depression, grief or trauma
- Foster and adopted children
- Children in or recovering from cancer treatment
- Siblings and parents of children with cancer
More about this center
About the Program
The center says it is one of seven Horse Powered Reading Certified Programs in Florida. Learners work with horses on the ground to practice decoding, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Its Gallop program places two to three children with similar skills in a small reading group around the horses.
P.E.A.S.E. (Powerful Equine Assisted Self Exploration) is the center's own program for children dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, PTSD and trauma. Blazing New Trails supports foster and adopted children. Ansley's Army of Angels offers physical therapy for children in or recovering from cancer treatment, plus coping and grief counseling for siblings and parents.
The Horses and Staff
Founder and executive director Lisa Michelangelo, MPT, is listed as the center's physical therapist. According to her bio, she started the center in 2014 and has practiced physical therapy for more than 25 years. The team page also lists an occupational therapist (OTD, OTR/L) and a reading interventionist who leads Horse Powered Reading. The center lists a herd of 11 equines.
Getting Started
Riders must wear closed-toed shoes, long pants and a helmet. Parents supervise their children during sessions, and the center asks for at least 24 hours' notice of cancellations. To ask about enrollment and current rates, call (352) 428-1772 or email Lisa@EmeraldMTherapeuticRidingCenter.org.
Location
The farm is at 4022 Goldsmith Road, Brooksville, Florida 34602, on a hill overlooking pastures and hay fields. The handicap-accessible 8-stall barn houses an air-conditioned treatment room, and the arena behind it has a wheelchair-accessible mounting ramp. The Ansley's Army of Angels Equine Assisted Learning Center on the property, home to the emotional and behavioral health programs, is also fully accessible.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
What ages does Emerald M serve?
The center says it serves children ages two to eighteen.
What do riders need to wear?
Closed-toed shoes and long pants, and helmets are required at all times during sessions.
How much do sessions cost?
Call (352) 428-1772 or email Lisa@EmeraldMTherapeuticRidingCenter.org to ask about current rates. See our guide to equine therapy costs for general background.
Location
Brooksville, Florida 34602
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.