Colby’s Army

About the Program

Colby's Army says its mission is to help people with life challenges through outreach and interactions with animals and nature. Along with mounted lessons, its equine activities include ground driving, round penning, advanced obstacle leading, and grooming and stable management. The center is a PATH Intl. member and says its instructors are certified.

Sessions typically run in the spring and fall and depend on the weather. Activities are canceled when the actual or "feels like" temperature reaches 94 degrees or higher, or when temperature plus humidity reaches 150 or more, and instructors decide on cold-weather cancellations. The organization also runs job training for people with special needs, an organic garden program and homeless outreach.

Getting Started

Therapeutic riding is open to riders age 5 and older who weigh 195 pounds or less, are proportionate in height and weight, and have the head, neck and trunk control to sit upright for 20 to 30 minutes. Wheelchair users who weigh more than 140 pounds can't ride mounted and are encouraged to join unmounted equine-assisted learning instead. Equine-assisted learning is for ages 10 and up.

Both programs need paperwork signed by a physician or mental health provider. Next comes an onsite assessment at the learning center, and then the participant is matched with an instructor and horse for the next session.

History

Colby's Army was founded in memory of Colby Keegan, a musician, artist and environmentalist from Nashville who died in 2009. His mother, Lisa Wysocky, founded it with several others and serves as executive director. The farm has wooded acres, hiking and riding trails, an organic garden, a year-round creek and a new covered arena.

Location

The learning center is at 1394 George Boyd Road, Ashland City, TN 37015. Look for the banner at the end of the long driveway on the east side of the road. Visits are by appointment only, and the property is drug, alcohol and smoke free, with no dogs or cats allowed. The mailing address is PO Box 90464, Nashville, TN 37209.