Hands & Hearts for Horses
Thomasville, Georgia
Hands & Hearts for Horses is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit therapeutic riding center on a family farm in Thomasville, Georgia. It offers mounted therapeutic riding and unmounted horsemanship lessons for children and adults with documented disabilities, and its website says it serves families across South Georgia and North Florida.
- Therapeutic riding lessons
- Unmounted therapeutic horsemanship
- Hippotherapy (listed on website)
- School group partnership program
- Equine Growth & Wellness Program
- Inclusive summer camp
- Education and certification
- Team building
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Down syndrome
- Cerebral palsy
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple sclerosis and spina bifida
- Developmental delay and learning disabilities
- Hearing or visual impairments
- Psychological or behavioral challenges
More about this center
About the Program
According to its website, the center has been a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center since 2000, and its instructors are PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructors. Instructors work with healthcare professionals, educators and families to build individualized lessons for each rider.
The site also lists hippotherapy, a treatment that uses the horse's movement and is led by a licensed physical, occupational or speech therapist. The website gives no details on this program, so ask the barn who provides it and how to qualify.
History
The center says it was founded in 2000 by Terrell Singletary and Karen Leabo Singletary, with two volunteer teachers and three horses on Terrell's farm in Thomasville. By the end of its first year it reported 35 riders a week. The center marked its 25th anniversary in 2025.
Volunteering
Volunteers help in lessons as leaders and sidewalkers. No horse experience is needed, and volunteers as young as 10 are welcome. New volunteers attend a general training orientation, which the FAQ says is held monthly, and complete a volunteer profile form each year.
Location
Hands & Hearts for Horses is at 3824 Lower Cairo Rd, Thomasville, GA 31792. The FAQ lists barn hours as Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; call ahead to schedule a visit.
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.
How do we get started?
Schedule a tour by calling (229) 551-0086 or emailing the center. Then complete the participant form, which includes a liability waiver and a physician's statement from the rider's primary physician, followed by an initial evaluation.
Who can ride?
The FAQ says all riders have documented disabilities. People without disabilities can take part by volunteering or attending the inclusive summer camp.
How much do lessons cost?
Call (229) 551-0086 to ask about current rates; the center lists its own tuition scholarship plus outside funding sources such as Easter Seals of Southern Georgia. See our guide to equine therapy costs.
When are lessons held?
According to the FAQ, lessons run year-round, depending on the availability of horses, instructors and volunteers.
Location
Thomasville, Georgia 31792
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.