Happy Hooves Therapeutic Equestrian Center
Marietta, South Carolina
Happy Hooves Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Marietta, South Carolina, operating year round at Eden Farms. It offers therapeutic riding, equine assisted learning, school and vocational programs, and a veterans program. According to its website, it serves children and adults with special needs and at-risk children and teens.
- Therapeutic riding
- Equine assisted learning (group or private)
- School at the Barn
- Project SEARCH vocational training
- Veterans program
- Horsemanship and horse care
- Children with special needs
- Adults with special needs
- At-risk children and teens
- High school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Veterans and their partners
More about this center
About the Program
In therapeutic riding, participants learn horsemanship from the ground up, including grooming, tacking up, warming up and mounting. The center says the lessons build strength, balance, coordination and leadership skills. Equine assisted learning sessions, offered in groups or privately, teach life, social and communication skills such as healthy boundaries, body language, trust and self-awareness.
Through School at the Barn, students spend at least one full day a month at Eden Farms, with therapeutic riding and horse-based activities that teachers and Happy Hooves staff plan to support classroom lessons. Project SEARCH gives high school students with intellectual disabilities and developmental delays hands-on training in vocational skills. The veterans program, coordinated with Upstate Warriors Solutions, teaches veterans and their partners horsemanship from the ground up, grooming, horse care and riding. See our guide to equine therapy for veterans.
The Horses and Staff
The staff page lists an EAGALA certified equine specialist, a PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructor, therapeutic riding instructors who are professional PATH Intl. members, and instructor apprentices.
The horse page lists six horses, including Quarter Horses, a Belgian Draft, a Paint, a pony and a Tennessee Walking Horse, plus a miniature donkey. It also mentions 160 acres of trails at Eden Farms.
Volunteering
Volunteers start with an orientation, where they say which areas they would like to help with. Therapeutic riding runs Monday through Friday, with volunteers grooming and tacking horses and leading or side-walking in sessions. During the school year there are after-school and daytime programs, and field trips and special events take place throughout the year.
Location
Happy Hooves operates at Eden Farms, 4700 Dacusville Highway, Marietta, SC 29661, and serves the Upstate of South Carolina.
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 I sign up for lessons?
Call 864-898-0043, email happyhoovessc@aol.com or use the contact form on the center's website to ask about enrollment.
How much do sessions cost?
Contact the center at 864-898-0043 or happyhoovessc@aol.com to ask about current rates. Our equine therapy costs guide explains typical pricing.
When are lessons held?
Therapeutic riding is offered Monday through Friday, with after-school and daytime programs during the school year. The center operates year round.
Location
Marietta, South Carolina 29661
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.