Horses of Hope, Inc.
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
Horses of Hope, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Clinton County, Pennsylvania, with a mailing address in Lock Haven and lessons at a leased farm in Mackeyville. It offers therapeutic riding for people with special needs, a no-cost program for veterans and military personnel, community riding lessons and a ground-based horse program.
- Therapeutic riding (mounted and unmounted lessons)
- Heroes & Horses program for veterans
- Community riding lessons
- In Hand Connection ground-work program (no riding)
- Volunteer opportunities
- People with special needs
- Veterans and military personnel
- Riders without therapy goals who love horses
- People who want to work with horses from the ground
More about this center
About the Program
In therapeutic riding, participants have weekly lessons that include grooming, tacking and riding. Mounted lessons last 45 minutes, and unmounted lessons are also offered. Instructors assess each participant's needs and work with volunteers during lessons.
Heroes & Horses is for past and present military personnel and is offered at no cost to the veteran. Participants groom and bond with the horses and learn to read their behavior. See our guide to equine therapy for veterans.
Community Riding offers one-hour lessons for riders without specific therapy goals or special needs who simply love horses. The In Hand Connection, led by Sue Cavanaugh, teaches grooming, leading and groundwork with no riding.
History
Executive Director Laurie Flanagan started Horses of Hope in fall 2009 after seeing that therapeutic riding was not available to residents with special needs in Clinton County. It became a member of NARHA (now PATH Intl.) and received 501(c)(3) status in 2010. The program began with three riders and one horse, and it says it serves about 65 riders a year with help from more than 40 community volunteers. The In Hand Connection was added in 2023.
Getting Started
New therapeutic riding participants complete the Participant Packet, including a medical history filled out by their physician. Mounted lessons are $40 and unmounted lessons are $20, as listed. Sponsorship is available for mounted lessons, and families who need help with the cost can check the sponsorship section of the packet to receive an application.
Community Riding lessons are $50 for one hour, as listed, and payment is due before lessons are scheduled. Riders complete the Community Riding Registration Form and call to check lesson times. Volunteers can download a volunteer packet from the website.
Location
Lessons take place at Belle Springs Farm on Stoltzfus Lane in Mackeyville, Pennsylvania, a leased 10-acre property with a seven-stall barn, outdoor arena, round pen, walking trail and pastures. Mail goes to PO Box 94, Lock Haven, PA 17745.
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 therapeutic riding?
Complete the Participant Packet from the Horses of Hope website and have your physician fill out the medical history section. Check the sponsorship section if you would like help with the cost of mounted lessons.
How much do lessons cost?
The website lists therapeutic riding at $40 per mounted lesson and $20 per unmounted lesson, and community riding at $50 per hour. Heroes & Horses is free for veterans.
How do veterans join Heroes & Horses?
Email horsesofhopeinc@gmail.com or call 570-660-6881 to ask about joining. The program is free for past and present military personnel.
How do I contact Horses of Hope?
Call 570-660-6881 or email horsesofhopeinc@gmail.com.
Location
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 17745
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.