Horses with Hearts
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Horses with Hearts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Martinsburg, West Virginia, that describes itself as a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center. It offers therapeutic riding for children and adults with physical, mental or emotional special needs, along with ground-based learning programs, a memory support program and miniature horse visits.
- Therapeutic riding
- Equine-assisted learning
- Horse Powered Reading
- Mini-Hearts miniature horse visits
- Connected Horse memory support workshops
- Equine-assisted leadership workshops
- Children and adults with special needs
- Riders age 3 and older
- Children who struggle with reading
- People living with memory loss and their care partners
- Nursing homes, schools and community groups
- Businesses and nonprofit teams
More about this center
About the Program
Therapeutic riding sessions mix mounted and unmounted activities, using games to teach horsemanship and riding skills built around each rider's goals. The center lists diagnoses including autism, ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and traumatic brain injury.
Equine-assisted learning sessions are mostly ground based and focus on life skills such as trust, communication, self-control and teamwork. Horse Powered Reading, part of this program, pairs groundwork with horses and props to build reading skills like decoding, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
Connected Horse is a no-cost program for people living with memory loss and their care partners: workshops of 2.5 hours, once a week for three weeks, limited to two or three pairs and done entirely on the ground. Through Mini-Hearts, two miniature horses and trained volunteers visit nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools, hospitals, churches and other sites for about 1.5 hours. The center also runs leadership workshops for businesses and nonprofits, and says that income helps fund scholarships.
Getting Started
The minimum riding age is 3. Riders submit paperwork each year, including a physician's health history form. Once paperwork is in and a spot is available, new riders have an intake meeting to make sure the program is a good fit. Riders must be able to mount, dismount or be safely supported on the horse, and weight limits, behavioral concerns or some medical conditions may mean riding is not safe for a particular person.
Scholarships are available through an internal fund. For current rates and session times, call 304-283-8071 or email info@horseswithhearts.org.
History and Staff
Kay Barkwill and Cathy Dodson co-founded Horses with Hearts, inspired by Lindsey Connelly, a girl who loved to ride and was left blind and using a wheelchair after surgery for a brain stem tumor in 1999, when she was eight. The program began with one horse and one rider and has served hundreds of people since 2005.
The center lists five PATH Intl. Certified Instructors, with Cathy Dodson as lead instructor. Kay Barkwill is board president. Volunteers help groom and tack the horses and walk beside riders during lessons, committing several hours a week for each six-week riding session.
Location
Horses with Hearts is at 1952 Files Cross Road, Martinsburg, WV 25404. Mail goes to PO Box 2186, Martinsburg, WV 25402.
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 enroll a rider?
Fill out the participant forms on the center's website, then call 304-283-8071 or email info@horseswithhearts.org. An intake meeting comes before the first ride.
How old does a rider need to be?
The minimum riding age is 3. Children and adults both ride.
Is there help with the cost?
Yes. Families who need help with the cost of therapeutic riding can apply to the center's scholarship fund. Connected Horse has no fee.
How do I book a Mini-Hearts visit?
Contact the center by phone or email. Visits can be one-time or recurring, and the program does not do pony rides or birthday parties.
Location
Martinsburg, West Virginia 25404
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.