Ride On St. Louis
Hillsboro, Missouri
Ride On St. Louis is a nonprofit equine-assisted services center in Hillsboro, Missouri, founded in 1998. According to its website, it serves veterans and children and adults with health complications, with programs tailored to people of all ages and abilities. It also runs programs for injured service members and for first responders and veterans who serve in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
- Customized equine-assisted services
- Barn Buddies vocational skills and equine-assisted learning
- Equine Services for Heroes
- R.I.S.E. for first responders and veterans in the Missouri Department of Corrections
- Helping Hands community program
- Outreach visits and presentations
- Children and adults with health complications
- People with disabilities
- Injured service members
- Veterans
- First responders
More about this center
About the Program
According to its website, Ride On St. Louis uses customized procedures that aim to improve abilities, support activities of daily living and improve function, and it takes a holistic approach to physical, cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual development. The center lists a wide range of diagnoses it works with, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, PTSD, spinal cord injuries, stroke and traumatic brain injury.
Equine Services for Heroes serves service members who have been injured. R.I.S.E. is an expansion of that program, offering rest, reflection and renewal for first responders and veterans who serve in the Missouri Department of Corrections. See our guide to equine therapy for veterans. Barn Buddies is a vocational skills, equine-assisted learning program with in-depth horse care education and hands-on work for people with disabilities, health-related obstacles or other challenges. Helping Hands helps participants contribute to their community through purposeful work and social connection. Outreach offers on- and off-site visits with the center's equine ambassadors and interactive presentations.
The Horses and Staff
The center was cofounded by CEO Marita Wassman, who the site lists as a PATH Intl. Advanced Credentialed Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Mentor. Ride On St. Louis says it is a PATH Intl. Member Center and a member of the American Hippotherapy Association. Through its Always Home program, horses that have finished their working careers live out their retirement on site in the center's care.
Getting Started
The website says demand exceeds capacity, so wait times may be long. Placement is not first come, first served; it depends on clinical appropriateness, staff availability, horse suitability, safety and program fit when space opens. Each horse has its own mounted weight limit, and the site lists some medical conditions, such as spinal instability and osteoporosis, that may rule out participation.
Location
Ride On St. Louis is located at 12 Crusader Circle, Hillsboro, MO 63050. Its mailing address is PO Box 144, Hillsboro, MO 63050. The center says it was the first equine-assisted services center to operate in the South County area of St. Louis.
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 join the waitlist?
Contact the center at (636) 464-3408 or info@rideonstl.org. Placement is based on fit and available resources rather than time on the list.
What does it cost?
Call (636) 464-3408 or email info@rideonstl.org to ask about current rates. Our guide to equine therapy costs explains typical pricing.
Who can take part?
The center serves children and adults, including people with disabilities, injured service members, veterans and first responders. Each horse has a rider weight limit, and some medical conditions may prevent mounted participation.
Location
Hillsboro, Missouri 63050
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.