Breaking Free Therapeutic Riding Center
Norwich, Ohio
Breaking Free Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit riding center in Norwich, Ohio, in the southeastern part of the state. It offers therapeutic riding for children and adults with disabilities, along with riding lessons, equine facilitated learning and summer horse camps. The center says it earned Premier Accredited Center status with PATH Intl. in 2013.
- Therapeutic riding lessons
- Beginner and intermediate riding lessons
- Equine facilitated learning (ground-based)
- Family Enhancement program
- Summer one-day horse camps for school groups, clubs and businesses
- Children and adults with disabilities, ages 4 and up
- Youth and adults learning to ride
- Families going through a major life change
- School groups, clubs and businesses
More about this center
About the Program
Therapeutic riding is open to anyone age 4 to 100 who qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act. All participants are assessed before placement in a program. Riders must weigh no more than 200 pounds and be able to be supported by side walkers.
Lessons last 45 minutes, with three to four students in a group, and can include unmounted time on grooming and saddling. Sessions run Tuesday through Thursday, with daytime and evening times. The center lists 14 equine partners, more than 1,200 lessons taught in a year and up to 45 riders a week.
Equine facilitated learning sessions take place on the ground and focus on communication and teamwork. The Family Enhancement program uses the horses to help families who have been through a difficult change spend time together and set shared goals.
The Horses and Staff
Courtney Blaney is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, and also coordinates volunteers. Linda Lake is the executive director.
History
According to its website, Linda Lake started the program in 2007 on her family farm with a few of her own horses. It has grown from five original volunteers to more than 50 a year.
Volunteering
Volunteers age 16 and older can serve as side walkers, horse leaders, camp helpers, feeders or facility helpers. No horse experience is needed. New volunteers complete an interview and a full-day training and safety course, with a yearly refresher after that.
Location
The center is at 2781 N Moose Eye Rd, Norwich, OH 43767. Visits are by appointment. The office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; call (740) 995-9395 for hours on other days.
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 new rider?
Call the office at (740) 995-9395. After the application and assessment, new riders are added to the waiting list and contacted when a lesson spot opens.
What are the requirements for therapeutic riding?
Riders must be 4 or older, qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act, weigh 200 pounds or less and be able to be supported by side walkers.
How much do lessons cost?
Call (740) 995-9395 or email 1bftrc@att.net to ask about current rates. Our guide to equine therapy costs explains what to expect in general.
Can groups book a camp?
Yes. The center holds one-day horse camps in the summer for school groups, clubs and businesses. Call the office to register.
Location
Norwich, Ohio 43767
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.