Silver Spur Therapeutic Riding Center
Cave Creek, Arizona
Silver Spur Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit adaptive riding program in Cave Creek, Arizona. It offers small-group therapeutic riding lessons on Saturday mornings for riders who need an adaptive approach, with each session shaped around the rider's needs.
- Adaptive therapeutic riding lessons
- Small-group lessons for riders of similar ability
- Trail riding and obstacle course work
- Horse care lessons
- Volunteer opportunities
- Riders who need adaptive riding
- Riders with cerebral palsy
- Riders referred by physical therapists
- Families of riders
More about this center
About the Program
Silver Spur stays deliberately small so parents, riders and volunteers get to know each other. Riders are grouped with others of similar ability. Each horse has its own walk and personality, and Debra Kermott pairs each rider with a horse based on the rider's needs.
Lessons blend the English style traditional in PATH Intl. riding with Western reining. Riders learn neck reining and how to direct the horse with their legs, which works the core and leg muscles. Kermott consults with riders' physical therapists, and Total Pediatric Therapy refers many riders. Sessions can also include trail riding, an obstacle course, horse care and hands-on activities such as decorating cowboy boots.
History
Debra and Gary Kermott founded the center after boarding their horses near The Shea Center, a large PATH International program. Debra spent two years becoming a certified therapeutic riding instructor, and Silver Spur had a soft opening in September 2009 with three riders while the Kermotts lived in Utah. The program moved to Cave Creek in 2020. Debra Kermott, who has a background in education and music therapy, directs the center.
Getting Involved
Riders and volunteers each have their own sign-up form. Volunteers give hands-on help during lessons, and some families volunteer together.
Location
Silver Spur rides in Cave Creek, Arizona, north of Phoenix. The property has an outdoor arena with an obstacle course and a large metal ramada with ceiling fans. The mailing address is PO Box 7287, Cave Creek, AZ 85327. Visitors can call for an appointment to watch during lesson hours, Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
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 a rider?
Fill out the participant form on the center's Get Involved page, or call (480) 261-2039 or email contact@silverspurridingcenter.org to ask about openings.
When are lessons held?
Lessons run on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon, with a break over the winter holidays.
How much do lessons cost?
Call (480) 261-2039 or email contact@silverspurridingcenter.org to ask about current rates.
Can I visit before enrolling?
Yes. Call ahead for an appointment to visit during Saturday lesson hours.
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona 85327
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.