Sprout Therapeutic Riding & Education Center
Aldie, Virginia
Sprout Therapeutic Riding & Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a 27-acre farm in Aldie, Virginia, in Loudoun County. It offers adaptive riding, adaptive carriage driving, hippotherapy and group programs for children and adults with disabilities. The center says it serves about 185 people each week.
- Adaptive riding
- Adaptive carriage driving
- Hippotherapy (Equine Supported Therapy) with licensed PT, OT or SLP
- Sprout 4-H Horse Club
- IEA riding team (grades 4-12)
- CARROTS inclusive program for young adults
- School field trips and adaptive groups
- Children and adults with physician-documented disabilities
- Children from age 2 (hippotherapy)
- Young adults ages 15-35 (CARROTS)
- School and special education classes
- Community groups across Loudoun County
More about this center
About the Program
Therapeutic riding is open to riders age 4 and up with a disability documented by a physician, under 225 lbs, who can wear a helmet for 30 minutes. Adaptive carriage driving, also from age 4, suits people who cannot ride because of weight, balance, fatigue, allergies or fear of heights, with a 350 lb limit.
Equine Supported Therapy, also called hippotherapy, is led hands-on by a licensed physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist working with a horse handler. It is part of a treatment plan, needs orders from the participant's physician, and is open to children from age 2 who weigh under 150 lbs.
Lessons run weekly in a set time block, usually with the same instructor and horse. Private lessons are 30 minutes; semi-private lessons for 2 to 4 riders are one hour.
The Horses and Staff
Brooke Waldron is the executive director and a PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor. Riding instructors are certified through PATH Intl. and the American Riding Instructors Association. Operations director Anna Koopman is a PATH Intl. Level II therapeutic driving instructor and an FEI 3* combined driving competitor. The staff includes a licensed occupational therapist with American Hippotherapy Association training.
The 27-acre farm has an indoor arena, a lighted outdoor arena, a half-mile trail and 16 acres of turnout. Accessibility features include a SureHands lift platform for mounting, a motorized wheelchair lift, adaptive tack and a climate-controlled classroom with an ADA-compliant bathroom.
History
Sprout traces its roots to Richard Bacas, who was paralyzed by polio in 1944. After his death in 2005, his family set out to create a facility for people with similar needs. In 2009 they bought a foreclosed soybean farm in Loudoun County and rebuilt it as an accessible horse facility. It has been a tax-exempt nonprofit since 2011.
Volunteering
Volunteers age 14 and up serve as side walkers, horse leaders, lesson support and barn or farm helpers. Those over 18 need a background check, and new volunteers can sign up for an orientation on the center's website.
Location
Sprout is at 40685 Little River Turnpike (US Route 50) in Aldie, Virginia 20105. Group programs reach schools and groups across Loudoun County and Northern Virginia.
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 at Sprout?
Contact the center to join the waiting list. Enrollment includes an evaluation visit, registration forms with a physician's signature and a waiver, and then scheduling weekly sessions.
How much do sessions cost?
Adaptive riding is $55, adaptive driving $65 and hippotherapy $120 per visit. Sprout does not accept insurance but provides receipts. See equine therapy costs.
Is help with the cost available?
Community donations subsidize every program for all riders. Sprout also has a scholarship program, and families who need help with the cost can apply.
How do I contact Sprout?
Call (571) 367-4555 or email info@sproutcenter.org.
Location
Aldie, Virginia 20105
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.