Swiftsure Ranch Therapeutic Equestrian Center
Bellevue, Idaho
Swiftsure Ranch Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a 191-acre ranch just south of Bellevue, Idaho. It offers therapeutic riding and therapeutic carriage driving for people with physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral or social challenges. Its website says programs are free to eligible participants.
- Therapeutic riding (mounted and unmounted lessons)
- Therapeutic carriage driving, including a wheelchair-accessible carriage
- Equine-assisted learning
- Youth horse camps (ages 4 to 13)
- Partnerships with Camp Rainbow Gold and the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind
- Children and adults with physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral or social challenges
- Children with cancer and their families (through Camp Rainbow Gold)
- Youth with hearing or vision loss (through the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind)
- Veterans (through partner organizations)
More about this center
About the Program
Lessons are one hour, once a week, offered Monday through Friday year-round in four seasonal sessions. The website calls Swiftsure "a learning barn and not a show training barn." Unmounted activities may be offered when riding is not recommended.
For people who cannot ride because of disability, weight or fear, the ranch offers therapeutic driving, where participants learn to drive a carriage and care for the horse. Its website says it is the only PATH-certified driving center in Idaho, and a 2022 local news report describes a wheelchair-accessible carriage with a hydraulic lift.
History
The program began in summer 1991 as the Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped (SETCH), started by Kristy Pigeon in Hailey. SETCH bought the current ranch at auction in 2011, moved there in May 2012 and took the Swiftsure Ranch name.
Volunteering
Program volunteers must be 14 or older and commit one to two hours a week for an 8 to 12 week session, handling horses or sidewalking. Horse experience is helpful but not required.
Location
Swiftsure Ranch is at 114 Calypso Lane, Bellevue, ID 83313, off Highway 75 a few miles south of Bellevue. The ranch prefers scheduled site visits, and visitors check in at the main office.
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 much does it cost?
The website says all programs are free to participants who meet its eligibility requirements. The camps page lists fees for some camps, so call (208) 578-9111 to ask about camp costs.
How do I get started?
A parent or guardian contacts the lead instructor to discuss eligibility and get enrollment forms. A referral is required from a professional such as a doctor, therapist, counselor, social worker or teacher. After an in-person assessment, a weekly lesson is scheduled when a spot opens, or the participant joins the waiting list.
What ages can participate?
The Ride With Us page says participants must be at least 4, while the FAQ says 2 and older. Call (208) 578-9111 to confirm.
Location
Bellevue, Idaho 83313
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.