Hope Horses, Inc.
Cullman, Alabama
Hope Horses, Inc. is a nonprofit therapeutic horsemanship center on Convent Road NE in Cullman, Alabama. It offers therapeutic riding lessons for young people with physical, cognitive, social or emotional disabilities, along with camps and barn field trips. About 30 riders take part each week.
- Therapeutic and adaptive riding lessons
- Camps
- Field trips for schools, churches and groups
- Volunteer and internship opportunities
- Riders ages 5 to 25
- People with physical disabilities
- People with cognitive disabilities
- People with social or emotional needs
More about this center
About the Program
Riders must be between 5 and 25 years old and weigh no more than 150 pounds. Anyone in that range with a physical, cognitive, social or emotional disability qualifies for the adaptive riding program.
Hope Horses is a PATH Intl. accredited center and the only one in north Alabama. The program relies on fundraising events and community donations, and it celebrated 10 years of operation in February 2024.
Getting Started
Families start by scheduling a tour. After the tour, they complete the student application and a physician's form, then turn in all paperwork to join the waiting list.
Placement from the waiting list depends on the student's available days and times, horse use, and instructor and volunteer availability. Lessons are billed by invoice under a payment agreement. Call (256) 507-4088 or email krice@hopehorsesinc.com to ask about current rates; payment questions go to equine manager Mariah Miles at mariah.miles@hopehorsesinc.com.
The Horses and Staff
Kelsey Scott is the executive director and a PATH Intl. Certified Instructor. Allison Curl (volunteer coordinator) and Lauren Koller (activities director) are also PATH Intl. Certified Instructors, and equine manager Mariah Miles is a CHA-IRD instructor.
The herd includes Chief and Gray, both Quarter Horses, Bubbles, an Andalusian/Arabian, and Spots, a Tennessee Walker/Racking Horse cross.
Volunteering
Volunteers help with lessons, barn chores, horse care and fundraising events, weekly or occasionally. The minimum age is 14 (younger helpers need an adult with them at all times), and volunteers 19 and older need a background check. Every volunteer completes a tour, paperwork and an orientation. Groups are welcome, especially for projects that need more than five people, and internships are open to high school juniors and seniors and college students. Email volunteer@hopehorsesinc.com to sign up.
Location
Hope Horses is at 1301 Convent Road NE, Cullman, AL 35055, on property leased from the Benedictine Sisters. It serves families from Cullman and from outside the city.
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 we enroll at Hope Horses?
Schedule a tour, then complete the student application and physician's form. Once all paperwork is in, the rider joins the waiting list.
What are the age and weight requirements?
Riders must be 5 to 25 years old and weigh 150 pounds or less.
How much do lessons cost?
Call (256) 507-4088 or email krice@hopehorsesinc.com for current lesson rates. See our guide to equine therapy costs for general context.
Can a school or church group visit?
Yes. Hope Horses hosts field trips for schools, organizations and church groups. Contact activities director Lauren Koller at laurenkoller@hopehorsesinc.com to schedule one.
Location
Cullman, Alabama 35055
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.