Stable Influence Charity Programs
Phoenix, Arizona
Stable Influence Charity Programs is a nonprofit that offers therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities in New River, Arizona, serving the Phoenix metro area. Riders are youth and adults with physical, mental or emotional challenges, and new riders are welcome to join ongoing classes.
- Therapeutic riding lessons
- Equine-assisted activities
- Ground and on-line horsemanship skills
- Riding skills from balance work to all gaits
- Summer evening riding classes
- Youth and adults with physical, mental or emotional challenges
- Children and adults with disabilities, including cerebral palsy
- People recovering from stroke
More about this center
About the Program
Each rider's program is shaped around personal goals. In the ground work portion, riders guide a horse from the ground through tasks such as walking across a tarp, stepping through a hula hoop, backing up and yielding the hindquarters, which builds balance, timing, focus and planning.
Riding skills start with balance, including riding forward, sideways and backward, then move on to steering with reins, working through obstacles and riding at all gaits, including the canter. Stable Influence says it has been a PATH Intl. member center since 1998.
The Horses and Staff
Director Chris Hudson has worked with people with challenges through horses since the late 1970s and holds Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning credentials. The herd includes Dakota, a Paint mare with a smooth trot and broad back; Gracie, a black-and-white Paint mare; Liber-T, a Dutch Warmblood and Thoroughbred cross who is especially gentle with the youngest riders; and Spirit, a chestnut Quarter Horse whose narrow barrel and quicker stride suit riders who are not yet ready for more trunk movement.
Volunteering
Volunteers lead horses, walk beside riders as side walkers, tack and untack horses, and help riders mount and dismount. Volunteers must be 12 or older and able to walk for about four hours, and training is provided.
Location
Classes take place in New River, Arizona, near Shangri La Lane and New River Road. Call (623) 465-0637 for the exact address and directions, or to arrange a visit. Mail goes to P.O. Box 54006, Phoenix, AZ 85078.
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.
When are classes held?
From September through May, classes run Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 8:45 to 11:00 a.m. From June through August, classes meet Tuesday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
What do new riders need to start?
Riders need a physician's authorization to take part. Call (623) 465-0637 to ask about openings and sign-up; the phone is a land line and cannot receive texts.
How much does riding cost?
Fees follow a sliding scale. Call (623) 465-0637 to ask about current rates.
Location
Phoenix, Arizona 85078
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.