Location: Wichita, Kansas, United States
Freedom Hooves Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit equine-assisted services program in Wichita, Kansas, serving children and adults with disabilities through therapeutic riding and related horse-centered activities. Founded in 1999, the program has built a long-standing presence in south-central Kansas and focuses on helping riders grow through structured time with horses in a supportive, community-based setting.
The center combines therapeutic riding with a broader equine-assisted services model, giving participants access to both individual and group experiences. Its mission emphasizes improving quality of life for people with physical, behavioral, emotional, and developmental challenges through safe, professional programming built around horses, volunteers, and consistent rider support.
About This Program
Freedom Hooves focuses on therapeutic riding as its core service and describes its work as equine-assisted services for people with disabilities. The program is affiliated with PATH International and presents its riding sessions as structured experiences designed to support physical, psychological, social, and educational gains rather than simple recreational pony rides.
The program also appears to work in partnership with other organizations in the community. Public descriptions connect its services with special education classes, assisted living settings, Alzheimer’s and dementia care programs, at-risk youth services, and foster care-related support, which gives the center a broader community role than a typical lesson barn.
Services Offered
- Therapeutic riding sessions
- Private sessions
- Group sessions
- Equine-assisted services
- Summer camps
- Field trips
- Volunteer-supported programming
- Scholarship-supported participation for eligible riders
Who They Serve
- Children with disabilities
- Adults with disabilities
- Riders with physical disabilities
- Riders with behavioral challenges
- Riders with emotional challenges
- Individuals in special education programs
- Individuals in assisted living settings
- Individuals connected to Alzheimer’s and dementia care programs
- At-risk youth
- Individuals connected to foster care support programs
Facility and Setting
Freedom Hooves operates at 7303 E. Harry in Wichita, Kansas. The center’s public materials present it as a dedicated therapeutic riding facility with its own horses, volunteer base, and ongoing rider programming, creating an environment that feels purpose-built for equine-assisted work rather than simply a general riding stable with a small adaptive component.
The setting appears to support regular weekly rider interaction with horses, with the organization noting that its horses are central to the therapeutic experience. That gives the program a consistent, relationship-based feel where participants are not only learning to ride, but also building familiarity, trust, and confidence through repeated contact with the same animals and support team.
What Makes Them Unique
What stands out about Freedom Hooves is the way it frames horses as active partners in the therapeutic process. The program’s public messaging consistently centers on the idea that horses help unlock potential and create meaningful gains across physical, emotional, and social areas.
Its long operating history is another clear strength. Founded in 1999, the center has served the Wichita area for decades, and recent public descriptions say it assists more than 270 people annually. That combination of longevity, PATH affiliation, community partnerships, and scholarship support gives it the feel of an established regional program with real depth and continuity.