Central Kentucky Riding for Hope
Lexington, Kentucky
Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. It offers therapeutic riding, groundwork lessons, equine-assisted psychotherapy and programs for veterans, students and other community groups. Its website says it serves children and adults with special physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs.
- Therapeutic riding and non-mounted horsemanship
- Minis & Me groundwork groups for children
- Equine-assisted psychotherapy
- Military groundwork program
- The Stables alternative school program
- Minis on the Move mobile outreach
- Adaptive summer camps
- Stable Foundations prison program
- Children and adults with disabilities
- Participants under 13 with mental health or learning disabilities
- Veterans and active-duty service members
- Students in grades 8-12
- Nursing home and daycare residents
- Women in custody
More about this center
About the Program
According to its website, CKRH was founded in 1981 with a pilot program that served four participants on borrowed horses. It now operates from the John A. and Virginia Creech Therapeutic Riding Center at the Kentucky Horse Park, and says its indoor facility was complete by 2011. CKRH says it earned PATH Intl. accreditation in 1987 and was recognized as a Premier Accredited Center by 1998.
Riding and groundwork lessons are led by PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructors. Equine-assisted psychotherapy is one-on-one, non-mounted talk therapy led by a clinical counselor in training under a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with an equine specialist handling the horse.
Getting Started
Participants need a physical, behavioral, cognitive, psychosocial or learning-related diagnosis, and everyone is evaluated before acceptance. Riders must be at least 5, and weight limits apply. To apply, send a registration packet and physician form to the Client Relations Director.
Registered Wounded Warrior Project members can receive 10 sessions at no cost through a WWP referral. See our guide to equine therapy for veterans.
Location
CKRH is at 4185 Walt Robertson Rd, Lexington, KY 40511, inside the Kentucky Horse Park off I-75 exit 120. Its mailing address is PO Box 13155, Lexington, KY 40583.
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?
Contact the Client Relations Director at clientrelations@ckrh.org or (859) 231-7066 for the registration packet and physician form.
How much do lessons cost?
CKRH lists therapeutic riding at $40 per 30-minute lesson, billed at the start of each session and payable up front or in weekly or monthly installments. Fees for other programs are not published.
Is there a minimum age?
Therapeutic riding starts at age 5. Minis & Me groundwork groups are for participants under 13, and The Stables serves students in grades 8 through 12.
When are sessions held?
Therapeutic riding runs in winter, spring and fall sessions of 4 to 8 weeks at the same day and time each week. Week-long, half-day adaptive camps run in June, July and August.
Location
Lexington, Kentucky 40511
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.