Location: St. Gabriel, Louisiana, United States
GaitWay Therapeutic Horsemanship is a nonprofit equine-assisted program serving children and adults with disabilities in the Baton Rouge area. The program is built around the healing power of the horse, offering adaptive riding and related experiences that help riders build strength, confidence, coordination, and connection in a supportive farm setting.
Set in St. Gabriel, GaitWay feels like more than a riding lesson program. It combines therapeutic purpose with a welcoming horse-centered environment where riders, families, volunteers, and horses all play an important role in the experience. Its public materials emphasize both the adventure of riding and the steady progress that can come through regular equine-assisted work.
About This Program
GaitWay focuses on adaptive lessons for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, with lessons customized to each rider’s specific needs. The program describes these sessions as helping improve physical, sensory, cognitive, emotional, and social skills, which gives it a broader therapeutic scope than a standard recreational riding barn.
The center is also a PATH Intl. member center, reflecting a structured approach to safety and participation. In addition to its adaptive programming, GaitWay also offers horsemanship lessons for riders of all abilities, which gives the center a more inclusive and community-based feel.
Services Offered
- Adaptive lessons
- Therapeutic riding
- Horsemanship lessons
- Private lessons
- Group lessons
- Summer camp
- Field trips
- Volunteer-supported equine-assisted programming
Who They Serve
- Children with disabilities
- Adults with disabilities
- Riders with physical disabilities
- Riders with mental or developmental disabilities
- Participants who benefit from adaptive riding
- Families in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas
- Riders of all abilities in horsemanship lessons
Facility and Setting
GaitWay operates from 1300 Lawrence Parkway in St. Gabriel, just outside Baton Rouge. The farm setting gives the program space for riding, horse care, volunteer involvement, and group activities, creating an environment that feels open, practical, and centered on everyday interaction with horses.
That setting appears especially well suited to riders who benefit from consistency and a calmer atmosphere. Public materials also point to added family-friendly features such as picnic tables and a playground area for field trip visits, which adds to the sense that this is a welcoming, community-oriented place rather than a narrowly clinical one.
What Makes Them Unique
What stands out about GaitWay is the way it blends therapeutic riding with a broader horse experience. The program offers adaptive lessons while also welcoming riders of all abilities through horsemanship lessons, which helps create an environment that feels inclusive rather than separate.
Its emphasis on individualized instruction, PATH Intl. standards, and strong volunteer support also gives the program a solid foundation. For families looking for a center that combines structured adaptive riding with a warm farm atmosphere, GaitWay offers a strong mix of professionalism and approachability.