Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center
Columbia, Missouri
Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on East Highway 163 in Columbia, Missouri, founded in 1988 by a group of equine professionals. It provides equine-assisted therapy for people with physical, mental and emotional disabilities and runs special programming for veterans. The center says it serves more than 150 people a year.
- Therapeutic riding lessons
- Programming for veterans
- New rider evaluations
- Spring, summer and fall sessions
- Volunteer training
- People with physical disabilities
- People with mental and emotional disabilities
- Veterans
- Riders of all ages
More about this center
About the Program
The center says it has been accredited by PATH Intl. for over 30 years and that every class includes a PATH certified instructor. Executive Director Karen Grindler is a PATH Certified Instructor. Lessons are tailored to each rider and aim to build motor skills, confidence and emotional well-being.
Spring and fall sessions run 8 weeks and summer sessions run 6 weeks. Spring and fall classes are listed on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and evenings and on Saturday mornings. Classes are rarely canceled for weather, and any cancellation is posted on Facebook and Instagram. A 2024 COMO Magazine profile describes the setting as a 60-acre ranch with forest and trails, with mostly donated horses.
Getting Started
First-time riders attend a new client evaluation, held three times a year in the week before each session starts. Call 573-814-9700 to be scheduled. Riders must weigh 180 pounds or less, and instructors and occupational therapists review each rider's eligibility regularly.
Registration forms are required for each session, and a physician's release is due once a year. If there is a waitlist, priority goes to riders who have turned in all required paperwork.
Volunteering
Volunteers age 12 and up serve as sidewalkers, horse leaders and grooms, and help with special events and farm projects. No horse experience is required except for leading horses. Volunteers commit to a full session, usually about 2 hours a week, and new volunteers attend in-person training before the session starts. Call 573-814-9700 to sign up.
Location
The center is at 4895 E Hwy 163, Columbia, MO 65201, in Boone County. It serves riders across mid-Missouri.
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 much do lessons cost?
The website lists an 8-week spring or fall session at $600 and a 6-week summer session at $450, with a $50 deposit at registration for self-pay riders. Scholarships are available, and families who would like help with the cost can email a request to cedarcreektrc@gmail.com before the session begins; scholarship riders pay a $160 co-pay. See our guide to equine therapy costs.
Does the center accept Boone County Family Resources funding?
Yes. The center says riders funded through Boone County Family Resources should confirm funding with their Support Coordinator before the session starts.
How do I get started?
Call 573-814-9700 to be scheduled for the next new rider evaluation, held the week before each session begins.
Location
Columbia, Missouri 65201
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.