Children of Promise Stable
Nanuet, New York
Children of Promise Stable, Inc., known as COPS Barn, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Nanuet, New York. It offers individual therapeutic riding lessons for children and adults with special needs and says it has served Rockland County, the Hudson Valley and Northern New Jersey since 2001.
- Private therapeutic riding lessons (30 minutes)
- Mounted and ground-based activities
- Sensory Trail rides
- Year-round indoor arena
- School partnership with Nanuet School District
- Children with special needs (age 5 and up)
- Adults with special needs
- Special education students
More about this center
About the Program
COPS Barn lists private, one-on-one lessons of 30 minutes, once a week, running March through December. Each rider gets an individual plan built around physical, educational, social and recreational goals, such as balance, core strength, coordination, focus and emotional regulation.
Lessons take place in the Thomas J. Foley Indoor Arena, which allows riding in any weather, and on a shaded Sensory Trail in the woods beside the barn with visual, auditory and tactile stations. A Rockland Times article reported about 50 riders a week and a partnership with the Nanuet School District, whose special education students come to ride, groom horses and do crafts and garden work.
Getting Started
Riders must be at least 5 years old. Families submit an application packet with participant information, emergency contacts, medical forms and waivers, by mail or in person. Staff then schedule an evaluation and confirmation meeting, and the family completes a Session Selection Form.
The program lists weekday afternoon lesson times starting at 3:00 p.m. and weekend morning times from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The barn is closed on Mondays.
The Horses and Staff
Derek Drobenak is the program director, and a volunteer executive committee and board govern the nonprofit. The Rockland Times article named five therapy horses at the time, including Amigo, Reese's, Major, Tomahawk and Little Joe, many of them retired lesson horses.
Volunteering
Volunteers groom and tack horses, lead horses during lessons and walk alongside riders to support their balance. Shifts can be an hour or more, and sign-up details are on the center's volunteer page.
Location
COPS Barn is at 135 Convent Rd., Nanuet, NY 10954 (mailing address PO Box 656) in Rockland County. Along with the indoor arena, a Rockland Times article described an outdoor riding area and the wooded Sensory Trail beside the barn.
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 sign up for lessons?
Submit the application packet with medical and waiver forms, attend an evaluation meeting, then choose a session on the Session Selection Form. Registration details are on the center's Programs page.
What ages does COPS Barn serve?
Riders must be at least 5 years old, and the program serves both children and adults with special needs.
How much do lessons cost?
Call (845) 623-2677 or email info@copsbarn.org to ask about current rates. Our guide to equine therapy costs explains what to expect in general.
When are lessons held?
Lessons run March through December on weekday afternoons and weekend mornings. The barn is closed on Mondays.
Location
Nanuet, New York 10954
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.