North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center (NCTRC) is a nonprofit equine-assisted services organization located in Mebane, North Carolina. Founded in 1977, NCTRC is the oldest therapeutic riding center in North Carolina and has served thousands of children and adults with physical, emotional, mental, social, and developmental challenges through equine-assisted activities and therapies. The organization’s mission is to empower participants to create more active, healthier, and more fulfilling lives through meaningful interactions with horses.
Accredited as a PATH International Premier Accredited Center, NCTRC provides high-quality therapeutic and educational programs led by certified instructors, licensed therapists, trained staff, and dedicated volunteers. The center serves participants from across central North Carolina, including Alamance, Orange, and Durham counties, offering specialized equine-assisted services in a safe and inclusive environment.
About This Program
NCTRC offers a comprehensive range of equine-assisted activities and therapies designed to address physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral challenges. Programs utilize the unique movement and relationship-building qualities of horses to help participants improve balance, coordination, communication, confidence, independence, and overall well-being. Services are tailored to individual goals and abilities, ensuring a personalized experience for each participant.
Participants may engage in adaptive riding lessons, hippotherapy, equine-facilitated psychotherapy, veterans’ programs, and inclusive camps. Through these services, riders and clients develop practical skills, emotional resilience, and meaningful connections while working alongside specially trained horses and professional staff.
Services Offered
- Therapeutic riding and adaptive riding lessons
- Hippotherapy services
- Equine-facilitated psychotherapy
- Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT)
- Veterans’ equine-assisted programs
- Inclusive summer camps
- Horse care and grooming education
- Adaptive horsemanship instruction
- Confidence and self-esteem development
- Balance and coordination improvement
- Communication and social skill development
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy support through hippotherapy
- Volunteer-supported therapeutic services
- Professional and instructor training opportunities
Who They Serve
North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center may be good for:
- Children with disabilities
- Teens and adolescents
- Adults with disabilities
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder
- Individuals with cerebral palsy
- Individuals with Down syndrome
- Individuals with learning disabilities
- Individuals with developmental delays
- Individuals with traumatic brain injuries
- Individuals with behavioral or emotional challenges
- Veterans
- Families seeking adaptive recreational opportunities
- Individuals seeking equine-assisted therapeutic services
Facility and Setting
NCTRC operates from a private farm facility in Mebane, North Carolina. The center provides a welcoming equestrian environment where participants can safely engage in riding lessons, therapy sessions, camps, and horse-centered activities. The facility is designed to support adaptive programming and accommodate individuals with a wide range of abilities and needs.
The organization is supported by a team of PATH-certified instructors, licensed therapists, staff members, volunteers, and carefully selected therapy horses. Together, they create an atmosphere that emphasizes safety, inclusion, personal growth, and participant success.
What Makes Them Unique
North Carolina Therapeutic Riding Center stands out as the oldest therapeutic riding center in North Carolina, with nearly five decades of experience serving individuals with diverse challenges and abilities. Since its founding in 1977, the organization has remained committed to improving lives through equine-assisted services and has helped thousands of participants achieve personal, physical, and emotional goals.
Another distinguishing feature is its PATH International Premier Accreditation and broad range of services, including adaptive riding, hippotherapy, psychotherapy, veterans’ programming, and inclusive camps. This multidisciplinary approach allows NCTRC to support participants across many areas of development while maintaining the highest standards of safety and program quality.