Serenity Therapeutic Equine Program
Minot, North Dakota
Serenity Therapeutic Equine Program, known as STEP, is an equine-assisted therapy program south of Minot, North Dakota. It runs a summer program of weekly horseback sessions for people with physical disabilities, and most of its riders are children. Its stated mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve success through equine-assisted therapies.
- Hippotherapy for children, in partnership with Trinity Health
- Weekly summer riding sessions
- Game-based riding activities for core strength, stability and range of motion
- Children
- People with physical disabilities
- Riders with neuromuscular challenges
More about this center
About the Program
According to its website, STEP operates only in summer because of North Dakota winters, and it lists Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., as its summer hours. The summer program typically runs for 10 weeks, with each rider coming at the same time once a week. Sessions last 30 or 45 minutes depending on the heat.
Riders build core strength, stability and range of motion through games on horseback, such as shooting hoops, placing rings, jousting, matching games and balancing an egg on a spoon. Trinity Health, which partners with STEP, describes hippotherapy as using a horse's movement as a treatment strategy for people with neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Riders and horses have dressed in costumes for the last session of the season.
The Horses and Staff
Kristi Schaefer, the executive director and a therapy riding instructor, started STEP in the fall of 2010, and the first riders took part in 2011. She began volunteering with the hippotherapy program at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in 1995 and ran that program from 2005 to 2010.
In 2018, Trinity Health teamed up with Schaefer and Nancy Gasmann, a Trinity Health physical therapy manager, to expand the pediatric therapy options it offers. Gasmann helped start the hippotherapy program at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in 1993, and she works alongside riders during sessions.
Volunteering
Volunteers, along with Schaefer and Gasmann, serve as side walkers who walk beside the horse, lead activities and help keep sessions safe. Core volunteers often work with the same riders each week.
Location
STEP is located at 7580 16th St SW, Minot, ND 58701, south of the city.
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.
When does STEP hold sessions?
The website says STEP operates only in summer and lists Thursday hours. The program typically runs for 10 weeks, once a week at the same time for each rider, so call to confirm this season's dates.
How do I enroll or ask about cost?
Call (701) 833-7911 or email Kristi@serenitytep.com to ask about openings and current rates. The website also has a contact form.
Who can ride?
STEP serves people with physical disabilities, and most of its riders are children. Contact the program to ask whether it is a good fit for your child.
Location
Minot, North Dakota 58701
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.