Location: Lebanon, Ohio, United States
Bridge Riding for the Disabled is a nonprofit therapeutic horsemanship program in Lebanon, Ohio, serving children and adults with disabilities in the southwestern Ohio region. Founded in 1987, the program has been building bridges between people with disabilities and horses for more than three decades, consistently serving over 50 riders each year. Bridge Riding is a PATH International member center with PATH-certified instructors, and operates through a combination of lesson fees, donations, and the dedicated work of trained volunteers.
About This Program
Bridge Riding operates on a straightforward and lasting mission: to help people with disabilities find new freedom through their experiences with horses. Every rider who comes to the program faces real challenges in their daily life, and the center’s approach is built around the belief that horses — through their warmth, their movement, and the partnership they require — offer something that cannot be easily found elsewhere.
Lessons are led by PATH-certified instructors with horse leaders and sidewalkers supporting each rider throughout the session. The three-dimensional movement of the horse at the walk engages the rider’s postural muscles, improving balance, coordination, and strength in ways that feel more like connection than exercise. For riders with tight or spastic muscles, the warmth and rhythm of the horse provides both physical input and emotional comfort.
Beyond the physical, Bridge Riding addresses communication skills, independence, and confidence. Riders who might otherwise spend their days defined by what they cannot do find themselves in an arena where they are directing a large, responsive animal — an experience that can shift something fundamental in how a person sees themselves.
Each new applicant is evaluated before joining the program to confirm that therapeutic riding is appropriate for their needs and that the program can safely and effectively support their goals. Safety is taken seriously: all riders wear helmets, horses are carefully trained for therapeutic work, and sidewalkers remain in close contact throughout lessons.
Services Offered
- Therapeutic horseback riding
- Grooming and horse handling as part of sessions
- Volunteer-supported riding lessons
- Volunteer training program
Who They Serve
Bridge Riding for the Disabled may be a good fit for:
- Children and adults with disabilities qualifying under the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Individuals with cerebral palsy
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder
- Individuals with intellectual disabilities
- Individuals who have experienced stroke
- Individuals with multiple sclerosis
- Individuals with balance, coordination, or mobility challenges
- Individuals with communication or speech challenges
- Individuals with tight or spastic muscles
Facility and Setting
Bridge Riding for the Disabled is located at 743 West Pekin Road in Lebanon, Ohio, in Warren County in southwestern Ohio. The program is directed by Pat Howe and operates from a farm setting where riders and volunteers come together each week to work with the horses. The facility is supported by a volunteer core trained specifically for the therapeutic riding environment.
- Lebanon, Ohio location (Warren County, southwestern Ohio)
- 743 West Pekin Road, Lebanon, OH 45036
- PATH International member center
- PATH-certified instructors
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- Volunteer-supported program
What Makes Them Unique
Bridge Riding’s greatest distinction is its longevity. Having served the same region continuously since 1987, the program has earned a depth of trust and community connection that newer programs simply cannot replicate. For families in Warren County and the surrounding southwestern Ohio area who are looking for a therapeutic riding experience with a proven track record and deeply personal leadership, Bridge Riding has been answering that need for generations.
The program’s deliberate simplicity is also worth noting. Bridge Riding is not a large, multi-program operation — it is a focused, volunteer-driven therapeutic riding program that has stayed true to its original mission for over 35 years. In a landscape where many organizations continuously expand and reinvent themselves, there is real value in a center that knows what it does well and does it consistently.