Bradley’s Equine Assisted Therapeutic Riding Center (BEAT)
Banks, Oregon
Bradley's Equine Assisted Therapeutic Riding Center, known as BEAT, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Banks, Oregon, about 20 miles west of Portland. It offers therapeutic riding for people with disabilities, and its website says it serves more than 30 riders each week from Portland and Washington County.
- Therapeutic horseback riding
- Riding instruction for school district and community groups
- Volunteer training in therapeutic riding and horsemanship
- People with disabilities
- Riders with autism
- Riders with cerebral palsy
- Riders with Down syndrome
- Head Start and YWCA groups
- School district groups from Forest Grove, Beaverton and Hillsboro
More about this center
History
Phyllis Herinckx and Jackie Hopper founded BEAT in 1997. The center is named for Bradley, a student with cerebral palsy and learning impairments whose physical and cognitive progress on horseback inspired the program. It received its federal tax exemption in 1998 and is funded mainly by individual donations.
The Horses and Staff
Phyllis Herinckx is the director. Jackie Hopper, a co-founder, is a PATH International certified therapeutic riding instructor who has worked as a riding instructor since 1992 and focuses on dressage and natural horsemanship. Sarah Lucia and Brigid Walsh are also listed as instructors. BEAT says it is a member of PATH Intl. and follows its safety and operating guidelines.
The Our Horses page lists eight horses, including two Norwegian Fjords, an Appaloosa, an Arabian, a Mustang and a Bavarian Warmblood.
Volunteering
Volunteers lead horses, side-walk with riders, groom, clean stalls, help in the office and run fundraisers. Horse experience is not needed for most jobs, though volunteers who work directly with riders during lessons need to be physically fit. Training in therapeutic riding and horsemanship is ongoing. Volunteers commit to a set day and time each week and arrive 30 minutes before class to groom and tack horses. New volunteers can attend a few sessions first to see if it is a good fit.
Location
BEAT is based at Horsin-A-Round Stables, 41919 NW Wilkesboro Rd, Banks, OR 97106. Riders come from Portland and Washington County.
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 enroll a rider?
Call 503-324-3071 or email bradleysequine@gmail.com to ask about openings and next steps.
How much do lessons cost?
Contact the center at 503-324-3071 or bradleysequine@gmail.com for current rates.
Do volunteers need horse experience?
No. The center says horse experience is not necessary for most volunteer jobs, and it provides ongoing training.
Location
Banks, Oregon 97106
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.