Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc
New Ringgold, Pennsylvania
Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center, Inc. (HHTLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that offers therapeutic riding for children and adults with physical, mental or emotional disabilities. Lessons take place at Helping Horse Farm, between Tamaqua and New Ringgold in eastern Pennsylvania.
- Therapeutic horseback riding
- Weekly group lessons (1 hour)
- Weekly private lessons (30 minutes)
- Indoor riding arena
- Volunteer side walker and horse handler training
- Children with disabilities
- Adults with disabilities
- Riders with physical disabilities
- Riders with mental or emotional disabilities
- Autism
- Cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis
- Down syndrome and developmental delays
More about this center
About the Program
Instructors certified by state and national organizations teach weekly lessons, and occupational and physical therapists volunteer to help meet riders' needs. Lessons run on weekday evenings in three sessions a year: an 8-week session starting in late April or early May, an 8-week session starting in July and a 6-week session starting in September.
Group lessons last one hour, and riders help groom and saddle their horse. Private lessons last 30 minutes, all spent riding, for riders who cannot physically or emotionally take part in preparing the horse. Each rider has an evaluation before lessons begin, which decides the lesson type. Because the farm has an indoor arena, lessons are canceled only for extreme weather.
The center accepts riders as young as two, with no upper age limit. Riders must weigh 150 pounds or less, and the center decides each case based on safety and the horses' well-being. Riders need a diagnosis, a prescription for therapeutic horseback riding and a signed release from their doctor.
The Horses and Staff
Harvey and Elaine Smith own the farm, run the program, teach lessons and care for the horses. They have been involved in therapeutic riding since 1985 and previously ran the Eastern Branch of the Schuylkill County Therapeutic Riding Program. Harvey is a retired occupational therapist, and both are PATH Intl. Credentialed Instructors and CECTH Qualified Instructors. Harvey Smith is executive director and Elaine Smith is program director.
The website lists four lesson horses: Boone, a registered Quarter Horse gelding; Shadow, a dark bay Tennessee Walking Horse; Olaf, a Norwegian Fjord trained to ride and drive; and Beau, a Standardbred pacer and the tallest of the lesson horses.
Volunteering
The lesson program is staffed entirely by volunteers, both teenagers and adults. Most are trained as side walkers who help riders with balance and focus, and volunteers with horse experience are trained to handle the horses during lessons. Volunteer forms need original signatures and are mailed to the center, which then contacts the volunteer.
Location
The center is at Helping Horse Farm, 375 Zions Stone Church Rd., New Ringgold, PA 17960, in a farming valley between Tamaqua and New Ringgold.
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 much do lessons cost?
Tuition is $25 per lesson, or $200 for an 8-week session, paid in advance. Group and private lessons cost the same. Partial tuition assistance is offered first come, first served through a financial aid form, and the center accepts payment from FSS and other service providers but not insurance or Access cards.
How do we get started?
Print the rider forms from the center's website, including a form completed by the rider's physician, and mail them with original signatures. The center calls when an opening is available to schedule an evaluation. Call Elaine or Harvey Smith at (570) 386-5679 (evenings and weekends are best) or email elshhtlc1@gmail.com.
What if we miss a lesson?
Makeup lessons are not offered, and refunds are given only when the center cancels a lesson.
Location
New Ringgold, Pennsylvania 17960
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.