Location: Sanger, Texas, United States
Born 2 Be Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a nonprofit therapeutic horsemanship program in Sanger, Texas, just north of Denton and accessible from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The center is a PATH International Member Center with all instructors certified as Therapeutic Riding Instructors or adaptive carriage driving instructors — or both — and serves children and adults with physical, educational, intellectual, and emotional disabilities. By design, Born 2 Be is intentionally small and family-oriented, built around a volunteer-supported model that prioritizes a close-knit, personal environment for participants and families.
About This Program
Born 2 Be was founded on the belief that a partnership with a horse can help each individual become who they were always capable of being — hence the name. The center frames its work not as overcoming disability but as turning disability into possibility, and that philosophy shapes both the programming and the culture of the barn.
The therapeutic horsemanship program offers private lessons and small group sessions, with lesson plans individualized to each participant’s goals. Benefits targeted through riding include coordination, fine and gross motor skills, sequencing, balance, spatial awareness, self-esteem, and independence. Participants also have the opportunity to compete in horse shows, join a drill team, and participate in equestrian Special Olympics events, giving riders pathways to achievement and community that extend well beyond weekly lessons.
The therapeutic carriage driving program is one of the more distinctive features of Born 2 Be’s offerings. Driving provides an equine-assisted activity option for individuals who are unable or choose not to ride, placing the participant in a carriage or cart alongside a certified driving instructor. The movement and experience of driving offer benefits comparable to riding, with additional emphasis on hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. Participants in the driving program also have the opportunity to show competitively.
The center operates on a model of shared investment: most of the therapy horses are on loan or donated by community members, reflecting the collaborative spirit that runs throughout the organization. Volunteers are central to every session and are treated as genuine partners in the work.
Services Offered
- Therapeutic horseback riding (private and small group)
- Therapeutic carriage driving
- Grooming and tacking instruction
- Groundwork
- Drill team
- Horse shows
- Special Olympics equestrian competition
- Equine-assisted learning
- Horse boarding and arena rental
- Recreational riding
Who They Serve
Born 2 Be Therapeutic Equestrian Center may be a good fit for:
- Children and adults ages 5 through senior adults
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder
- Individuals with cerebral palsy
- Individuals with Down syndrome
- Individuals with ADD or other hyperactivity disorders
- Individuals with developmental delays or intellectual disabilities
- Individuals with learning disabilities
- Individuals with head trauma or brain injury
- Individuals with epilepsy or seizure disorders
- Individuals with spina bifida
- Individuals who cannot ride but wish to participate in equine activities (carriage driving)
- Individuals with emotional disabilities
- Special Olympics participants
Facility and Setting
Born 2 Be Therapeutic Equestrian Center is located at 12146 FM 2450 in Sanger, Texas, in Denton County. The facility serves families from the northern Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and includes indoor and outdoor riding and driving arenas, with boarding available for outside horses and arena rental for private use.
- Sanger, Texas location (Denton County)
- 12146 FM 2450, Sanger, TX 76266
- Indoor and outdoor arenas
- PATH International Member Center
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- Volunteer-supported, family-oriented program
What Makes Them Unique
Born 2 Be is one of a relatively small number of therapeutic equestrian centers in Texas that offers a dedicated adaptive carriage driving program alongside therapeutic riding. For individuals whose physical or medical circumstances preclude riding, or who simply find driving more accessible or appealing, this is a meaningful option that most centers cannot provide. The availability of certified adaptive driving instructors — a specialized credential — reflects a serious commitment to this population.
The center’s deliberate smallness is also worth noting. Many therapeutic riding programs aim to grow as large as possible. Born 2 Be has chosen to stay intentionally small in order to preserve the family-oriented culture and personal attention that the founders believe is inseparable from truly effective therapeutic horsemanship.
For families in the greater Denton County area who are looking for a program where their child will be known individually rather than managed as part of a large roster, Born 2 Be offers exactly that.