Location: Waxahachie, Texas, United States
Campfire Creek Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit therapeutic riding organization in south Waxahachie, Texas, in Ellis County, established in 2005 by Emily Oliver. The center was born from a personal calling after Oliver witnessed firsthand the impact of therapeutic riding at another Texas program and recognized that no such facility existed in Ellis County.
What began with three horses and fifteen students has grown into a program with multiple certified instructors, approximately fifty active students, three arenas, and a herd of therapy horses carefully chosen for temperament and patience. Campfire Creek is a faith-rooted organization that welcomes riders of all backgrounds, operating with a mission to restore hope and heal hearts one rider at a time.
About This Program
Campfire Creek’s approach centers entirely on the horse as a therapeutic partner. The organization describes its horses as heroes — sensitive enough to detect emotion, steady enough to carry both the rider and their story, and patient enough to meet each person where they are. That belief shapes how sessions are designed and how the center communicates its work to families.
The therapeutic riding program serves children, teens, and adults with a wide range of diagnoses and challenges. Sessions are led by certified instructors supported by sidewalkers and trained volunteers, with lift assistance available for riders who need extra help mounting. Every session includes a check-in with families, and safety protocols follow PATH International standards throughout. Riders enter through a structured application and assessment process to ensure the program is a good fit before sessions begin.
Lessons run on a scheduled block basis, with sessions offered multiple days per week and on alternating Saturdays. The program accepts riders from age three and up. Outcomes targeted through the program include improved confidence and independence, better balance, mobility, and core strength, reduced anxiety, and genuine connection with horses, staff, and the wider Campfire Creek community.
Campfire Creek operates from an explicit Christian foundation and describes its work as a calling to serve with Christ-like compassion. While faith is central to the organization’s identity, its programs are open to everyone and every family is welcomed.
Services Offered
- Therapeutic horseback riding (certified instructors, ages 3 and up)
- Sidewalker and staff support during sessions
- Family check-ins each session
- Lift assistance for mounting
- Annual Ride of Champions event (student showcase and awards)
- Volunteer program
- Fundraising events including auctions
Who They Serve
Campfire Creek Therapeutic Riding Center may be a good fit for:
- Children, teens, and adults with diverse disabilities and challenges, from age 3
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder
- Individuals with anxiety or trauma histories
- Individuals with cerebral palsy
- Stroke survivors in recovery
- Individuals with limb differences
- Individuals with neurological challenges
- Individuals with emotional or behavioral challenges
- Families in Ellis County, Waxahachie, Midlothian, and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth area
Facility and Setting
Campfire Creek is located at 767 Bethel Road in south Waxahachie, Texas, in Ellis County. The property is set in the rolling landscape of south Waxahachie and includes three arenas, a barn with stables and tack room, and outdoor seating areas for families to observe sessions. The quiet country atmosphere is intentionally part of the therapeutic experience.
- Waxahachie, Texas location (Ellis County, south of Dallas-Fort Worth)
- 767 Bethel Road, Waxahachie, TX 75167
- Three arenas, barn, stables, and tack room
- PATH International certified instructors
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- Accessible location
What Makes Them Unique
Campfire Creek fills a genuine geographic gap. Ellis County had no therapeutic riding facility until Emily Oliver built one in response to a need she witnessed and felt called to address. That founding story — personal conviction, faith, family support, and years of preparation — gives the center an authenticity that resonates with the community it serves.
The annual Ride of Champions event is also a meaningful differentiator. Rather than limiting riders to private lessons without external recognition, Campfire Creek creates a public moment where students demonstrate their skills, receive awards, and are celebrated by their community.
For families navigating disability in a region where adaptive recreation options are limited, that kind of recognition matters enormously. For families in Ellis County and the southern Dallas-Fort Worth area seeking a faith-grounded, warm, and professionally run therapeutic riding program, Campfire Creek is the defining local resource.