Location: Monterey, Virginia, United States
Dare to Dream Therapeutic Horsemanship Center is an equine-assisted services program in Monterey, Virginia. The program provides therapeutic horsemanship and related equine-assisted activities in a peaceful mountain setting, with services designed for children, adolescents, adults, families, and groups. It follows PATH Intl. standards and presents itself as a place where horses, nature, and structured support come together to help participants grow, heal, and build confidence.
This is not a general riding barn. Dare to Dream is built around therapeutic horseback riding and horse-centered support for people facing physical, cognitive, emotional, and trauma-related challenges. The program has a strong healing focus, and its mission is tied not just to riding instruction, but to therapeutic horsemanship and mountain retreat experiences that help participants work through challenges in a safe and caring environment.
About This Program
Dare to Dream Therapeutic Horsemanship Center provides equine-assisted activities and therapies through trained staff, volunteers, and therapy horses in Monterey. The program serves individuals with many different needs and public listings show activities that include therapeutic riding, groundwork, grooming and tacking, recreational riding, camps, drill team, and veterans programs.
The program has a broader therapeutic horsemanship model than a standard riding center. It is designed for people with physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional challenges, and its mission specifically includes healing for people who have experienced trauma and other difficulties. That gives the program a more holistic feel, with horsemanship, relationship-building, and the natural setting all playing an important role in the overall experience.
Services Offered
- Therapeutic riding
- Ground work
- Grooming and tacking
- Recreational riding
- Veterans programs
- Camps
- Drill team
- Equine-assisted activities and therapies
- Scholarship-supported participation when funds are available
Who They Serve
Dare to Dream Therapeutic Horsemanship Center may be a good fit for:
- Children
- Adolescents
- Adults
- Families and groups
- Veterans
- At-risk youth
- Individuals with autism
- Individuals with cerebral palsy
- Individuals with Down syndrome
- Individuals with brain injury or head trauma
- Individuals with PTSD
- Individuals with emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs
- Individuals affected by violence, abuse, trauma, or substance abuse
- Individuals with visual, hearing, orthopedic, learning, or other cognitive and physical challenges
Facility and Setting
Dare to Dream Therapeutic Horsemanship Center is located at 515 Wade Woods Lane in Monterey, Virginia. The program is based in Highland County and describes its setting as a high mountain pasture in the mountains of Virginia, with the beauty of nature and the horses forming a central part of the participant experience.
The setting feels especially well matched to the program’s mission. Rather than operating out of a purely instructional facility, Dare to Dream combines therapeutic horsemanship with a peaceful mountain environment, which supports the center’s emphasis on healing, trust, confidence, and deeper personal growth through time with horses.
What Makes Them Unique
Dare to Dream Therapeutic Horsemanship Center stands out for the way it combines therapeutic horsemanship with a mountain retreat model. Its mission is not limited to adaptive riding alone. It is also focused on helping people heal from trauma and other challenges in a setting that feels restorative, quiet, and intentionally supportive.
It also stands out for the breadth of programs and populations it serves. With therapeutic riding, camps, veterans programs, and support for children through adults across many different diagnoses and life circumstances, Dare to Dream offers a wide-reaching equine-assisted program with a strong therapeutic identity.