Methow Valley Riding Unlimited
Winthrop, Washington
Methow Valley Riding Unlimited (MVRU) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Winthrop, Washington, that delivers horsemanship programs for children and adults. It offers equine-assisted services, including therapeutic riding, school-based social-emotional learning programs for Methow Valley students, and riding lessons.
- Therapeutic riding
- Equine-assisted services (one-on-one or small groups)
- Equine-facilitated social-emotional learning
- School-based programs (Let 'Em Ride, HorsePower, PonyPower, Open BarnYard)
- Private and semi-private English and Western lessons
- Group lesson series
- Summer horse camps
- Children and adults
- Methow Valley school district students
- Students in grades 3 through 12 (school programs)
- Tweens and teens (HorsePower)
- Riders of any age and experience level (lessons)
More about this center
About the Program
MVRU began in the summer of 1993 as a 4-H pilot project and is guided by a board of directors. It is a PATH Intl. member center and says it follows PATH International safety and certification standards.
Its equine-assisted services can include games and exercises on horseback or on the ground, along with grooming, tacking up, vaulting and therapeutic riding, aimed at building self-esteem, balance, strength, coordination and independence. Sessions can be one-on-one or in small groups.
School Partnerships
MVRU runs four equine-facilitated mental health and learning programs for students in grades 3 through 12: Let 'Em Ride, HorsePower, PonyPower and Open BarnYard. Each mixes horsemanship, riding and horse care to build communication, decision making and problem solving. These programs are free to families and grant funded, and a clinical psychologist works with tweens and teens in HorsePower.
The Horses and Staff
Annie Budiselich founded MVRU and is its Program Director and Head Instructor/Trainer. She has been a PATH Intl. Registered Instructor for more than 20 years, is a CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) Master Instructor, and has more than 40 years of teaching experience. The team includes assistant instructors and pony trainers, and the About page says MVRU owns four horses and occasionally uses privately owned horses with the owners' permission.
Location
Lessons are held at Crown S Ranch, 7 Twin Lakes Road, in Winthrop in Washington's Methow Valley. MVRU leases its facilities at the ranch. Mail goes to PO Box 58, Winthrop, WA 98862.
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 sign up?
Registration forms, a medical release and a scholarship application are posted on the Registration page and are mailed in with tuition. Late registrations go on a waiting list. For private lessons or equine-assisted services, email annieb@mvriding.org or call (509) 996-9881.
How much does it cost?
A five-week group lesson session is listed at $280. Scholarships are available, and families who need help with the cost can apply (a $50 processing fee applies). School-based programs are free to families.
When do lessons run?
Individual lessons typically run March through November, weather permitting. Group lessons run as seasonal series of up to six weeks, with no more than four riders per lesson.
Location
Winthrop, Washington 98862
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.