MESA Equine Assisted Services
Pinedale, Wyoming
MESA Equine Assisted Services, also known as MESA Therapeutic Horsemanship, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Sublette County, Wyoming. It offers adaptive riding lessons in Pinedale and Big Piney/Marbleton for children with physical, cognitive and emotional challenges, along with unmounted equine-assisted learning. MESA stands for Mind, Energy, Spirit, Attitude.
- Adaptive riding lessons
- Equine-assisted learning (unmounted)
- Lessons in Pinedale and Big Piney/Marbleton
- Annual fall rider horse show and community dinner
- Children ages 4 and up (adaptive riding)
- Riders with physical disabilities
- Riders with cognitive disabilities
- People with emotional or behavioral challenges
- Individuals and groups of all ages (equine-assisted learning)
- Sublette County residents
More about this center
About the Program
MESA was established as a nonprofit in 2012 and says its mission is to "promote physical independence, social interaction, and confidence through equine assisted services." Its core program is adaptive riding, a form of therapeutic riding, with lessons held in Pinedale and in Big Piney/Marbleton.
MESA also offers equine-assisted learning, an unmounted approach for individuals and groups of all ages that focuses on life skills such as confidence, communication and mindfulness. The adaptive riding program serves roughly 18 to 20 children, ages 4 and up, depending on the season.
The Horses and Staff
Carla Seely is MESA's executive director. Riders' favorites include Johnny Ringo, a brown gelding and long-time MESA horse whom one young rider described as "kind of a psychologist."
Community Events
Each fall, MESA riders show what they have learned at a horse show at the Sublette County Fairgrounds, followed by a community dinner and an art show. Everyone is invited, and donations and sponsors support the program.
Location
MESA does not have its own barn or arena. It has worked as a mobile program out of a horse trailer since it started, bringing its instructors, students and horses to property loaned by private landowners in the Pinedale and Big Piney/Marbleton areas. Families should contact MESA to confirm where lessons are held.
MESA is looking for a permanent facility of 10 to 20 acres. Seely has said the program can't grow until it has the space and horses to do so.
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 enroll my child at MESA?
Request services through MESA's website, mesarides.org. MESA has said it is at capacity until it finds a permanent facility, so ask about current openings or a waitlist.
What ages does MESA serve?
Adaptive riding serves children ages 4 and up. Equine-assisted learning is open to individuals and groups of all ages.
Where are lessons held?
Lessons take place in the Pinedale and Big Piney/Marbleton areas on land loaned by private landowners. Contact MESA to confirm the location for your sessions.
How can I support MESA?
MESA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so donations are tax-deductible. You can donate or sign up to volunteer through mesarides.org, and the fall horse show welcomes donations and sponsors.
Location
Pinedale, Wyoming 82941
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.