The National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) is a California nonprofit, founded in 1971, that is internationally recognized as a pioneer of equine-assisted programs. From a 12-acre campus in Woodside, on the San Francisco Peninsula, its team of licensed therapists, certified instructors, and equine specialists serves children and adults — roughly ages 2 to 85 and older — living with physical, cognitive, and mental health conditions.¹

This overview introduces NCEFT as an organization: its history, its range of programs, the standards it holds itself to, and how a long-established center fits into the wider world of equine-assisted services.

Who NCEFT Is

NCEFT is a nonprofit public-benefit organization that has operated continuously since 1971, making it one of the longest-established equine-assisted centers in the United States.¹ Over five decades it has grown from a small program into one of the nation’s larger equine-assisted therapy organizations, with a reputation that reaches well beyond the Bay Area.

Part of that reputation traces to its people. Barb Heine, who served NCEFT as volunteer, executive director, and board president through the 1990s, was also a founding member of the American Hippotherapy Association’s certification board and AHA president from 1997 to 2000.² That overlap helped place NCEFT near the center of how clinical equine work developed in the United States.

The Campus and Setting

NCEFT operates from a purpose-built equestrian campus at 880 Runnymede Road in Woodside, California. The 12-acre property includes indoor and outdoor arenas, accessible mounting areas, barns, and open space arranged to make the environment calm and predictable for people new to horses.

The setting matters because so much of the work depends on it. A space designed for accessibility and steady routine lets participants of very different ages and abilities take part in the same place, year-round.

Program Areas

NCEFT runs several distinct kinds of programming. Some are clinical and delivered by licensed professionals; others are instructional or community-focused. The descriptions below reflect how NCEFT presents its own services.

Hippotherapy

NCEFT’s clinical core is hippotherapy: physical and occupational therapy that incorporates a horse’s movement, delivered by licensed therapists as part of a treatment plan.¹ Whether this approach is appropriate for any individual is a decision made with qualified professionals, and it works as one part of a broader plan of care rather than a replacement for conventional therapy.

Mental Health and Resilience

The center offers individual and group mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults, including people managing chronic illness, grief, or trauma. These resilience programs use the horses and the property as the setting for work led by NCEFT’s clinical staff, again as a complement to, not a substitute for, professional mental health care.

Adaptive Riding and Horsemanship

Alongside its clinical services, NCEFT provides adaptive riding lessons and unmounted horsemanship. These sessions focus on riding skills, grooming, leading, and barn routines, and are instructional rather than clinical, with pacing adjusted to each participant’s comfort.

Veteran and First Responder Programs

NCEFT provides services free of charge to United States military veterans and first responders.³ Programming for this community emphasizes teamwork, pacing, and connection, and may combine group sessions with horsemanship and outdoor experiences. You can read more about this area in our guide to equine therapy for veterans.

Community and Group Programs

Throughout the year NCEFT hosts camps, school visits, and small-group activities aimed at building familiarity with horses in a welcoming setting. These are open to children, teens, and adults, and serve as an accessible entry point for newcomers.

Who NCEFT Serves

NCEFT works with an unusually wide range of participants, from very young children to adults well into their eighties. The conditions it addresses include cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Down syndrome, autism, developmental delay, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.¹

Access is a stated priority. NCEFT provides financial assistance to clients who qualify, reaching more than 30 percent of its clientele, so that cost is less likely to keep someone from taking part.³

Standards, Accreditation, and Horse Welfare

For a directory of programs, the trust signals an organization carries matter as much as its services. NCEFT holds Platinum status with Candid (GuideStar) and a five-star rating with GreatNonProfits, and it is the only Northern California facility member of the American Hippotherapy Association.³

On the welfare side, NCEFT holds Guardian status with the EQUUS Foundation, a designation tied to high standards of horse care.³ Its horses work in limited, structured sessions and receive dedicated rest and turnout, with staff and volunteers following consistent barn procedures refined over decades.

Location and Contact

NCEFT operates solely from its Woodside campus. People typically reach out directly to ask about programs, scheduling, or upcoming events.

Address:
880 Runnymede Road
Woodside, CA 94062

Phone: (650) 851-2271
Email: info@nceft.org

Why NCEFT Stands Out

More than fifty years of continuous operation, a clinical program staffed by licensed professionals, and a campus built for accessibility together make NCEFT one of the most established equine-assisted centers in the country. Its breadth — from hippotherapy and mental health work to adaptive riding and free veteran programs — is wider than most centers attempt.

For families weighing whether an equine-assisted program is right for them, NCEFT is a useful reference point for what a long-running, well-credentialed center looks like, even for those outside the Bay Area. To find a center closer to home, you can browse programs by state in our directory.

SOURCES

1. National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy — About. nceft.org/about
2. National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy — History. nceft.org/about/history
3. NCEFT nonprofit profiles — Candid/GuideStar and EQUUS Foundation (accreditations, financial assistance, veteran services).