River Valley Riders

The mission of River Valley Riders is to enrich the lives of children and adults with special needs by providing equine-assisted services. RVR creates an environment where people with special needs connect with horses in activities that are adapted to their physical, social and learning challenges.

Benefits include improvement of balance, increase of core strength, development of self-confidence, and improvement of social skills. These activities benefit a wide range of participants including children and adults with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental delay, paralysis and many other types of disabilities.

Stories of RVR shared by riders' parents:
• "Following our lessons with RVR, our family is able to go out to eat in a restaurant because my child is calm and able to control his behavior."
• "My 26-year old son with autism has participated in speech therapy with RVR for five weeks. We have seen significant improvement in his communication during this time. He has participated in many other therapies since the age of three, but RVR is one he enjoys."
• “Watching my daughter ride with RVR is like opening presents at Christmas. She is able to do something that you would not think even possible when you see her with her crutches or wheelchair.”

These outcomes demonstrate the value our services. We are making a real impact on these individuals' lives.

Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1999, RVR first served eighteen horseback riders in 2000. Our capacity has grown to serve one-hundred individuals through weekly therapeutic riding and carriage driving lessons, equine-assisted speech therapy and unique programming for local schools' special education students.

Our participants are members of an underserved population. Many of their families are faced with financial challenges. We have never turned away a participant for an inability to pay for our services by offering a scholarship program, funded by generous donors. Also with donor support of our operating fund, we are able to keep our service fees below the fees of other similar programs.

The majority of our participants live in Washington (55%) and Ramsey (23%) counties. RVR’s primary facility is in Afton on thirty-eight acres owned by the organization. Our secondary lesson site is near New Richmond, Wisconsin.

RVR currently serves children and adults diagnosed with:
• Autism spectrum disorder 31%
• Developmental delay 15%
• Down syndrome 12%
• Cerebral palsy 10%
• ADHD 4%
• Traumatic brain injury 4%
• 12 other disabilities 15%

Their age groups are:
• 4-11 26%
• 12-17 29%
• 18-29 24%
• 30-49 16%
• 50+ 5%

RVR's services are unique and special:
• We serve adults in addition to children of four years of age and older.
• We do not limit services based on disability as long as a physician approves participation.
• We offer therapeutic carriage driving as an alternative to riding. RVR is the only organization in Minnesota with this program.
• Our programs offer continuity and consistency for twenty-six weeks to maximize our participants' progress and benefits.
• We partner with schools to provide programming for their special education students, including Minnesota Waldorf School in St. Paul in 2022.
• We primarily use volunteer horses, not owned by RVR.

RVR's focus on safety and our individualized, goal-oriented approach for participants are key attributes that are upheld and maintained by staff, volunteers and board members. RVR's commitment to safety is evidenced by our membership in the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) which has developed standards of safety and administration. Additionally, all instructors are trained and certified through PATH Intl.