Contact us to schedule an intake lesson & explore how horses can bring strength, growth and joy to your life.

HorsePower Therapeutic Riding
Phone:  (815) 508-0804
Fax:  (815) 827-4902
Email:  Info@HorsePowerTR.com
Mailing Address:  PO Box 361, Elburn IL  60151
Lessons available at Fox Chase Farm, 46W276 Route 38, Maple Park IL  60151

Welcome to HorsePower Therapeutic Riding at Fox Chase Farm in Maple Park IL. 

Our goal is to provide creative, inspiring, and challenging therapeutic horseback riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities.  

Physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges no longer need to stand in the way of those with special needs who dream about getting into the saddle and making a connection with a special horse.  We strive to show our students the horse's power to change us, inside and out!   Individualized lesson programs  include intake and assessment sessions, groom  and tack, groundwork, and  horseback riding instruction.  We also provide non-disabled riders the extra support they may desire as well as carefully trained, reliable horses and a safe, fun environment in which to learn. 

Therapeutic horseback riding is a dynamic recreational activity in which individuals with special needs are  able to overcome challenges and learn new skills.  Communication, connection, and teamwork between the student and their horse offers opportunities for physical, emotional, cognitive, sensory and social growth.  Plus, the horse provides irresistible motivation which allows students to achieve more in the saddle than other traditional sports and therapies.

HorsePower students are taught to ride with ever-increasing levels of independence.  Trained volunteer horse leaders and side-walkers are provided initially, and slowly pulled away over time as the rider demonstrates the ability to safely guide their own horse.  All students are encouraged to schedule adequate time to learn how to groom and tack their horse prior to the lesson....enriching the bond and providing additional opportunities for skill acquisition. 

                                                                    IN THE NEWS!! 
               -FOLLOW THE BELOW LINKS TO VIEW OUR RECENT MEDIA FETURES-

Front Page article in the Elburn Herald.  (summer 2012)
http://elburnherald.com/25083/2012/06/21/horsepower-riding-program-helps-build-skills-confidence/

Daily Chronicle article on the front page of the "Faith" section.  (summer 2012)
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?

"Moving Pictures" article and photos on the front page of the "Neighbor" section of the Daily Herald. 
(Fall 2012)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120921/news/709149524/

"Moving Pictures" Feature in the Daily Herald (Fall of 2012)  (audio interview with photo slideshow)
http://bcove.me/9qaxndh4

January 9, 2012 Article in The Kane County Cronicle
http://www.kcchronicle.com/2013/01/07/maple-park-organization-offers-therapeutic-riding/a6dr7f6/

"While I have been an equestrian enthusiast all my life, my passion for therapeutic riding began with my son's first ride.  Max, my youngest son, has a developmental disability.  His condition is called Complex III Deficiency Mitochondrial Metabolic Disorder.  This mouth-full of a diagnoses includes hearing impairment, cognitive impairment, fine and gross motor delays, and significant apraxia (inability to speak).  He was 8yrs old at the time we registered him for therapeutic riding lessons. We had done every therapy imaginable for Max, and had never seen him try harder or have more fun while making significant progress.  He quickly developed his core strength, allowing him better muscle tone and breath support for speech.  Social skills improved as well as fine motor ability and, most importantly, he had a powerful sense of confidence in his riding skills that spilled over into the rest of his personality and how he approached life.  I become a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) certified instructor within the year and bought a horse (Tonka, a Belgian-cross gelding) the following year.  On a daily-basis as an instructor, I feel the joy of bringing these same life-changing experiences to other children and adults with disability-related challenges.  HorsePower puts my degree in Recreation Therapy, my obsession with horses, and my skills as a special needs parent to the best possible use.  Every day at "work" feels like "play".  How lucky am I?  HorsePower Therapeutic riding is the culmination of varied life experiences which at times felt like burdens.  Isn't it great when life's journeys come together to create something wonderful?  At HorsePower, it is our mission to achieve non-profit status, fund-raise, and offer all the benefits of horseback riding to everyone with a disability, regardless of their ability to pay.  We want to remove some of the barriers to horsemanship, making it physically, emotionally, and financially accessible to all who have the desire to make that special connection with horses."        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ~Carrie Capes
My son's Occupational Therapist's observations:
"I have seen Max for Occupational Therapy in his school setting, weekly, for the past 5 years.   I believe his involvement with therapeutic horseback riding has attributed to his increased core strength, balance and overall coordination.  This gross motor improvement has aided in his fine motor development as well. With many therapies working together, including therapeutic horseback riding, Max is making strides in all area of development."   -Cindy Roth, OT



                                                 Carrie brings Education and Experience to HorsePower Instruction

                   BS in Recreation Therapy  from ISU                Life-Long Equine Enthusiast                                        Moderately Fluent in Sign Language
                   20 yrs Therapy Experience                                 Special Needs Parent for 11 years                                 Skilled in PECS
                   PATH Certified Instructor                                  Co-Founder of Parents As Advocates                           Augmentative Comm. Abilities
                   Horse Owner                                                          Kaneland School District Substitute Teacher         

Melissa Hughes, HorsePower PATH Certified Instructor
Melissa brings much to HorsePower Therapeutic Riding!  She has experience with a wide variety of riders with disabilities and is currently developing a Therapeutic Carriage Driving program at HorsePower.  She and her team of volunteers are getting American Miniature Horse, Allie Cat, ready!  Lessons should be available in the Spring of 2013.  Missy recently was accepted into the prestigious dressage instructor school founded by France's Phillip Karl.  We are all so proud of her!

Here is what folks are saying about Missy!
"Missy's calm and confident way of teaching is exactly what  our daughter needs to  feel secure in trying new things in the arena.  Missy is not only a skilled  instructor, but a good role model as well."  -parents, Tim and Jennifer Brown 
"I like my instructor, Missy, because I love to play her games.  I also have fun with Missy when we groom Windy.  Missy is nice and fun. " -student, Noelle

Physical Endurance          Social Skills                Relaxation                          Following Directions          Frustration Tolerance
Coordination                       Memory                      Cognitive Skills                 Strengthening                      Expression of Emotions
Balance                                 Cooperation               Motor Planning                Focus & Attention               Recreation and Fun
Fine Motor Skills              Assertiveness              Flexible Thinking              Confidence                           Enjoyment of Nature
Sensory Input                    Communication         Auditory Processing        Empowerment                     

           Hearing Impairment            Fetal Alcohol Syndrome           Sensory Integration Disorder
           Autism                                     Developmental Delay                 Depression & Anxiety
           Down Syndrom                      Cerebral Palsy                             ADD / ADHD
           Asperger's                                Multiple Sclerosis                      Speech Delay
           Cognitive Impairment           Spina Bifida                                Emotional / Behavioral Disorders
           Learning Disorders                Panic Disorder                            Bi-Polar 
           Convergence Disorder           Apraxia/Dyspraxia