Welcome to Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center in Lexington, Virginia

Welcome to Hoofbeats

Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. was founded in December 1993 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to provide services in four main areas:

Recreational Therapeutic Horseback Riding - Hoofbeats provides training in horsemanship and therapeutic horseback riding for people with disabilities (physical, mental, emotional, speech, and learning), for persons diagnosed with debilitating or life-threatening illnesses, and for a limited number of able-bodied children and adults. Lessons are designed for the client’s specific needs and focus on skills and exercises to enhance the client’s quality of life.
Equestrian Competition - Hoofbeats hosts and attends equestrian competitions that promote a positive atmosphere to showcase the skills and efforts of disabled and able-bodied equestrians.
Education - Hoofbeats promotes educational, academic, and life skills through joint riding and/or classroom projects with schools or rehabilitation centers.
Outreach - Hoofbeats engages in outreach programs to inform the public about the benefits of therapeutic riding and the concerns of the disabled. In all activities, Hoofbeats strives to encourage positive mental attitudes, physical fitness, trust, self-confidence, and independence that will supplement other forms of therapy and/or healing. Hoofbeats operates according to the standards and guidelines of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), of which it is an accredited premier operating center. Hoofbeats is also an active member of the Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia (TRAV).

HOOFBEATS FACILITIES

Hoofbeats is located on the grounds of the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia. Facilities include a 10-stall barn, and a large outdoor dressage arena, with a handicapped-friendly mounting ramp, and bleacher seating for spectators. The Horse Center’s riding trails, and Hoofbeats new Sensory Trail, are within easy reach, affording students the added opportunity to experience riding outside the ring. Three paddocks with run-in sheds provide turn-out for the horses. The barn’s climate-controlled wing houses the Hoofbeats office, kitchen, handicapped accessible bathrooms, a reception area, and a classroom/meeting room (which can be made available for use by outside groups.)

To learn about our staff and to meet our horses, click here.

DIRECTIONS TO HOOFBEATS

From U.S. Route 11 north of Lexington, turn west onto Rt. 39 (Maury River Road), and proceed approximately one mile. The Virginia Horse Center is on the left, and is well marked. Turn into the Virginia Horse Center complex, and drive straight ahead along the "concourse" that runs between the barns, to the stop sign at the end. Turn diagonally right at that stop sign, and continue through the "South Campground" area. At the campground's far end is the start of the roadway that descends through the woods and bears left uphill to the Hoofbeats barn. This map of the Horse Center's central campus is included here courtesy of the Virginia Horse Center.