Freedom Trails Riding Center, Tiffin Ohio provides equine therapy for the handicapped in their spacious horse pavilion year round.

EQUESTRIAN THERAPY FOR THE HANDICAPPED

Freedom Trails Riding Center, Inc. (FTRC) is a therapeutic horseback riding center located in Tiffin, Ohio. We are a new 501c3 organization that completed our first season of riding sessions in 2006 after four years of hard work and determination by a small group of horse enthusiasts to get the program up and running.

FTRC wishes to provide another option for recreation, fun and exercise to people of the special needs community as they often have only limited choices in these areas.

The 2007 riding season began in mid-May. FTRC is hoping to grow and expand with more volunteers, horses and riders over the coming years. In order to accomplish this, we will need the help of others in the community who share our interests and who are willing to commit time, effort and money.

Volunteer Training Sessions
Our Volunteer Coordinator has scheduled a Volunteer Training Session for June 26, 2008 beginning @ 6:30 pm. Contact FTRC for more info if interested. Volunteers must be at least 14 years of age. 
No previous horse experience is required. Read more...

March Auction News
Thanks to our donors, our March Auction was a big success.
Read more...

Center seeks help changing lives through horses
Fostoria Review Times
By Sara Arthurs
Staff Writer

It was intended as a chance to get some recreation and exercise — but riding horses has changed clients' lives.
Freedom Trails Riding Center in Tiffin offers therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with disabilities. The nonprofit organization is holding a fundraising auction on Sunday.
Freedom Trails is about to start its third season of offering therapeutic horseback riding. The season runs from April through early November. Read more...

Horses Help The Handicapped
The Advertiser-Tribune
By Jill Gosche

Babe stops in front of the mounting stand and holds still while Jerry Recker climbs into the saddle. The 18-year-old quarter horse then starts circling the ring, while others hold onto the rider to make sure he doesn¹t fall.

After walking around the ring in the barn, Babe stops so Recker can practice his exercises. Recker's arms and hands horizontally swing around his body and later reach toward the ceiling.

Recker has William's syndrome and a heart defect, and the 25-year-old has the mental capacity of someone half his age. When he was 7 months old, his parents learned he would never walk or talk.
He's proven that belief wrong. Read more...