Our Mission
Our Services
Our Services
We at Soar Therapeutic Horseback Riding, with the help of our amazing horse partners, expect miracles to happen when we touch body, mind, and spirit! Our Mission is to deliver therapeutic horseback riding experiences to children and adults with physical, mental, emotional, and learning disabilities. We strive to help each individual with
We at Soar Therapeutic Horseback Riding, with the help of our amazing horse partners, expect miracles to happen when we touch body, mind, and spirit! Our Mission is to deliver therapeutic horseback riding experiences to children and adults with physical, mental, emotional, and learning disabilities. We strive to help each individual with any ability to increase their quality of life, build confidence, develop their basic life skills, and achieve the maximum level of independence his or her circumstance will allow.
Our Services
Our Services
Our Services
Soar is an all-inclusive program that provides therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted learning and activities to children and adults with special needs in Central Texas. These special needs include physical and developmental disabilities, mental health, and neurological issues. After a careful and thorough evaluation, each clien
Soar is an all-inclusive program that provides therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted learning and activities to children and adults with special needs in Central Texas. These special needs include physical and developmental disabilities, mental health, and neurological issues. After a careful and thorough evaluation, each client is partnered with one of our trained therapy horses. Our sessions are kept to a small student-to-instructor ratio, depending on the ability of the client and with the help of any needed volunteers. Clients, depending on their individual therapeutic goals, learn ground safety rules, grooming, tacking grandwork skills, riding skills, and basic horse care. Depending on the client's abilities, opportunities are given to come for job training skills such as following instructions, completing an assigned task, and setting goals. We currently serve between 40-50 clients weekly with an age range of 4-80 years old. Texas State Recreational Therapy students are offered the opportunity to intern and/or volunteer to gain work hours needed and experience in their major field of study. We have 1 to 2 interns each year and many of our volunteers come from the Texas State Recreational Therapy Program.
Soar partners each spring with Texas State Best Friends for Life (BFFL) and the city of San Marcos Park and Recreation Department to offer a "Day at the Farm" experience, which includes a short horseback ride for each client and their siblings. BFFL is for 2-13 year old children of all abilities. Around 30-50 kids show up each spring for this fun and exciting event!
Our History
Our Services
Our History
Soar was founded in January 2016 by two sisters, Joanna Underwood and Joy Jones. Their love for horses started with their mother, Gwen, who always had a dream of owning horses, and that dream is where this all started. Joy and Joanna both graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos with degrees in Recreation Administration and cer
Soar was founded in January 2016 by two sisters, Joanna Underwood and Joy Jones. Their love for horses started with their mother, Gwen, who always had a dream of owning horses, and that dream is where this all started. Joy and Joanna both graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos with degrees in Recreation Administration and certifications in Recreation Therapy. Growing up with horses, showing in 4-H, and miscellaneous horse associations, their passion for horses led them to complete the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) certification, enabling them to share their love of horses and help those who could benefit from all the experiences horses can offer. They started with one horse and one outside arena, to six horses, a pony, a covered arena, and a third instructor in training as well as many generous volunteers. Soar became a PATH Intl. Member Center in the fall of 2019.
