Bakas Equestrian Center is a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH, Intl.) Premier Accredited center providing equine assisted therapy to people with disabilities. We serve people ages 4+ with cognitive and physical disabilities in a wide range of personalized goal-based activities that may include equestrian disciplines such as Western and English equitation, trail course obstacles, trail riding, English and Western dressage, barrel racing and pole bending. In addition to our riding program, we also offer a robust volunteer program in which volunteers can learn about caring for and handling the horses and assisting riders with disabilities during riding lessons. We are not open to the general public for horseback riding.
In order to participate in programming, riders must have a completed New Rider Application on file. Continuing riders must have their paperwork updated annually in order to continue participating in programming. Our riding schedule is arranged in riding sessions, typically a month per session, where riders are scheduled to come for one 30-minute lesson per week for the session. The ability to continue riding from one session to the next is dependent on availability. Lessons are available Tuesday- Saturday mornings and Tuesday-Thursday afternoons.
Volunteers must have a volunteer application on file and have passed a background screening in order to volunteer. Volunteers age 12+ may volunteer without a parent or guardian. Volunteer groups are welcomed as well but must call the center in order to schedule. We prefer volunteer groups consist of no more than 12 people in order to ensure every volunteer gets the most out of their volunteer experience with us.
Important forms and documents that need to be accessible to the public on the website are attached to the email with this form.
These documents include: