Position: Therapeutic Riding Instuctor
Therapeutic Riding Instructor Position Summary
The Therapeutic Riding Instructor is responsible for providing safe, effective, and individualized therapeutic riding instruction to participants with varying physical, cognitive, emotional, and developmental needs. This role combines direct instruction with administrative and program support responsibilities to ensure the effective daily operation of the therapeutic riding program. This position reports directly to the Program Manager.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Administrative & Program Support
Schedule
About LifeStriders
LifeStriders is a premier provider of equine-assisted therapies and therapeutic riding programs dedicated to enhancing the physical, emotional, and social well-being of our clients. Through the healing power of horses, we create opportunities for growth, independence, and connection for children and adults of all abilities.
At LifeStriders, we value collaboration, innovation, and the unique strengths every individual brings to our community. Our team is passionate about creating meaningful change through therapeutic relationships, compassionate care, and innovative programming in an inclusive and supportive environment.
The Therapeutic Riding Instructor is responsible for providing safe, effective, and individualized therapeutic riding instruction to participants with varying physical, cognitive, emotional, and developmental needs. This role combines direct instruction with administrative and program support responsibilities to ensure the effective daily operation of the therapeutic riding program. This position reports directly to the Program Manager.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Therapeutic Riding Instruction
- Plan and conduct therapeutic riding lessons for riders of varying abilities, ages, and diagnoses.
- Develop, implement, and oversee individualized lesson plans and participant goals designed to support each rider’s unique strengths, needs, and progress within the therapeutic riding program.
- Assess participant abilities, progress, and outcomes, modifying lesson plans and goals as appropriate.
- Ensure safety standards and risk management protocols are followed during all mounted and unmounted activities.
- Train, supervise, and support volunteers, side walkers, horse leaders, and lesson support staff.
- Communicate professionally and effectively with families, caregivers, therapists, volunteers, and staff regarding participant progress and program needs.
- Monitor horse welfare, soundness, behavior, and suitability for therapeutic programming
- Follow all facility policies, emergency procedures, and certification standards.
Administrative & Program Support
- Support volunteer data and program software systems, ensuring accurate records, scheduling, and communication.
- Maintain participant files, lesson documentation, incident reports, attendance records, and other program-related records.
- Perform administrative tasks including drafting correspondence, updating records, and preparing reports and purchasing documentation.
- Assist in developing lesson plans, volunteer training materials, program resources, and written communications that support therapeutic riding operations and participant engagement.
- Respond to intake calls and client inquiries.
- Provide tours for volunteers, prospective clients, donors, and community members.
- Support program operations through event setup, teardown, and participation in fundraising and community outreach activities.
- Perform other duties and support additional programmatic needs as assigned.
- Required Qualifications
- Strong horsemanship and horse handling skills.
- Knowledge of disabilities, adaptive teaching techniques, and therapeutic riding safety procedures.
- Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with participants, families, volunteers, and interdisciplinary staff.
- Ability to remain flexible, multitask, and adapt to changing priorities and unexpected situations in a dynamic environment.
- Completion of LifeStriders’ LEAP (LifeStriders Equine Assisted Practitioner) certification is required for this role. Candidates not currently LEAP certified will be expected to successfully complete the certification process as part of onboarding and training. LifeStriders provides training and support to achieve LEAP certification. Certification to be completed within 6 months of hire.
- Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and exercising discretion with participant information, family communications, health-related records, and internal organizational matters, including compliance with HIPAA privacy expectations as applicable.
- Commitment to supporting the mission of LifeStriders through compassionate, high-quality equine care and by fostering a safe, welcoming environment for both horses and people.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace and digital communication tools to support daily operations, scheduling, documentation, and team communication.
- Formal therapeutic riding certification(s).
- Minimum 1–2 years of experience teaching therapeutic or adaptive riding.
- Therapeutic or educational expertise: Background in Special Education, ABA, mental health, or medical/rehabilitative fields, with a demonstrated ability to adapt instruction to diverse cognitive, emotional, and physical needs.
- CPR and First Aid certification.
- Experience training or supervising volunteers.
- Experience working with individuals with disabilities across a range of ages and abilities.
- Experience working in a nonprofit, educational, or equine-assisted services setting.
Schedule
- This is a full-time position generally scheduled for approximately 45 hours per week. Hours may vary based on staffing needs, including coverage for vacations, absences, and special events. On occasion, this role may support barn operations to ensure horse care is maintained 365 days per year, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and in varying weather conditions.
- Physical Requirements / Work Environment
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is also very physically active and requires the following:
- Standing (teaching in the classroom or arenas, monitoring volunteer progress in cross-ties, etc.),
- Walking (walking with horses back & forth between barns, arenas, pastures & turn-out, etc.), jogging (trotting with horses in the arenas, etc.), bending/kneeling/stooping/crouching (cleaning hooves, picking up equipment, etc.), pushing and pulling (full wheelbarrows, muck buckets, opening/closing stall doors and gates, etc.), lifting (able to frequently lift or move items over 50 pounds for items such as saddles, muck buckets, ground poles/arena obstacles, etc.), climbing (onto ranch equipment such as the back of a pickup truck, on ladders, over fences, etc.) - with strong balance to handle all of these duties safely.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus
- Use of hands and fingers is required for computer typing, writing, carrying equipment & tack, opening/closing latches and gates, buckling/unbuckling halters and other tack pieces, etc.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, push, and pull for extended periods.
- Ability to work indoors and outdoors year-round in varying weather conditions including heat, cold, rain, snow, and mud.
- Frequent exposure to hay, dust, barn allergens, and animal-related environments.
- Ability to safely work around horses of varying sizes and temperaments.
About LifeStriders
LifeStriders is a premier provider of equine-assisted therapies and therapeutic riding programs dedicated to enhancing the physical, emotional, and social well-being of our clients. Through the healing power of horses, we create opportunities for growth, independence, and connection for children and adults of all abilities.
At LifeStriders, we value collaboration, innovation, and the unique strengths every individual brings to our community. Our team is passionate about creating meaningful change through therapeutic relationships, compassionate care, and innovative programming in an inclusive and supportive environment.
About LifeStriders
LifeStriders is a premier provider of equine-assisted therapies and therapeutic riding programs dedicated to enhancing the physical, emotional, and social well-being of our clients. Through the healing power of horses, we create opportunities for growth, independence, and connection for children and adults of all abilities. At LifeStriders, we value collaboration, innovation, and the unique strengths every individual brings to our community. Our team is passionate about creating meaningful change through therapeutic relationships, compassionate care, and innovative programming in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Ready to Apply?
Please submit your resume and cover letter below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
LifeStriders is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
LifeStriders is a premier provider of equine-assisted therapies and therapeutic riding programs dedicated to enhancing the physical, emotional, and social well-being of our clients. Through the healing power of horses, we create opportunities for growth, independence, and connection for children and adults of all abilities. At LifeStriders, we value collaboration, innovation, and the unique strengths every individual brings to our community. Our team is passionate about creating meaningful change through therapeutic relationships, compassionate care, and innovative programming in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Ready to Apply?
Please submit your resume and cover letter below. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
LifeStriders is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
