Equine Therapy
Therapeutic Horseback Riding
Therapeutic horseback riding, also known as Equine Assisted Activity or Adaptive Riding is for individuals with a broad range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social disabilities.

We serve individuals with:
Down Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Autism
Tremors
Seizures
Spina Bifida
Multiple Sclerosis
Developmental and speech delays
Learning on horse back is fun! Most of the time, children do not realize that they are learning useful skills besides how to ride the horse! The rhythmic and repetitive movement of the horse mimics the natural movement of a persons hips as they walk. Using this movement on top of a horse naturally turns a persons hips and pelvis, encouraging the rider to sit up straight, and move in a rolling motion. But using horses in therapy can help improve more than just mobility, posture and balance!

Benefits of Therapeutic Riding:
Improves motor planning
Improves core strength
Improves attention span
Improves bilateral skills
Stimulates muscle memory
Teaches respect and patience
Introduces positive sensory activities
Teaches trust
Increases self confidence
Improves speech
Develops or improves social skills
Improves large motor skill
Improves fine motor skills
Strengthens spinal and pelvic muscles
Day Camp
A camp director that is certified in CPR/First Aid will be in attendance at each camp. Each camper will learn how to take care of their own horse by cleaning stalls, brushing, tacking up and building a relationship with his or her very own horse for the week. We will enjoy horse related crafts and team building activities. Each day we will also spend a lot of time on horseback, learning how to maneuver the horses through certain obstacle courses while improving core strength, gross and fine motor skills and learning patience and direction following.

All camps are Monday-Friday 9am-1pm. We will NOT be having our horse show on Fridays of camp in order to keep with state and CDC guidelines.
Sleep-Away Camp
Sleep Away Camps- Dustin’s Place offers an adventure based, experiential camp for children and adults with developmental delays. Licensed professionals and college seniors who are earning their degree in PT, SLP, OT, Music or Psych are on staff daily and working with our campers. Specific goals for each child are met by experiential play and equine work. Set on a 200 acre working cattle ranch in Clarkrange, Tennessee, campers will have their own horse to care for through the week, sleep in male and female divided bunk houses with male or female staff in each room. Our 2:1 camper:staff ratio ensures our ability to give individual attention to each camper. Improving small and large motor skills by stomping through the creek, playing baseball, blow darts, scavenger hunts, building bonfires and making crafts for the petting zoo and wildlife. Your child will join in stories of Bigfoot and great Native Americans as we build a wonderful world of magic and mystery by being able to touch and see nature, all while secretly building on the goals set before camp by the parents, therapists and your child’s school.

This type of camp will benefit children and adults with:

Disabilities in learning, developmental or mobility
Nonverbal or apraxia
Expressive and receptive speech deficiencies
Cerebral Palsy
Multiple Sclerosis
Aperts Syndrome
Down Syndrome
Auditory Processing Disorder
Sensory Processing Disorder
Individuals who attend camp with Dustin’s Place has the chance to:

Improve small and large motor skills
Learn self help skills
Learn or improve coping strategies
Better ready campers for real life transitions into work or education
Recognize social skills
Build relationships with animals such as horses, dogs and cats
Improve group skills
Improve self confidence
Improve independence