Equine Assisted Therapy Alaska

Mission: EATA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for children and adults who are living with physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities. Our organization is a PATH, Int. (Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship, International) Center Member committed to providing quality therapeutic horseback riding programs in the Anchorage area. Equine-assisted activities and therapies are growing and widely accepted treatments for a range of physical, mental and emotional disabilities. Conditions served include cerebral palsy, spina bifida, neuromuscular disorders, post-traumatic stress, Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, functional spinal curvature, learning or language disabilities, Multiple Sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and cognitive disorders and FAS. We serve around 100 members of our community on a weekly basis who need our services during our riding season.

According to the 2008-2012 American Community Survey, Anchorage is home to 29,964 Alaskans living with intellectual, physical, or social-emotional disabilities. These individuals and their families are more likely to have extreme financial difficulties and live at or near the poverty line. The support of public donors, like you, provides children, adults, and veterans access to unique opportunities to heal, to grow, and to succeed, despite their daily challenges and different abilities.

The benefits of horseback riding are as numerous as the types of disabilities and conditions served. Research shows that individuals who participate in therapeutic riding experience physical, emotional, cognitive, and intellectual benefits. The most rewarding benefit for the riders, who are unable to walk, is to assist in giving them the confidence, control, and experience of walking, running, and playing sports on a horse. Once they are on the horse, the horses’ legs become their own.

Therapeutic horseback riding encourages riders to focus on their abilities rather than their limitations. Riders experience a sense of freedom and joy as they development relationships with the horse, volunteer team of side-walkers, the horse leader, therapists, and the Senior Riding Instructor. The experience of each participant is as unique as their disorders, offering many benefits such as increased self-confidence, physical strengthening, and personal victories.

Equine Assisted Therapy Alaska (EATA) is a PATH, Int. (Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship, International) Center Member committed to providing quality therapeutic horseback riding programs in the Anchorage area. Like most non-profits across the country, EATA has not been immune to the current economic downturn and our primary sources of revenue – gifts from individuals, event ticket sales, and corporate support – have decreased. At the same time we have experienced significant increases in our basic operating costs, such as feed and grain for the horses and requests for scholarships.

Parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities face tremendous financial hardships. To keep our fees affordable, EATA will continue to underwrite 90% of the cost of every participant’s fees, in the form of scholarships. The money generated for this indirect scholarship is from annual donors like you. Your support ensures that everyone who needs our program can participate.