Volunteer Foundations | For ALL Volunteers
Our Mission
Hilltop Horizons empowers individuals to thrive through the integration of equine-assisted services, and other experiential approaches, to promote multidimensional wellness and personal growth.
Our Programs
We offer four programs within the field of Equine-Assisted Services.
Our History
2017. Hilltop Horizons was founded by Ainsley Dillon, serving three participants with three horses through adaptive riding.
2019. Hilltop Horizons added Equine Assisted Learning services and began partnering with school districts
2020. Hilltop Horizons obtained its 501(c)3 nonprofit status and became eligible for grant funding
2021. Hilltop Horizons added Occupational Therapy services
2024. Hilltop Horizons added Speech Therapy services
Today… Hilltop Horizons proudly serves over 195 participants annually, in partnership with 7+ incredible program horses, supported by a dedicated team of 5+ staff and contractors and more than 80 volunteers each year.
Who is on the Hilltop Horizons team?
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This program focuses on teaching horsemanship skills to individuals, 4 years and up, with a physical, cognitive, social, and/or emotional challenge. Lessons are taught weekly in 45-minute group lessons. All lessons are taught by at PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) and supported by 1-3 lesson volunteers per participant.
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These group, unmounted sessions are individually designed to focus on a variety of life skills specified by the group (i.e. teamwork, problem solving, job skills, etc.) Sessions are 1-2 hours and can be performed one time or on a regular basis. Each session is conducted by a PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning and assisted by an educator.
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These community-based therapy services incorporate equine movement and the outdoor environment into the treatment goals of the licensed occupational therapy practitioner.
Sessions are typically conducted on a 1:1 basis in weekly 45-minute sessions and supported by 1-3 volunteers and a PATH Intl. CTRI.
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These community-based therapy services incorporate equine movement and the outdoor environment into the treatment goals of the licensed occupational therapy practitioner.
Sessions are typically conducted on a 1:1 basis in weekly 45-minute sessions and supported by 1-3 volunteers and a PATH Intl. CTRI.
Our Facility
Our Barn
We currently function out of a 9-stall barn and outdoor riding arena with a short loop-style trail ride. We have 5 pastures with a total of 17 acres of grazing for our herd. Here are some pictures of important facility areas:
Stall Aisle
We keep this space calm so that our horses can rest and recharge. For their comfort, participants and families may visit the stall aisle only when accompanied by a staff member or volunteer and for a specific reason, with petting kept to a minimum.
Tack Room
This is where we keep all of the (you guessed it!) TACK. Most of the equipment that we use for programming is kept here.
Upper Barn Flex Space
A multi-use area for volunteers to take a break, staff to complete notes, and groups to gather for programming and activities.
Swing + Movement Area
A designated area for therapeutic play, including swings and other tools, used by our therapists to support movement, regulation, and client-centered goals.
Cross Ties
This area is used for prepping horses for mounted programming, as well as unmounted programming.
Programming Arena
The heart of our programs! This space hosts the majority of our mounted sessions as well as many unmounted activities, making it a hub of learning and fun.
Mounting Area
We use an accessible mounting platform (the tall one) and a smaller mounting block (the shorter one) to help participants get on their horses safely.
Viewing Area
A space for families to watch programming. We ask all family members to watch from this area, rather than entering the arena, so that our participants and horses have space to work.
Outdoor Trail
A quarter-mile gravel loop serves as our trail for programming. This area offers many opportunities for more sensory exploration, balance challenges, and more!