Tack Shack

REINS (Riding Emphasizing Individual Needs and Strengths) Therapeutic Horsemanship Program a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization located in Fallbrook, CA. Our unique approach to therapy for people with disabilities uses horses as a therapy tool. We have seen paraplegic riders learn to walk, non-verbal students learn to sing and people with all sorts of disabilities overcome some of the challenges in their lives and live with a little more ease. REINS is not just a place for our students to thrive but it is also a supportive community for our special riders and their brave families, people who rarely find a place where they are the majority.

Our students come from all over the southern California counties of Orange, Riverside and San Diego. Our unique students range in age from 2 - 83 and have a variety of disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, seizure disorders, developmental delays and other mental and physical challenges. This expanding form of therapy not only gives our riders a fun way to get outside and make new friends but it immensely improves their mental, emotional and physical health. With the growing popularity of therapeutic riding, improvements have been documented in normalization of muscle tone, balance reactions, fine & gross motor coordination, equilibrium responses, pelvic stability, speech & language development, and visual-spatial skills. In addition to passive therapy, at REINS riders are taught real horsemanship skills according to their abilities. Unlike conventional therapies, the rider is in a natural , outdoor environment, interacting with peer riders, program volunteers, and professional instructors. Perhaps the greatest benefit of the program is the renewed self-awareness and self-esteem these riders experience through therapy on horseback.