Mission:
To build unlimited opportunities for people with disabilities through therapeutic horsemanship.
About GREAT
Since 1997, The Arc Caddo-Bossier’s GREAT Program (Great Results Equine-Assisted Therapies) has been offering therapeutic horseback riding services to children and adults with disabilities. GREAT positively affects the physical, cognitive and social well-being of our students. We offer diverse programs to local schools and hospitals, as well as private lessons and inclusive summer camps. GREAT receives its primary funding from individual contributions, civic organizations, annual fundraisers, foundations, and corporations. GREAT is located in a new state-of-the-art facility on beautiful Greenwood-Springridge Road in Greenwood, Louisiana.
GREAT is a proud member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International. Instructors certified through PATH International are trained to teach and guide students in a way that contributes to their overall well-being. GREAT is committed to the same level of excellence; our instructors are trained to teach students with a variety of disabilities including, but not limited to, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury.
Volunteers
Volunteers are the backbone of our program, as they are needed to assist with lessons and help care for the horses. GREAT volunteers log over 5,000 hours each year.
Click here to print a Volunteer Registration Form.
Click here for a copy of the Volunteer Handbook.
Horses
Interaction between horses and students helps to develop mutual trust, respect, affection, unconditional acceptance, and self-control. The GREAT horses are donated, leased, or rescued, and each therapy horse goes through an extensive training period prior to beginning lessons.
Therapeutic Riding Lessons
Riding lessons are scheduled in twelve week sessions in Spring and Fall and a four-week session in Summer. Parents can schedule their children for group lessons. GREAT provides four 6-week sessions (two in Spring and two in Fall) for Caddo Parish Schools' Adaptive Physical Education Program. Students attend with their adaptive physical education teacher and licensed therapist who assist them in accomplishing set goals.