On any given day, you might witness an unusual sight at Ridgebury Farm—a rider sitting backwards on a horse. It’s not trick riding or a mistake, it’s one of the many purposeful techniques used in an equine-assisted therapy called hippotherapy, where movement becomes medicine.
Ridgebury Farm was the brainchild of Katy Schermann, who first encountered hippotherapy after a family member with a rare disease made remarkable progress through this unique treatment. Inspired to bring that same hope to others in the New England area, Schermann founded Ridgebury Farm in 2021 with a vision: to offer the highest-quality hippotherapy alongside traditional riding lessons, nature-based learning programs, summer programming, and community wellness experiences.
In just four short years, more than 450 families have come to Ridgebury Farm to benefit from hippotherapy, which supports individuals with a wide range of physical, emotional, and neurological challenges. Led by licensed physical, occupational, or speech therapists, each session harnesses the horse’s rhythmic movement to help riders build balance, coordination, strength, and body awareness. The gentle, repetitive gait of the horse stimulates the rider’s sensory and motor systems—engaging the body and brain in ways that traditional therapy settings often can’t.
Parents say the difference is profound. “With all the challenges Hayes faces, spanning everything from OT, fine motor, speech, and executive motor function—there are always gaps in the services he’s able to receive at school,” says Nadia Blair, whose son participates in therapy at the farm. “The sessions here give him something that clinic walls can’t—freedom, confidence, and joy.”
Lundyn Reda shared similar doubts when she first brought her son, Crew, who is on the autism spectrum and has struggled with impulsivity and anxiety. “We were unsure how he would react to being on such a large animal,” she admits. “But the horses are gentle, non-judgmental partners who require clear, direct communication. This interaction helped him develop listening skills and body awareness in a way that traditional therapy never could.”
Every session at Ridgebury Farm is a team effort, with a licensed therapist, a lead walker, and a side walker working together to ensure safety and individualized care. “A horse’s gait mirrors that of a human’s,” explains Schermann. “The progress is often subtle, but the transformation—physical and emotional—is extraordinary.”
Some results defy expectations altogether. A 30-year-old woman walked unassisted for the first time in her life after six months of physical therapy on horseback. A non-verbal child suddenly shouted “Whee!” after months of silent play—an echo of the sound his grandmother had lovingly repeated every time they went down the slide together. “We’re blessed to witness moments like these every day,” says Schermann.
Ridgebury Farm—a registered 501(c)(3)—created the GROW Program (Giving Resources for Optimal Wellness) to provide financial assistance for therapy sessions, ensuring that no one is turned away due to cost. A new Membership Program also invites families and supporters to be part of the story—helping care for horses, supporting GROW, and expanding access to those
in need.
Today, Ridgebury Farm is alive with motion and meaning: riders finding balance, families finding community, and horses quietly helping both along the way.
“Ridgebury Farm isn’t just a place to visit,” says Schermann. “It’s a place where everyone belongs.”
Ridgebury Farm unites licensed clinicians and nature to deliver evidence-informed animal-assisted therapies and hippotherapy; occupational, speech, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and nature-based programs—that build physical and mental strength, emotional health, and social connection.
Ridgebury Farm is a 501(c)(3) non-profit located in Ridgefield, CT. To learn more about their programs or to donate, please visit
www.ridgeburyfarm.org. •
