Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship

Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship Upward Transitions provides a positive, safe environment allowing those in need to escape their normal daily challenges while discovering new abilities.

Upward Transitions is a non profit 501(c)3 organization. We exist because of the generous monetary and in-kind donations from our community. Your donation is tax-exempt as allowable by law.

01/02/2025

This morning, Paulie worked his magic once again, melting my heart and teaching this bright young lady some invaluable lessons. She learned that her voice is not only heard, but truly matters. She discovered how body language can strengthen connections and how trust between teammates—human and horse—can make all the difference. Even when the lead rope was disconnected, Paulie stayed right with her, understanding the ask and showing the power of that bond.

Cheese 📷 We love the connection these two have formed. One study highlights the benefits of animals in therapy: "Since a...
12/18/2024

Cheese 📷 We love the connection these two have formed. One study highlights the benefits of animals in therapy: "Since animals communicate non-verbally and are non-evaluative, they are particularly suited for patients with acquired brain injuries. These patients often struggle with verbal communication, experience feelings of shame, or are overly sensitive to social evaluation." The study also found that animals significantly boost mood and help motivate patients to complete tasks they usually find challenging. These two have certainly nailed the positive vibes!

🎄Another awesome Christmas party in the books! Our riders had a blast with fun crafts, snapped some memorable pics with ...
12/17/2024

🎄Another awesome Christmas party in the books! Our riders had a blast with fun crafts, snapped some memorable pics with their horses 🐴, and shared a delicious meal together as one big UTTH family. ❤️ Grateful for the memories made and looking forward to more fun ahead!

Isn’t he just the most handsome boy?! Archie has a way of teaching us all the important things — patience, humility, and...
11/19/2024

Isn’t he just the most handsome boy?! Archie has a way of teaching us all the important things — patience, humility, and the art of living in the moment. If you stay present with him, he’ll always rise to the occasion. Of course, a little treat or hay is never a bad idea to say thank you! 😊🐴

We are beyond grateful for the time spent with an incredible group of veterans! 🇺🇸 We had a blast teaming up with Archie...
11/17/2024

We are beyond grateful for the time spent with an incredible group of veterans! 🇺🇸 We had a blast teaming up with Archie and Paulie for a fun activity focused on teamwork, as we learned how to put on a halter and ba****ck pad. We also enjoyed some friendly competition with a game of corn hole and shared a delicious meal, graciously provided by The Good Faith Veterans Foundation . 🍽️

Thank you to all our veterans for your service and dedication. ♥️🤍💙

Some days, we like to read books and play in the sand before riding. It’s the perfect way to ground ourselves before the...
11/09/2024

Some days, we like to read books and play in the sand before riding. It’s the perfect way to ground ourselves before the ride ahead. 📚🐴

Learning social skills is an important part of everyday life, and horses make it easier with their nonjudgmental presenc...
10/17/2024

Learning social skills is an important part of everyday life, and horses make it easier with their nonjudgmental presence. We love seeing our participants include their equine partners in games, reading together, making eye contact when saying hello, and even those special moments when they ask for a hug. Horses help build confidence, connection, and communication in a safe space. 💙

Fall weather arrived this morning with a refreshing breeze, just in time for some fun science! 🍂 Autumn’s rider practice...
10/16/2024

Fall weather arrived this morning with a refreshing breeze, just in time for some fun science! 🍂 Autumn’s rider practiced steering with his body, whoas, and navigating past cones, all while making careful plans to grab objects for our ‘sink or float’ experiment. Learning, riding, and a little science—what a perfect combo!”

Last night, we had a blast learning about different professions! One of our participants has an interest in cryptozoolog...
10/15/2024

Last night, we had a blast learning about different professions! One of our participants has an interest in cryptozoology, and with help from mom, we incorporated some of that curiosity into our activities. Autumn, his favorite horse, joined the fun by selecting a scrambled letter puzzle to work on. She also made the perfect model as we learned about body parts and found rhyming words. It was a night full of creativity and learning for both horses and humans!

Just like greeting a friend, it’s important to say hi to your horse when you see them. Horses thrive on connection and r...
10/11/2024

Just like greeting a friend, it’s important to say hi to your horse when you see them. Horses thrive on connection and recognize the effort we put into building trust. 🐴💛 Whether it’s a soft word or a gentle pat, that first ‘hello’ strengthens your bond and sets the tone for a great time together.

Working with a big horse like Archie builds confidence and self-esteem! This rider has worked on setting boundaries and ...
10/05/2024

Working with a big horse like Archie builds confidence and self-esteem! This rider has worked on setting boundaries and communicating clearly, even getting Archie to stand quietly to clean his feet.

Horses, with their calming presence and sensitivity, have the power to transform lives. The bond formed through trust, respect, and communication is truly special—one that teaches invaluable life skills along the way.

Today’s the BIG day for the Big Give! As a small program, every donation makes a huge impact.**Horses Healing Heroes and...
09/19/2024

Today’s the BIG day for the Big Give! As a small program, every donation makes a huge impact.

**Horses Healing Heroes and Hearts**
At Best View Stable, home of Upward Transitions, horses and humans connect to heal and empower. Our program helps veterans and individuals with special needs find strength and recovery through the power of horses.

Your support helps us care for these incredible animals and keep our services accessible. Please consider donating today—every dollar counts! Together, we can make a difference.

https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/upward-transitions-therapeutic-horsemanship

We’re having an amazing week! Our riders are back for the Fall Session, and we kicked things off with a fun game about f...
09/18/2024

We’re having an amazing week! Our riders are back for the Fall Session, and we kicked things off with a fun game about friendship. Together, we talked about what it means to be a good friend and how those qualities help build a strong bond with their horses. It’s important for our riders to understand that their horse isn’t just an animal to ride—they’re a partner, and friendship is key to creating a meaningful connection.

Our riders never cease to amaze us! They even pointed out that friendship is a compound word. We love learning and growing alongside them!

Meet Autumn 💛 our only girl in our herd, and she keeps everyone in line! While she might be a picky eater, she never say...
09/17/2024

Meet Autumn 💛 our only girl in our herd, and she keeps everyone in line! While she might be a picky eater, she never says no to a good tummy scratch. Autumn is a patient teacher, helping her riders learn to be gentle, patient, and aware. She’s our go-to when her herd mates can’t do their lessons, always stepping up.

As we gear up for the Big Give, your support ensures that incredible horses like Autumn can continue to help riders grow, smile, and thrive. Every donation helps us keep Autumn’s spirit shining and supports the life-changing work we do at Upward Transitions. 🐴♥️🥕

Donate today and be part of this amazing journey!

https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/upward-transitions-therapeutic-horsemanship

We are incredibly blessed to have O’Connor High School in our community. Their amazing staff and practicum students brin...
09/14/2024

We are incredibly blessed to have O’Connor High School in our community. Their amazing staff and practicum students bring so much heart and energy to our work with horses and those in need. These students are learning not just about horses, but about compassion, service, and the impact of nonprofits. We are so grateful to OHS for shaping tomorrow’s leaders. To continue building these incredible partnerships and expanding our impact, early donations for The Big Give are still open! Your support helps us keep making a difference—together.

https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/upward-transitions-therapeutic-horsemanship

Meet Archie, our big boy. With his soft eyes and calming presence, he’s a favorite in our program, teaching patience and...
09/13/2024

Meet Archie, our big boy. With his soft eyes and calming presence, he’s a favorite in our program, teaching patience and kindness to everyone he meets.

Horses like Archie have an amazing ability to connect with us, offering support and understanding. For veterans with PTSD and individuals with special needs, they become true partners in healing and self-discovery.

Early donations are now open for the Big Give! While the impact of our program is priceless, the costs are high. We need your support to care for our horses, maintain our facilities, and continue offering this life-changing service.

Please donate today and help us make a difference. Every contribution counts!

Donate now: https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/upward-transitions-therapeutic-horsemanship

When we want our horses to be ready for silly fun, we grab a few things from the barn for play time. Jaxon was a good sp...
09/13/2024

When we want our horses to be ready for silly fun, we grab a few things from the barn for play time. Jaxon was a good sport but enjoyed the green grass afterwards the most. 🙂

Treats in the trailer after a fun ride. Archie is the best boy ♥️
09/12/2024

Treats in the trailer after a fun ride. Archie is the best boy ♥️

Address

19804 High Bluff Road
Helotes, TX
78023

Telephone

+12108671188

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Videos

Paulie ♥️
Paulie ♥️

This morning, Paulie worked his magic once again, melting my heart and teaching this bright young lady some invaluable lessons. She learned that her voice is not only heard, but truly matters. She discovered how body language can strengthen connections and how trust between teammates—human and horse—can make all the difference. Even when the lead rope was disconnected, Paulie stayed right with her, understanding the ask and showing the power of that bond.

Paulie’s whipping up a dust storm! 🤣🐴 Uh-oh, looks like a little too much got up his nose. Achoo! 🤧 #PaulieProblems #WeLovePaulie #therapyhorse

Autumn was tired of waiting to be rinsed off, so she decided to do a little problem solving of her own! 💦🐴 Our clever girl doesn’t mind taking matters into her own hooves.😂 #SmartHorse #AutumnTheProblemSolver #HorseLife

Today’s the BIG day for the Big Give! As a small program, every donation makes a huge impact. **Horses Healing Heroes and Hearts** At Best View Stable, home of Upward Transitions, horses and humans connect to heal and empower. Our program helps veterans and individuals with special needs find strength and recovery through the power of horses. Your support helps us care for these incredible animals and keep our services accessible. Please consider donating today—every dollar counts! Together, we can make a difference. #BigGive #HealingWithHorses #SupportUTTH https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/upward-transitions-therapeutic-horsemanship

Enjoying this morning weather! Making sure everyone is ready for our riders to start our Fall session next week. ♥️

GROUND DRIVING: A WIN-WIN FOR RIDER AND HORSE
GROUND DRIVING: A WIN-WIN FOR RIDER AND HORSE

Ground driving is a win-win for horse and rider. One of our veterans practicing with Paulie. By driving a horse from the behind, the horse handler is able to get a more extended and fluid walk. Pushing the horse engages the horse’s hind legs, which lifts and strengthens the back and activates muscles in the haunches. This is beneficial for the horse and rider: The natural gait and movement of the horse work as a therapy tool to improve the rider’s strength, balance, and sensory integration; encouraging the horse to engage its core and haunches results in a stronger, more fit equine partner. (From Shea Center blog)

Best View
Best View

We have the best view ♥️ feeling grateful for the recent rain!

Mud makes everything fun!!

Independent!!
Independent!!

This little super star has been riding with Upward Transitions for a good while and she graduated to independent riding!! We are so happy and proud of her!! Kudos to Autumn for being a good teacher!

Groundwork
Groundwork

Practicing leading ♥️ Groundwork helps build communication, confidence and connection (that camera peak 😍)

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Our Story

The goal of Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship (UTTH) is to provide a safe, positive environment, allowing participants to become more self-sufficient and enrich their daily lives. Upward Transitions provides independence to participants by enabling them to feel the freedom of sitting on top of a horse and leaving the confines of their disability behind. For individuals with mental or emotional challenges, the unique relationship formed between a rider and horse can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. The therapeutic environment that horses provide cannot be duplicated in a clinical setting and as a result riders benefit from their accepting and trusting interaction.

Upward Transitions offers Spring, Summer and Fall Riding Sessions. Each session includes a weekly, hour-long therapeutic riding lesson. Therapeutic riding is a powerful, highly specialized service with an overwhelming need in our community. UTTH is one of just three such organizations in the county and the only one located in NW San Antonio. With such a high need, the ultimate goal of UTTH is to increase their reach to more students and veterans per session. Therapeutic riding services are very expensive to deliver resulting in the continued need for funding to bring this extremely beneficial option to more riders.

Upward Transitions is a non profit 501(c)3 organization. We exist because of the generous monetary and in-kind donations from our community.