01/02/2026
🌾 A Note About Rising Lesson Costs 🌾
Our horses and the families we serve are at the center of everything we do. For years, we've worked hard to keep our therapeutic riding lessons as affordable as possible because we know how much these sessions mean — the quiet breakthroughs, the big smiles, the confidence that grows one gentle trot at a time.
But like so many farms and small nonprofits right now, we're facing some tough realities. The costs of hay, feed, farrier care, veterinary services, and barn/facility rent have all risen significantly over the past couple of years — some by more than 30-50%. These increases are beyond our control and affect every part of keeping our herd healthy, happy, and ready to provide healing.
After careful consideration (and trying every way we could to absorb it), we’ve made the difficult decision to modestly increase lesson fees effective January 5, 2026. Our hourly lesson fee will now be $55 and our half hour lesson fee will be $40. Our no-show lesson fee will also raise to $30.
We promise to always keep any increases as small as possible while still ensuring we can continue offering the high-quality, safe, and life-changing program you trust. Our mission hasn't changed — we’re still 100% committed to making these services accessible to as many children, teens, and adults as we can.
ALL LESSON STUDENTS are asked to please print off and sign a new copy of our Lesson Policies, which includes the new pricing structure, along with a new copy of our Liability Release (no changes, just needed for 2026) and bring them along to your next lesson.
For those not able to fully absorb this increase, please remember that we have a small SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM available for those in need, funded by one of our donors. Applications for this scholarship program are available on our website. All of these forms are available on the Clients page of our website at www.starsandstridestrp.org .
Thank you for your understanding, your support, and for believing in the power of this work. Whether through lessons, donations, volunteering, or simply sharing our story — every bit helps us keep these healing partnerships going.
For those of you who are financially blessed, please consider making a one time or a monthly regular donation to our lesson program. All donations are tax deductible and go directly to the care of the animals or into the scholarship program, as all of our staff work solely as volunteers. This then helps offset costs for other lesson students who may not be as financially blessed.
With gratitude,
Jennifer Stephens, LCSW
Executive Director
Stars and Strides Therapeutic Riding Program
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