Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center

Home
United States
Poway, CA
Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center

Therapeutic horseback riding center for children and adults with disabilities. Now serving the veteran & active duty community.

We are proud to be a women & veteran founded & operated nonprofit. 🐴

01/02/2025

Thank you to Mary's Tack and Feed for inviting us to gift wrap for your customers this holiday season. This event is a great opportunity for us to introduce RAD to the community while supporting Mary's and your customers. A big thank you to our volunteers for helping us run the booth and gift wrap. We couldn't do it without you! Mary's is a local tack shop in Del Mar that carries everything you need for your horse, pets, and yourself. They're family-owned, so please stop by and check them out. Thank you again for your support!

12/31/2024

We hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and we are wishing you a Happy New Year~ Thank you to everyone who donated to our Giving Tuesday, Giving Tree and Year-End campaigns. We have hit our goal match thanks to all of YOU!!

This year has been about growth for us, positive change, adding new students and programs and continuing to impact our community in providing our life changing services. This has been one of our busiest and best years yet. We cannot thank all of our supports, students, parents, staff, volunteers and board members enough for your support. Believing in our mission keeps our program thriving yearly to reach as many students as possible and keep providing the best care for our horses. Thank you for a great year and we look forward to 2025 with you all!

12/30/2024

Thank you to The Carol and Kent H. Landsberg Foundation for their recent grant of veterinarian care for King as part of the Animal Welfare For Off Track Race Horses project! This grant is restricted funds for King.

The Carol and Kent H. Landsberg Foundation was founded in 1989 by Carol and Kent Landsberg so they could work together in assisting small, non-profit organizations that addressed issues that were very important to them. Specifically, animal welfare; prenatal and perinatal psychology; environmental welfare; and educational and social needs of young deaf and hard of hearing children. Thank you so much for your support!

12/28/2024

3 DAYS OF GIVING, REASON 3

As some of you may know, we started an active duty and veteran riding program this year. Check out the impact riding and horses have for one of our riders in the military riding program.

"Before discovering RAD, I struggled with Severe PTSD, anxiety, and depression from six combat deployments to Afghanistan. It often felt like I was trapped in a never-ending cycle of heaviness and unease. But everything began to change once I started volunteering with RAD. Horseback riding has been a transformative experience in helping me manage my PTSD.
The bond I’ve developed with the horses has provided a sense of calm and trust that’s difficult to find elsewhere. Being around these gentle animals helps me stay grounded in the present moment, easing my anxiety and giving me a safe space to heal. Riding not only lifts my mood but also empowers me, reminding me that I’m stronger than my struggles.
Working with the horses has given me a sense of calm and focus I didn’t think was possible. The connection I’ve built with these incredible animals has helped me process emotions and find a peace that I hadn't felt in years. Every week, I genuinely look forward to my lesson—it’s become a highlight of my routine and something that brings me immense joy and purpose.
Clair and staff create such a welcoming and understanding environment, which made it easy for me to feel safe and supported. My mood has transformed; I feel more optimistic and grounded, and I’m able to manage my anxiety better in daily life. The program has truly been a life-changing experience, and I am incredibly grateful for what RAD has brought into my life.
I am truly grateful for RAD and the Veterans Riding Program for giving me a safe space to heal and grow. The unwavering support and the connection I’ve built with the horses have profoundly impacted my life. This program has brought hope, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose into my life, and for that, I will always be thankful."

Please consider a year end donation so we can keep our active duty and veteran community riding and providing this much needed therapy! We also have an exciting MATCHING CAMPAIGN from now until the end of the year. An anonymous donor will match up to $10,000 to help provide us with much needed lights for the facility! Your donation goes further this holiday season. Donations can be made on our website radtrc.org, check or cash. Also please ask your employer if they match your donations! Contact [email protected] for any questions.

12/26/2024

3 DAYS OF GIVING, REASON 2!

We are honored to have been providing lessons to the community for 10 years. Check out what riding means to mom Danielle and her daughter Zoey~

"We are deeply grateful to have discovered the incredible RAD organization this year through ConnectMed. Our daughter Zoey, who was born with a congenital amputation of her right hand and forearm, is 6 years old and is eager to explore new activities and sports that she can enjoy comfortably despite her limb difference. Since starting her lessons with RAD a few months ago, Zoey has gained so much confidence and independence, particularly in riding a horse on her own!
The team at RAD, along with their dedicated volunteers, goes above and beyond to ensure Zoey feels safe, supported, and happy. The first time Zoey trotted on a horse, she couldn’t stop smiling, and that moment of pride has stayed with her. She often shares her horseback riding experiences with her friends at school.
The lessons have also given Zoey a valuable opportunity to test out her prosthetic arm in a new environment. She is gradually becoming more comfortable using it for activities, and the instructors have been so encouraging as she explores using her prosthetic to steer and hold the reins.
As a parent, I am also incredibly impressed by how much Zoey is learning about horses—their body language, how to care for them, and the nuances of riding in addition to building her riding skills. I am so thankful that a program like RAD exists here in San Diego. It’s clear that RAD is helping Zoey—and so many other kids with disabilities—gain confidence, independence, and skills that will last a lifetime.
Thank you, RAD, for everything you do!"

Please consider a year end donation so we can continue to provide our services to students who can benefit from these much needed programs. We also have an exciting MATCHING CAMPAIGN from now until the end of the year. An anonymous donor will match up to $10,000 to help provide us with much needed lights for the facility! Your donation goes further this holiday season. Donations can be made on our website radtrc.org, check or cash. Also please ask your employer if they match your donations! Contact [email protected] for any questions.

12/23/2024

We'd like to thank everyone who supported our Giving Tuesday campaign as we surpassed our goal and are now even closer to the $10,000 matching funds! It means so much to us to have the community’s support. As we round out the end of the year, we are sharing 3 special reasons during our 3 days of giving campaign on what your donations help support. Check out this wonderful video from Jack and Parker sharing what RAD and horseback riding mean to them!

Ways to donate:
-Right on our FB and Insta pages
-website radtrc.org
-checks mailed to 14781 Pomerado Rd #216, Poway, CA 92064
-please check if your employer will match your donations
Contact [email protected] for any questions, thank you so much!

12/21/2024

Thank you to Stephane Martin and Rolling Hills Boarding Stables, LLC for hosting a wonderful Christmas party last weekend! The barn and decorations were beautiful. They had a great live band, good food, hot chocolate and coffee bar, games, photo ops and more. They even had a giving tree in support of RAD. All of our staff, board, volunteers and donors from RAD had a blast. Thank you for hosting this event yearly, it is one of our favorites!

PS, check out Merlin at the party. His stall has a front row view of the party area and he is often included in all the events. He was sleepy during this event 🤣😴

12/20/2024

VOLUNTEER OF THE QUARTER- KATHY FALCO: Kathy Falco is an incredible part of the RAD family and our Volunteer of the Quarter! She comes to the ranch regularly during the week, always with a smile, and is quick to step in on short notice when needed. Not only does Kathy help with extra activities like farmers' markets, but she’s also one of our amazing volunteer mentors. She does a fantastic job guiding new volunteers and is often one of the first friendly faces they meet at orientations. We’re so grateful for Kathy’s dedication, positivity, and the care she brings to everything she does. Thank you, Kathy—we appreciate you!

12/18/2024

The students, staff and volunteers had a blast decorating the horses stalls for the holidays!! Thank you to Stephanie Martin and Rolling Hills Boarding Stables, LLC for coming up with the idea! The winner got one free month of board. The teams worked so hard and they all look beautiful. Everyone got super creative and came up with a theme, purchased the decorations and decorated together. It was a fun bonding experience with a little friendly competition. The horses were quite hilarious. King was initially afraid and then found out once he could chew them, they weren't that scary. Sven knocked most of his decorations off and tried to eat them. 🤣 Dixie, Liberty and Butters were busy eating or standing in the way. Way to go everyone! Check out the awesome displays.

12/17/2024

Our students were overjoyed with their Turkey Trot ribbons and achievements this year! Every year they look forward to the competition and learning how they placed among their peers. This is an actual competition we hold at the ranch and is ranked by age and time. For some of our students, this is the only sport they participate in and it is truly special to receive an award for their accomplishments. Thank you to Jane Hinshaw for sponsoring our Turkey Trot ribbons this year and making this possible for all of our riders!

12/14/2024

Welcome Jennifer to the RAD Family! Jennifer has previous riding experience and is looking forward to getting back in the saddle. She has spent her first few lessons getting to know the team and her horse Jesse. They have spent time grooming, taking walks, feeding and bonding on the ground. Here at RAD we teach horsemanship from the ground up including how to care for the horses. Working with your horse on the ground before riding instills confidence in one another as well as creating a special relationship. We look forward to seeing your riding journey with us Jennifer!

12/13/2024

Thank you to Delkin Devices for their donation of a Delkin Device 32 GB memory card and a Nikon D300s camera to the program! These photos were shot with their brand new memory card and donated camera.

Delkin Devices, a leading manufacturer of flash storage devices and accessories, is a privately held company founded in 1986, with Corporate Headquarters right here in Poway! Today, the Delkin name is associated with paramount quality, professionalism and most importantly innovation, serving both industrial and consumer markets worldwide. We look forward to partnering and this new collaboration. Thank you so much!

12/11/2024

Give from the heart and take from the tree! Our annual Giving Tree is back at the ranch for 2024 and will be up for the holiday season. Students, volunteers, parents and guests can pick an item of need from the tree and donate it to RAD. Items are super affordable, only starting at $10. Wishes range from shavings, manure forks, rakes, helmets, office supplies and more. Remi was the perfect model to demonstrate our Giving Tree at the ranch! Thank you for being our first Giving Tree donor of the year Remi. We appreciate everyone’s support!

12/10/2024

Thank you to Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation for their recent grant of $2500! This grant was made possible by the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation, an affiliate of the San Diego Foundation. It will benefit the students and our program with supporting our all inclusive show team. RAD and many other nonprofits, impacting and serving the Rancho Bernardo community, were honored at their 2024 Thanksgiving Luncheon. It was a wonderful event and we were so thankful to be invited as a grant recipient! Congratulations to all the grantees.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/11/22/rancho-bernardo-community-foundation-awards-90k-in-grants-at-thanksgiving-luncheon

12/06/2024

Last week, we had 25 Sailors from the USS Ashland come out to the ranch for a group volunteer and group project day! They assisted with fixing and cleaning our stalls, fixing our mats, arena work, feeding, waters and more. They also got to spend some time with the horses in the round pen and grooming them. All the horses were in heaven with a special spa day. We are so thankful for you all and look forward to a lasting partnership!

Address

15529 Sycamore Canyon Road
Poway, CA
92064

Telephone

+18582095662

Website

http://radtrc.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center:

Videos

We'd like to thank everyone who supported our Giving Tuesday campaign as we surpassed our goal and are now even closer to the $10,000 matching funds! It means so much to us to have the community’s support. As we round out the end of the year, we are sharing 3 special reasons during our 3 days of giving campaign on what your donations help support. Check out this wonderful video from Jack and Parker sharing what RAD and horseback riding mean to them! Ways to donate: -Right on our FB and Insta pages -website radtrc.org -checks mailed to 14781 Pomerado Rd #216, Poway, CA 92064 -please check if your employer will match your donations Contact [email protected] for any questions, thank you so much!

As the 2024 Turkey Trot comes to an end, we'd like to thank everyone who helped make this event possible for our riders. Check out the clips of our students participating in the Turkey Trot or walk last week. Our students talk about this event and look forward to it for weeks. Their smiles and personal victories say it all!

A big thanks to Heidi, Cay, and the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo for renewing your sponsorship of Liberty! You’ve made it possible for us to provide her with the best possible care so she can continue supporting our riders. And speaking of riders, check out Hope! She’s working on learning to trot solo, and next year, she’s aiming for the show team with Liberty. We are extremely grateful for your continued support, which makes it even more important to continue advancing our mission daily.

Hula

We try many different ways to engage our riders, meet their needs and keep our lessons FUN! Check out Lily Sofia warming up herself with a little hula dance. All of our lessons include warm ups for the rider and the horses, a skill in the arena and a cool down on trail. Most lessons are 30 mintues but we do have some extended ones. Remi seems really into the fun too! Way to go team. Thank you to the G.A. Foster Legacy Foundation for sponsoring Remi's care! Remi is looking for a sponsor for his medical needs. If you are interested in learning more please reach out to [email protected].

Welcome to the RAD Family Maddy! Maddy has done a bit of everything in her life. This beautiful lady is in her mid to late teens. She knows some tricks, has done a lot of trail, and isn't phased by much! Take your best guess at what breed she is but whatever it is, it's working for her. Maddy will be working with our independent riders, lead line riders and joining the show team. She's quite the versatile horse! Maddy is looking for a sponsor to help cover her costs. If you are interested in sponsoring Maddy please reach out to [email protected] for more info.

Shavings day is a fan favorite around here as you can see from King!! Shavings are about $10 a bag and we need about 3 bags per stall. Please consider donating just $30 to fund a horses stall with shavings. Shavings help cushion the stall giving them a soft place to sleep and lay down. They also help prevent sores and rub marks on their legs. Any donations can be made via our website radtrc.org, check or venmo @allie-radtrc Thank you for your consideration!

Everyone, meet Chloe! She's our new therapy horse on trial. Chloe is a 21-year-old from a family in Ramona. On her first day, she was super relaxed, didn't mind having rings on her ears, and followed us around the arena. We hope she'll be a beginner learning horse for walk-trot. So far, she's super sweet, loves people, and doesn't seem bothered by much. Chloe is looking for a sponsor. If you're interested in learning more about what it means to sponsor a horse, please contact Katie at [email protected]. Thank you!

We have such a vareity of students at RAD! We try to make RAD an inclusive space for everyone. Some riders need extra support while others are cantering and jumping. Check out one of our riders cantering for the first time on our horse Atlas! They look awesome and though she has been riding him for a few weeks this was their first time cantering together. She left the arena super confident and proud of her accomplisments. Atlas was brought in for our Military riding program and has been in training with therapy students to prepare for his role. Way to go team!

Cass and Atlas are having a blast running around the big arena on the ranch! It's amazing to watch these Off Track Thoroughbreds run and then switch to lesson mode and become so gentle with our riders. We love watching our horses stretch their legs and bond with each other. It is also great for the energy levels and mental health to let loose once in a while. Thank you to Lynn E for sponsoring Cass and The Albertsons Companies Foundation for allowing us to bring Atlas into the program.

Seeing the rider’s smiles make our day so much better! Therapeutic riding and horses bring joy to so many. Thank you to all of our donors, volunteers, students, staff and friends who make these smiles possible. Check out our happy riders on the last week of the summer session.

Welcome to the RAD family, Mikey! Mikey joined us a year ago with a lot of riding experience. He loves riding in the arena and on trails, in a group or a private lesson. He's working on giving his horse's commands consistently, steering and stopping independently, and trotting. Mikey loves all of the horses and is riding our new horse, Atlas, in this video. He's very flexible with his lessons and often rides with his friends from the community who also ride at RAD. Way to go, Mikey!