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Lessons
Therapeutic
Riding Program
Boarding
Training
Leases
Camps
Horse Sales
Staff
Directions
Calendar
Online Store
The New Therapeutic Riding Program at Serenity Cove Stables is Underway!
Serenity Cove Stables is pleased to announce a new North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association (NARHA) Therapeutic Riding Program for the benefit of residents in the Tri-County area.
Since the late 1960's, years of documented studies have revealed that The Horse is a valuable
therapeutic and healing treatment tool that is capable of enabling significant improvements in the lives
of people with special needs. With the guidance of trained and qualified personnel, the motion of a
horse, and the warmth and rhythmic swinging motions of it's back, have long been a positive influence
for those experiencing the physical and psychological symptoms of a great many different disabilities.
Serenity Cove owner Erica Gowen, along with NARHA Certified Therapy Director Helaine Burch, are
committed to offering local residents a safe, productive, and high quality Therapeutic Riding
opportunity as St. Mary's County's only NARHA Operating Center.
NARHA, previously known as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, is the
worldwide governing body for Therapeutic Horseback Riding. This huge entity is responsible for
training, testing, and certifying qualified riding instructors, physical therapists, and even psychologists
as capable of conducting safe and therapeutically correct sessions for program participants. NARHA
also provides and demands continuing education for it's people, requires CPR and First Aid training,
and certifies qualifying programs as Premier Centers when they meet the strict standards and
guidelines set by the Organization as a whole.
In her 10 years as a NARHA certified instructor, Therapeutic Director Helaine Burch has seen nothing
short of a few "miracles," and many lives that have been enriched by participation in Therapeutic
Horseback Riding. Children who had never walked before began coming to her therapy sessions on
foot instead of being carried or wheeled in. Others, who had yet to speak, uttered their first word while
sitting atop a beloved therapy horse. The mother of a 35 year old autistic son, Helaine Burch has a
special fondness for working with clients within the autistic spectrum, but Therapeutic Riding also has
significant benefits for those with Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Down Syndrome,
Parkingson's Disease, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, and a myriad of developmental delays,
muscle weaknesses, and those recovering from accidents of various kinds. Through Riding Therapy,
balance and gait are enhanced or restored, and games aboard horseback encourage hand-eye
coordination, attention span, and socializing. Best of all, in Helaine's experience, is the joy of watching
children who have never walked, or who have no hope of walking, being placed on a horse and
discovering the thrill of having living legs beneath them for the first time in their lives. Many of these
children have gone on to learn to control their horse and direct those legs to carry them wherever they
might wish to go.....for a walk in the woods, and up and down hills, where even a power wheelchair
would be unusable. Therapeutic riding changes outlooks, and changes lives, allowing treatment
modalities to be performed outdoors in nature's classroom, instead of the traditional and sterile
setting of a therapist's office. For those who participate, especially young children, riding day is always,
without exception, the favorite day of the week!
Effectiveness and safety in the field of Equine Assisted Therapy is gathered by years of study and
"hands on" experience working with both horses and special needs people of all ages and situations.
In 1999, with former Executive Director Susan Borneman, Helaine Burch helped found and develop the
Greenwell Foundation Therapeutic Riding Program into a NARHA Operating Center in Hollywood, MD.
She served at Greenwell for 8 years beginning as Head Instructor and progressing onto Equestrian
Program Director. Changes in executive level management saw Greenwell's NARHA affiliation
terminated, and eventually, Helaine's departure, but she herself has retained her certification via
continuing education, and also holds a certification as a Special Olympics Coach.
If you or a loved one with special needs would like to experience therapeutic riding's many benefits,
please feel free to contact Serenity Cove and allow us to evaluate and serve your needs. We are here
because we simply respect that noble creature known as The Horse, and because we want to share
in his ability to enrich and improve lives. A trained team of specialists consisting of a therapy horse, an
instructor, and "side-walking" aides are anticipating the opportunity to help you or yours in going on
possibly one of the greatest adventures of your life!
If you love horses, and you love people, we encourage you to come join us at Serenity Cove as
volunteers working in Equine Assisted Therapy - one of the most fulfilling things you will ever do.
Erica Gowen Helaine Burch
Owner/Manager Therapeutic Riding Director
Serenity Cove Stables, Leonardtown, MD Serenity Cove Stables, Leonardtown, MD
Farm Phone: 301-475-7989 Contact: 301-481-9397
Serenity Cove Stables is pleased to announce a new North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association (NARHA) Therapeutic Riding Program for the benefit of residents in the Tri-County area.
Since the late 1960's, years of documented studies have revealed that The Horse is a valuable
therapeutic and healing treatment tool that is capable of enabling significant improvements in the lives
of people with special needs. With the guidance of trained and qualified personnel, the motion of a
horse, and the warmth and rhythmic swinging motions of it's back, have long been a positive influence
for those experiencing the physical and psychological symptoms of a great many different disabilities.
Serenity Cove owner Erica Gowen, along with NARHA Certified Therapy Director Helaine Burch, are
committed to offering local residents a safe, productive, and high quality Therapeutic Riding
opportunity as St. Mary's County's only NARHA Operating Center.
NARHA, previously known as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, is the
worldwide governing body for Therapeutic Horseback Riding. This huge entity is responsible for
training, testing, and certifying qualified riding instructors, physical therapists, and even psychologists
as capable of conducting safe and therapeutically correct sessions for program participants. NARHA
also provides and demands continuing education for it's people, requires CPR and First Aid training,
and certifies qualifying programs as Premier Centers when they meet the strict standards and
guidelines set by the Organization as a whole.
In her 10 years as a NARHA certified instructor, Therapeutic Director Helaine Burch has seen nothing
short of a few "miracles," and many lives that have been enriched by participation in Therapeutic
Horseback Riding. Children who had never walked before began coming to her therapy sessions on
foot instead of being carried or wheeled in. Others, who had yet to speak, uttered their first word while
sitting atop a beloved therapy horse. The mother of a 35 year old autistic son, Helaine Burch has a
special fondness for working with clients within the autistic spectrum, but Therapeutic Riding also has
significant benefits for those with Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Down Syndrome,
Parkingson's Disease, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, and a myriad of developmental delays,
muscle weaknesses, and those recovering from accidents of various kinds. Through Riding Therapy,
balance and gait are enhanced or restored, and games aboard horseback encourage hand-eye
coordination, attention span, and socializing. Best of all, in Helaine's experience, is the joy of watching
children who have never walked, or who have no hope of walking, being placed on a horse and
discovering the thrill of having living legs beneath them for the first time in their lives. Many of these
children have gone on to learn to control their horse and direct those legs to carry them wherever they
might wish to go.....for a walk in the woods, and up and down hills, where even a power wheelchair
would be unusable. Therapeutic riding changes outlooks, and changes lives, allowing treatment
modalities to be performed outdoors in nature's classroom, instead of the traditional and sterile
setting of a therapist's office. For those who participate, especially young children, riding day is always,
without exception, the favorite day of the week!
Effectiveness and safety in the field of Equine Assisted Therapy is gathered by years of study and
"hands on" experience working with both horses and special needs people of all ages and situations.
In 1999, with former Executive Director Susan Borneman, Helaine Burch helped found and develop the
Greenwell Foundation Therapeutic Riding Program into a NARHA Operating Center in Hollywood, MD.
She served at Greenwell for 8 years beginning as Head Instructor and progressing onto Equestrian
Program Director. Changes in executive level management saw Greenwell's NARHA affiliation
terminated, and eventually, Helaine's departure, but she herself has retained her certification via
continuing education, and also holds a certification as a Special Olympics Coach.
If you or a loved one with special needs would like to experience therapeutic riding's many benefits,
please feel free to contact Serenity Cove and allow us to evaluate and serve your needs. We are here
because we simply respect that noble creature known as The Horse, and because we want to share
in his ability to enrich and improve lives. A trained team of specialists consisting of a therapy horse, an
instructor, and "side-walking" aides are anticipating the opportunity to help you or yours in going on
possibly one of the greatest adventures of your life!
If you love horses, and you love people, we encourage you to come join us at Serenity Cove as
volunteers working in Equine Assisted Therapy - one of the most fulfilling things you will ever do.
Erica Gowen Helaine Burch
Owner/Manager Therapeutic Riding Director
Serenity Cove Stables, Leonardtown, MD Serenity Cove Stables, Leonardtown, MD
Farm Phone: 301-475-7989 Contact: 301-481-9397
