Naples Therapeutic Riding Center

Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, located in Naples, Florida, began in 1997 as Naples Equestrian Challenge. Through the help of a generous donor, who believed in the future of NTRC, 206 Ridge Drive became the organization’s permanent home. Over the next five years, NTRC grew from serving four children with disabilities, with four volunteers & two borrowed horses on a borrowed field, to serving more than 100 therapeutic riders, with a core group of volunteers & instructors. NTRC is accredited at the “premier” level by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). NTRC’s team consists of six PATH International Certified Instructors, all of whom hold the Therapeutic Riding Instructor certification and two of whom hold the additional Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning certification. All instructors perform evaluations, assessments and create individualized treatment programs for therapeutic riders. From modest beginnings, NTRC has yielded one of the top equine-assisted therapy centers in the south-east region. NTRC now serves more than 1000 participants each year and provides more than 9,000 hours of service annually. With a herd of 14 horses, and the assistance of over 450 community volunteers, NTRC is one of the few organizations capable of providing unique equine-assisted therapies to a broad range of children and adults who show increasing benefits due to their interactions with horses. NTRC receives funding through Naples Children & Education Foundation, The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, United Way of Collier County, The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, The Community Foundation of Collier County, Swinging with Purpose and other private donations.