Our Facility
A Facility Designed Especially for Special Needs
Our property consists of hay fields, the SMILES’ administrative office, an indoor heated and cooled riding arena, an outdoor sensory trail and arena, a 20- horse stall barn, a large machine shed for equipment and storage, and a pole barn for hay storage.
Upon arrival at SMILES 35-acre property, families and visitors are welcomed with accessible, convenient, and spacious paved parking area, car port, and automatic doors. Parents and visitors are invited to relax in our viewing area and to observe the progress and successes of their participant. The doorways, flooring surfaces, and restrooms in our facility have been designed to accommodate those with wheelchairs or limited mobility.
Our facility provides multiple areas for equine assisted activities. Our indoor arena with geo-thermal climate control allows classes to be offered year-round. Our outdoor arena provides an alternate location for riding during the loveliest of rural days. Riders with sensory integration concerns can benefit from a riding experience in our outdoor arena Sensory Trail. Our facility also has a Sensory Garden that provides a unique location for participant enjoyment, volunteer rejuvenation, and respite for caregivers.
Safety and comfort are key during equine assisted activities at SMILES. Both a mounting block and wheelchair ramp mount are available to assist our riders during the mounting process. The SureHands Lift system is also available to participants who need greater assistance with mounting. Specialized equipment and methods used during classes include: the presence of side walkers, safety stirrups, gait belts, specialized reins with grip options, and bolsters for added positioning on the horse. SMILES takes great care to match our riders with the horse that best suites their needs.
As a Premier Accredited Center with PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship), we assure the highest standards for safety, curriculum, facility, and equipment.
