Spirithorse International Therapeutic Riding Center

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Farmersville, TX
Spirithorse International Therapeutic Riding Center

Assisting individuals with special needs in reaching their full potential Beyond the recreational riding provided by most centers, Mr.

After volunteering for 5 years at a Dallas-area Equine Therapy center, Charles Fletcher founded SpiritHorse in 2002 offering one-on-one therapeutic riding, free of charge, to children and adults with disabilities. At this time, there were no specific industry methods that addressed such a wide range of diagnoses. Fletcher’s primary concern was to develop a healthcare program “to assist individuals

with special needs in reaching their full potential through interaction with horses.”

Between 2002 and 2008, our Corinth center provided approximately 88,600 lessons, reviewing and perfecting our methods. From 2009-2011, two studies were conducted to measure the effects of our therapy on individuals with Autism. The first by UT Southwestern Medical Center Department of Psychiatry, the Autism Treatment Center of Dallas & others, the second by Virje Universitiet, Amsterdam. The results of both were staggering – the Autism rating of all participants were found to be positively affected, and 9 children were even rated non-Autistic after 10 weeks of intervention; results were measured “Significant” which is the “Gold Standard” of statistical analysis. Both were published in various, peer-reviewed journals, and these studies stand witness to the power of the therapy we offer through the SpiritHorse Program. More information and links to these studies can be found at our website, www.spirithorsenews.com. Over the last twelve years, at our location in Corinth, our strategic location within the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex has allowed us to serve 10 counties surrounding our facility. The reach of this healing, however, is not limited to our main center in North Texas. Officially operating as SpiritHorse International since 2010, there are now 519 SpiritHorse-certified Instructors and 80 SpiritHorse centers worldwide: 63 across the United States, one in Central America, one in South America, four in Europe and one in South Africa. Through these other centers, SpiritHorse’ therapy program serves roughly 5,000 worldwide.

07/14/2026

📣 SpiritHorse International Florida Training – September 10–12, 2026

*** Registration form pictured below ***

Join us this September at More Leg LLC in Winter Garden, Florida for an immersive SpiritHorse International Training Course!

Whether you’re ready to begin your journey with SpiritHorse International or expand the impact of your current program, this hands-on training equips you with the knowledge, techniques, and confidence to serve individuals with special needs through the SpiritHorse model.

📍 Location: More Leg LLC – Winter Garden, Florida
📅 Dates: September 10–12, 2026

For registration details, pricing, or additional information, please contact us directly or view the SHI Website. We’d love to help you become part of the SpiritHorse International family or to keep you in the loop!

🚨Important Recertification Reminder🚨:
If you earned your SpiritHorse International certification prior to 2024, now is the time to complete your recertification to maintain your active affiliation with SHI. Recertification ensures you’re current with the latest standards, educational updates, and best practices while remaining an active member of the SpiritHorse International network.

🚨 If your last course was in or prior to 2023 reach out to us directly via email below to see what steps are required of you or your center 🚨[email protected]

We look forward to welcoming both new and returning instructors this September!

07/01/2026

Today we celebrate Shelby — one of our incredible SHI Board Members, a powerhouse Regional Trainer, the owner and founder of her own Center in Florida, and truly one remarkable woman.

Shelby has a gift for helping others rise to their absolute best. She leads with heart, grit, and a determination that inspires everyone around her. She never gives up, and she never lets you give up either. That’s the kind of leader she is — steady, strong, and full of purpose.

Please drop a Happy Birthday message below and show Shelby all the love she deserves on her special day. Let’s fill her day with gratitude, celebration, and joy.

We love you, Shelby — thank you for everything you pour into this community. 💛✨

06/30/2026

Don’t miss this chance to Recertify or Become a Certified SpiritHorse International Equine Assisted Instructor this September!

If you haven’t taken our course in the past two years or If you’ve been called to make a difference through the healing partnership of horses, this is your opportunity to join a growing community of instructors changing lives around the world.

📍 September 10–12, 2026
📍 Hosted by More Leg in Winter Garden (Orlando), Florida
💲 Certification Cost: $1,250

Our SHI Instructor Certification provides hands-on training, practical experience, and the knowledge to confidently implement the SpiritHorse International program in your own community.

⏰ Registration closes September 2, 2026, so don’t wait to reserve your spot!

We can’t wait to welcome our next class of dedicated instructors and continue expanding the reach of equine-assisted services—one horse, one instructor, and one life at a time.

06/30/2026

🎉Happy Birthday to one of our SHI board members & regional trainer, Alice! 🎉

Your positivity, kindness, and selfless dedication make SpiritHorse International stronger every single day. Thank you for the encouragement you share, the technical support you bring, and the heart you pour into everything. We are so grateful to have you as part of our SpiritHorse family!

Wishing you a birthday filled with joy, love, and all the happiness you so freely give to others. Happy Birthday, Alice! 💜🐴

06/23/2026

We are absolutely over the moon with the success of our recent SpiritHorse International trainings! 🎉

Watching instructors come together to learn, grow, and expand their ability to serve individuals with special needs through the incredible partnership of rescue horses has been truly inspiring. Every training reminds us how powerful this mission is and how dedicated our SpiritHorse family is around the world.

A huge thank you to everyone who has attended, hosted, volunteered, and helped make these trainings such a success. Your passion and commitment continue to change lives.

📣 Don’t forget! Registration is open for our September training in Florida. Florida Training is set to be September 10th-12th in Orlando! If you’ve been thinking about becoming a SpiritHorse International Certified Instructor, need a refresher per our two year mandatory requirements or are ready to take the next step in your equine-assisted services journey, we would love to have you join us.

Registration form below! We’ve opened up zelle as an easy form of payment for enrollment and are available via email for any and all questions!

Thank you ALL for being a huge part of our new Chapter!

05/24/2026

Pictures from our most recent certification training:
Our next certification training is in Florida, September 10th - 12th. Sign up now while there are still available spots.

05/24/2026

Congratulations to our new SpiritHorse Certified Instructors!!!

04/28/2026

We still have openings for the May 21st class.

‼️UPDATES AND ANNOUCEMENTS BELOW‼️

For now, we will only be having 2 types of training. One will be the initial SpiritHorse Senior Equine Assisted Instructor Certification that will be held in person for every person trained. This will include hands-on training.

The second will be the Recertification of that training and will be held over zoom. Recertification is now required every 2 years.

The Senior Equine Assisted Instructor Certification will be $1250.00.

The zoom Recertification will be $295

📚In person Instructor Certification Classes📚

April 9–11, 2026
Senior Equine Assisted Instructor Certification $1250 | Wildwood, MO
Hosted at: Equine Assisted Therapy, 3369 Highway 109, Wildwood, MO 63038, Please call Lulu Bogolin at 314-313-5858 with any questions or email her at [email protected] Registration deadline for this class is April 1, 2026.

May 21-23, 2026
Senior Equine Assisted Instructor Certification $1250 l Rose City, TX
Hosted at: Stable-Spirit, 295 Flamingo St Rose City TX 77662
Please call Alice Webster at 409-225-3566 with any questions or email her at [email protected] Registration deadline for this class is May 15, 2026.

September 10-12 2026
Senior Equine Assisted Instructor Certification $1250 l Orlando, FL
Hosted at: More Leg, 5103 Rex Drive, Winter Garden, FL 34787, Please call Shelby Combs at 407-558-0078 with any questions or email her at [email protected] Registration deadline for this training is September 2, 2026.

Please reach out to the hosting center for more information or questions about travel and hotel accommodations near their centers.

💻Recertification Classes💻

June 13, 2026
Recertification $295
Registration deadline for this class is June 10th, 2026.

August 8, 2026
Recertification $295
Registration deadline for this class is August 3rd, 2026.

🚨 Registration info below🚨
Please register by printing the attached registration form, filling it out, and emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to SpiritHorse Intl. at 18897 Johnson Ln Farmersville, TX 75442. You can make your payment by mailing a check to the same address or use one of the following links to pay online:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/training

(Please note this is a free platform-it will automatically apply a donation to cover processing fees that can be zeroed out)

Senior instructor: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DJX475EV47PMQ

Recertification: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/SMUPJFAQVRTJN

To made a donation through paypal: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/XTHNRUPAMTH6J

Please reach out to any of us anytime with any questions.
We truly appreciate your patience and understanding with all the changes and we look forward to getting to meet all of you in person.

Our goal is to have everyone who plans on moving forward with SpiritHorse Intl. that was trained since 2019, to be re-certified by our Regional trainers by Dec 31, 2026. If you were certified before 2019, please reach out to us so we can discuss your specific situation.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 866-474-6779

04/21/2026

✨ We are excited to announce that your new Board of Directors has successfully completed our first in‑person, hands‑on training and certification in St. Louis, MO! ✨

This milestone included full training, certification, and the addition of seven new instructors to our amazing SHI family. Congratulations to our new Senior Certified Equine Instructors! What an incredible experience to be back in the arena, actively certifying new instructors and reigniting the energy that only in‑person training can deliver.

Being in the arena again reminded us just how valuable this format is. We believe everyone will not only enjoy the hands‑on environment but benefit immensely from learning and doing this work face‑to‑face.

To support your teams, we encourage you to review your calendars and make space for this essential part of SHI training. In fact, we’re so committed to this experience that we’re inviting previous certified instructors to audit any of our in‑person trainings for the price of recertification—just $295.00.

We currently have two more in‑person trainings scheduled for 2026, with additional sessions planned for next year. The attachment below has the dates and registration form.

If you know someone who is considering certification, please send them our way and let's get them registered.

✨ Welcome to the new and improved SHI. Are you ready for this—because we absolutely are.✨

Address

18897 Johnson Lane
Farmersville, TX
75442

Website

http://www.shionline.org/

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