Our Mission
Changing Lives with the Healing Power of Horses.
Alatheia is the New Testament greek word for “disclosed truth”.
In Ephesians 4:15 the apostle Paul calls us to speak the truth (alētheuō) in love to one another. For the Alatheia community, it is a way of living, and the riding center is how we choose to speak truth.
History Alatheia Therapeutic Riding Center was founded in 2011 by Glenn and Nancy Grette. In June of that year the center opened its doors to 12 riders with special needs using three amazing fjord horses and about 25 enthusiastic volunteers. Many of those original participants still ride and volunteer at Alatheia today!
Between the therapeutic and adaptive riding programs, Alatheia serves a wide variety of special needs. Ranging in age from 3 to 93 our riders may have a learning disability, genetic disorder, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, stroke, autism, or epilepsy.
The demand for alternative therapies for people with special needs in North Central Washington is high and largely unmet. As a result, we have experienced steady growth in Alatheia’s programs over the years and now serve 100 riders each week and now have 12 Norwegian Fjord Horses, five part time instructors and nearly 100 volunteers.
At this size Alatheia is at capacity for our current location on the Grette’s personal property. With an expectation of growth to nearly 150 riders per week there are limitations due to acreage, parking availability, and arena and barn expansion. Alatheia’s strategic plan calls for a move to a larger facility by 2022 and we are well on our way to realizing that goal.
The Healing Power of Horses Born from the combined love of horses and children, Alatheia Therapeutic Riding Center demonstrates the power of equine-based therapy. It is a non-profit therapeutic riding center, affiliated with PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship), formerly NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association), and NFHR (The Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry).
Non Profit Alatheia Therapeutic Riding Center is a 501(c)3 corporation and is publicly supported through tax-deductible donations. Your support helps to provide facility enhancements, equine care, and reduced cost lessons to these unique children and adults.
The Benefits of Therapeutic Activities Activities on and off the horse help to develop core strength, balance, coordination, social skills and cognitive abilities. The four-directional movement of a horse’s walk provides an engagement of the pelvis that more closely resembles walking than some children will ever experience . Horses empower and motivate our riders in a unique way. Alatheia can change the lives of the participants. Here are some ways in which Therapeutic riding can help:
Physically Strengthens the body in a way that can actually help riders learn how to walk. The participant’s need to balance and stabilize while in the saddle improves core strength. Riding also increases coordination and depth perception.
Emotionally Encourages participants to form closer bonds with those around them by learning how to bond with the horse, giving the rider a new found joy.
Mentally The exercises are designed to appropriately challenge the participant in cognitive function, creating a progression in learning ability. “Our goal is to facilitate learning to use one’s body in new ways.”
Disabilities Served (but not limited to) Include:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Down Syndrome
- Speech Impaired
- Vision Impaired
- Spina Bifida
- Brain Injury
- Mitochondrial Disease
- Rett Syndrome
- Eating disorders
- Developmental Delay
- Autism Spectrum
- Sensory Issues
- Multiple Sclerosis
Schedule We offer lessons all week long and a longer riding season than ever before. Riders sign up for sessions that consist of weekly lessons over the season, from early Spring to late Fall.
Lessons & Volunteers Off the horse: the participant learns horse management skills; which is grooming, leading, and tacking the horse. On the horse: Riding, games, and activities. Volunteers are vital to our program as each rider requires up to three assistants depending on their unique needs—up to 4 trained assistants per rider throughout duration. (Learn how to become a volunteer)
Facilities
Location Alatheia Therapeutic Riding Center is located on a picturesque hillside above the lower Sunnyslope area in Wenatchee, Washington. Situated on 4 acres there is an open air barn, tack room, 66’X132′ outdoor arena with ADA mounting ramp and platform, a 60’x120′ indoor arena with ADA mounting ramp and viewing platform, and a ¼ mile hillside trail. The view is beautiful and provides a wonderful opportunity for respite to the parents and caregivers of our riders.
Videos
Stories that will touch your heart.
Alatheia Reports
