Speaking of Horses: Where Speech Therapy Meets Equine Connection

In the rolling hills just outside of Charlottesville, a unique therapy approach is helping children find their voices. At Speaking of Horses, we're blending two powerful healing modalities—speech therapy and equine connection—to create transformative experiences for children with communication challenges.

Our Innovative Approach

Speaking of Horses isn't your typical therapy setting. Here, children don't sit in clinical rooms working on speech exercises. Instead, they engage in specialized speech therapy while sitting atop gentle horses, guided by our of certified speech-language pathologist and equine specialist.

Why horses? The rhythmic movement of a horse provides sensory input that naturally encourages speech production. When a child sits on a horse, several magical things happen simultaneously:

The horse's movement helps organize sensory systems
Core muscles engage, supporting breath control needed for speech
Motivation skyrockets as therapy becomes an adventure
Natural opportunities for communication emerge organically
A horse's herd hierarchy lends to a deeper understanding of social interactions

Beyond Traditional Therapy

For many children with speech and language disorders, traditional therapy settings can feel intimidating or become monotonous. At Speaking of Horses, therapy transforms into an eagerly anticipated activity. Children develop bonds with "their" horses, practice giving verbal commands, describe their experiences, and engage in specialized speech exercises—all while experiencing the joy of horsemanship.

This passion-based approach means children are fully engaged in their therapy, often not realizing they're working on speech goals as they navigate trails, participate in mounted games, or learn about horse care through guided activities.

Accessible to All

We believe every child deserves access to effective therapy regardless of financial circumstances. Speaking of Horses works with most insurance providers, including Medicaid, ensuring children from all backgrounds can benefit from our unique therapeutic approach.

Our Growing Impact

What began as one speech therapist's innovative idea has blossomed into a thriving nonprofit organization with a dedicated board and growing recognition in both the therapeutic and equestrian communities. Recent features in The Plaid Horse magazine and local media have helped spread awareness of our work, but our most meaningful endorsements come from the families who witness their children's progress firsthand.

Parents frequently tell us about "breakthrough moments" that happen on horseback—first words spoken, complex sentences attempted, or social communication flourishing in ways that hadn't occurred in traditional settings.

Join Our Journey

Whether you're a parent seeking innovative therapy options, a professional interested in our approach, or a community member looking to support meaningful work, we invite you to connect with Speaking of Horses:

Visit our farm to observe our programs in action
Follow us on social media for updates and success stories
Consider volunteering or supporting our mission
Spread the word about our unique therapeutic approach

At Speaking of Horses, we're creating a place where communication barriers are overcome through connection—connection to horses, to nature, to caring professionals, and ultimately, to a world of expression many of our riders once found challenging to access.

Together, we're helping children find their voices, one trot at a time.

Speaking of Horses is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of community members, corporate sponsors, and grant funding to continue our mission. While we accept insurance including Medicaid to make our services accessible to families of all socioeconomic backgrounds, the costs of maintaining our therapy horses, facilities, and specialized equipment far exceed what insurance reimbursement covers. Your donations make it possible for us to provide this transformative therapy to children who would otherwise not have access to these life-changing services. https://www.speakingofhorsesincorporated.org/donate