Therapeutic & Wellness Programs
– REQUIRED, PLEASE READ –
For all new and existing FWF riders, please click HERE to fill out and submit your digital Rider Information & Agreements Form (RIA Form), even if you have completed a paper RIA Form in the past. Without submitting your completed RIA Form, you will be unable to book lessons at our facility. Once you have submitted your RIA Form, an email will be sent to you with login credentials to create an account inside of our online scheduling system. Once you have logged in, you will have access to book any lesson listed below. For all new FWF riders, please understand you are required to book an evaluation lesson for your initial riding experience here at Far West Farms. If you book a lesson that is not an evaluation as a new FWF rider, we will see this, cancel that lesson and book you into an evaluation.
After submitting your RIA Form and receiving the email with your account log in details, please click HERE to access our step by step guide on booking lessons inside your online account. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact us at the phone number or email listed below.
All riders must wear appropriate riding gear, even for evaluations, jeans or breeches ONLY, no shorts, no sweatpants, no slacks, no exceptions. Please also wear boots with a heal and an approved riding helmet, we can provide approved riding helmets if needed.
FWF Contact Information: (818) 591-2180 | team@farwestfarms.com
Equine Therapy
Far West Farms offers therapeutic horseback riding lessons for all riders. Horseback riding empowers athletes with increased self-esteem, improved self-efficacy, and increased self-confidence. Each student learns to gain trust and cooperation with their horse by learning emotional regulation and becoming authentic and congruent within the self.
Benefits of horseback riding include improving riders' speech, improved strength and balance, enhanced motor skills, and helps with increased cognitive focus and positive behavioral skills. Horses benefit riders’ mental health and overall well-being. The animal-human bond assists riders by reducing stress and promotes social skills in a non-judgmental way.
Far West Farms’ Therapeutic Riding Program and Equine Assisted Learning Activities facilitate students to build trust and empathy for themselves, others and helps with impulse control and problem-solving skills. Horses help riders stay focused and present because horses are "in the moment" creatures and require students to remain present. Because of this, horses are perfect for teaching students emotional awareness. Equine therapy in all forms is beneficial for any human who loves horses! Please read below for further information on these programs.
Therapeutic Riding Program
Our private therapeutic riding lessons are offered in private, semi-private, and small group classes; however, students start in private classes. After an initial evaluation lesson by a trainer, students will learn how to get their assigned horse or pony from the stall with a supervised trainer or qualified volunteer and how to tack and groom their assigned horse properly before riding. This part of the lesson is required for the riders' development as equestrians. This portion takes precedence over the rider's actual time in the saddle, so ride time will fluctuate since classes are unique to the student and at the rider's pace.
As students' horsemanship skills develop and tacking up their horses becomes quicker, the second portion of the student’s lesson consists of increased ride time with a trainer. Lessons are designed for the individual or group level, so our classes always meet the unique and individualistic goals of the rider. Horseback riding is an excellent way to improve the rider's body coordination and muscle tone and helps refine students' motor skills.
Privates & Semi-Privates, Therapeutic Riding Program - $160
Groups, Therapeutic Riding Program - $150
Equine Assisted Learning Activities
Our equine-assisted learning activities programs powerfully introduce horses to all riders. Our learning program is an excellent place for timid riders with goals to begin horseback riding lessons and perfect for students who seek the benefits of horses but are not ready to climb aboard. Our unique equine learning programs facilitate objectives for students to manage emotions such as anxiety, depression, and frustration. Equine learning activities, although unmounted, help improve a student's communication behaviors, increase compassion for self and others, and teach motivational skills. Our co-facilitators, our horses, assist students during activities including; learning parts of the horse, proper horse care, stable management, exercise regimes, riding disciplines, and safe horse interactions.
Our learning activities can include structured class activities with worksheets, awareness walks with the horses, and grooming and caring for an assigned horse during training. Our equine programs promote increased mindfulness, staying in the present moment, and developing autonomy, because of skills learned with our horses. Students can benefit from being around horses without climbing aboard, gain increased equine knowledge and self-confidence, and learn improved communication skills at their own pace.
For more information and scheduling on our therapeutic riding lessons and equine facilitated learning activities and wellness programs, please contact Chris Cervantes at Far West Farms at 818-591-2180 or email at ChrisCervantesFarWestFarms@gmail.com. For further reference on Chris’ experience and professional background, please visit his LinkedIn Profile HERE.
Chris is a hunter-jumper trainer and has worked at Far West Farms since 2010. He heads the Riding School program and now happily begins their Therapeutic Riding Lesson and Equine Assisted Learning Programs. Chris is a Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre graduate with his Riding Master VI and Instructor Certification. He is certified through the United States Hunter Jumper Association and is a PATH International Therapeutic Horseback Riding member. He holds an undergrad in Equestrian Studies from the University of West Virginia Parkersburg, MFA in Writing from Lindenwood University, MA in Clinical Psychology LMFT from Pepperdine University, and is currently completing his EdD in Sport and Performance Psychology and Association of Applied Sport and Performance Certification from the University of Western States. Chris's internship was at the Orange County LGBTQ Center, and post-grad continues as an affirmative LGBTQ Associate Therapist and advocate for the community. Chris continues increasing his knowledge by being a part of equine and LGBTQ research projects and affiliations with multiple divisions of the American Psychological Association. He also shares his knowledge through his writing with all students.