Agency
Address:
22 Carter Street
New Canaan
06840
Mission Statement:
Mission Statement
New Canaan Mounted Troop, Inc. (NCMT) is devoted to building leadership, responsibility and confidence in youth through sound horsemanship. It provides a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience that emphasizes teamwork and follows a curriculum focused on horsemanship and equine care instruction. All activities are conducted in a family atmosphere that encourages participation in community service, a feature rooted in the history the organization.
Agency Contact Information
Contact:
Caroleigh Evarts
Contact Email:
supertroopers@newcanaanmountedtroop.org
Contact Phone:
203-966-0634
Website:
Agency Details
New Canaan Mounted Troop
SUPER TROOPERS THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND HORSEMANSHIP PROGRAMS
New Canaan Mounted Troop is pleased to offer therapeutic riding and ground programs to people of special physical, cognitive, and emotional needs within the local community. Recognizing the powerful and positive impact that horses can make in a personﾒs life, NCMTﾒs programs are designed to promote physical and emotional wellness through equine therapy and horsemanship. Equine Therapy programs have been very successful in helping students improve not only their body awareness, but their cognitive and emotional skills as well.
The facility boasts a 72ﾒ x 160ﾒ indoor ring with rubber footing, a 140ﾒ by 200ﾒ outdoor ring, a temperature controlled viewing room for the indoor ring, a temperature controlled Learning Center, and heated grooming stalls, to provide the most comfortable experience as possible, regardless of weather.
Riding Programs: Therapeutic riding helps students achieve physical, psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and communication goals. Our instructors take great care in assigning the appropriate horse or pony to match the needs of each student. The lesson plan is designed to address each studentﾒs particular need. For example, a lesson plan may incorporate number or color recognition, balance exercises, or other games that have a therapeutic benefit.
We have trained volunteers who not only help prepare the horses for program, but also serve as side walkers and horse leaders. Each student has two side walkers (people who walk alongside them for comfort, safety and security) one of whom is their IA, and a horse leader. Volunteers lead all horses; no student has complete control of their animal. The classes are 45 minutes each, and each ride is approximately 30-35 minutes long, allowing time for mounting and dismounting.
Ground Programs: Our ground program allows the students to develop a real bond with the horses as they work with and around them. Students will participate in fundamental equine care such as brushing, picking hooves, cleaning tack, and adorning blankets or other horse apparel. These skills help enhance physical, cognitive skills and emotional skills while interacting with their equine partners. Weather permitting, a lot of time is spent in the wash stalls, bathing and rinsing the horses. Students experience what it means to be the caretaker of an animal, and the pride that goes with that.