What We’re All About
Horses. Hope. Healing.
About Starbrite
The Starbrite Therapeutic Equestrian Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and member of PATH International. (Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship International). Starbrite provides equine-assisted activities & therapies for the physical and mental needs of disabled children, adults and veterans.
Starbrite is beautifully situated on 33 acres located on Bascom Road near Lake Tyler in East Texas. The Starbrite facility will cover approximately 43,000 square feet and include a large arena, multiple therapy rooms, a large family room, offices, and stalls and a tack room for horses.
How We Do It
Our Programs
Therapeutic Riding
Starbrite provides Therapeutic Riding as an innovative and highly beneficial form of therapy.
Hippotherapy
Starbrite will soon be providing Hippotherapy, which is therapy with the help of the horse.
Horses for Heroes
Starbrite offers its programs to service personnel who have acquired a disability while in active duty or later in life.
Volunteer Education
Starbrite’s Therapeutic and Equine Mastery Program provides education to volunteers who are gaining skills to begin a career in the field of therapeutic horsemanship.
What Drives Us
Our Mission
The mission of Starbrite Therpeutic Equestrian Center is to serve youth, adults and veterans with physical, mental, social and psychological disabilities and to be known as a place of empowerment for these individuals and their families.
Volunteer
Starbrite volunteers care for horses,
prepare horses for class times, walk alongside horses, help with odd jobs, assist office personnel and much more.
Adult and youth volunteers do not need prior experience around horses or children and adults with disabilities. Volunteer skills are taught by Starbrite’s instructors.
What We Need
Riders and Volunteers
You are the LIFE of Starbrite! We are always looking for both riders for our programs and also for dedicated volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of others. We would love to tell you more about how you can serve or be served.
Horses... and all the stuff that goes with them!
General donations
Learn
What is Equine-Assisted Activities Therapy (EAAT) ?
Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies Defined
Equine-Assisted Activities (EAA)
are any specific center activity, e.g.. therapeutic riding, mounted or ground activities, grooming and stable management, in which the center’s clients, volunteers, instructors and equines are involved.
Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) is treatment that incorporates equine activities and/or the equine environment. Rehabilitative goals are related to the patient’s needs and the medical professional’s standards of practice.
Who Benefits?
Individuals with:
- Amputation
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Brain Injury
- Cerebral Palsy
- Depression
- Muscular Weakness
- Speech / Language impairment
- Spinal Cord injury / impairment
- Stroke
- Visual impairment
- and many more…
What are the Benefits of Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies?
- Improved muscle strength
- Increased flexibility
- Increased fine motor skills
- Improved communication
- Awareness of one’s body in space (proprioception)
- Improved range of motion