We absolutely love ROCK! Our youngest has Down Syndrome and has been doing speech therapy at ROCK since he was 2.5. He looks forward to it every week. It has helped his speech and core strength SO much! He/We love his therapist Shannon and his whole team! We have been so blessed by our experience at ROCK!
ROCK is a truly amazing place filled with compassionate and passionate people. They treat each client as a person, not as a diagnosis or label, and take their mission, to Improve independence and life skills in partnership with the horse, to each and every session. It is a place where miracles happen.
I Love volunteering at the Rock. The riders are amazing to work with. Some riders are more challenged then others. You put them on a horse and it seems like all there problems go away for 45 minutes on the back of a horse. Everyone at Rock, Ride center makes you feel like family. We basically are one big Ohana (family). I tell all my friends and family near and far what amazing work Rock does for Veterans and people from young to older with disabilities.
ROCK has been an amazing place to volunteer at. Not only is the community of volunteers incredibly kind and welcoming, but the management and other staff are as well. Everytime I volunteer, I come out feeling less stressed and happy because I can tell that I am making a difference with the participants. ROCK is a great place to dedicate time to for anyone looking for a nonprofit to volunteer at.
ROCK has been a blessing to our son Jaxon. He has been a rider at ROCK for several years now and all of our experiences have been nothing but superb. The staff members are very caring and really know Jaxon's interests. They have helped Jaxon shine and excel in a sport when we thought Jaxon would never have a sport the could participate in!
My daughter was diagnosed with a rare syndrome at age 1. I was told by doctors she may not speak or independently ambulate or have the focus necessary to learn. ROCK was undeterred by all the -might nots- instead focusing on the -can dos-.
My daughter has slowly gained the necessary strength to independently ride and it’s truly powerful to witness. I’ve lost count of how many conversations she’s privately had with horses but I have paid close attention to her ever increasing growth in spoken language.
ROCK made my dreams for my daughter a reality. I pray that one day all children who are disabled will have a ROCK in their corner.
This place is a literal life saver. I am a disabled Veteran who has been going to ROCK for 11 years. When I started, I was a mess. I had severe depression, some PTSD & OCD as well as balance & mobility issues. Between the wonderful horses, the great and caring staff & being among other veterans. My mental health issues went a away within the first 2 years. Between walking in the soft dirt in the arena & riding my physical issues have improved to the point where I only need a cane for walking long distances. I highly recommend ROCK!
My son is a 41-year-old autistic individual. He has trouble relating to other people and expressing his thoughts and emotions. His time at the Ride On Center for Kids has become his favorite thing to do. The staff is friendly and caring, and they understand Matt and help him to enjoy riding while learning social skills and interaction with others. They always treat Matt with kindness and respect. Brittany has been his primary instructor for over a year. She understands Matt’s limitations and his abilities and works with him to have the best experience possible. The staff and the volunteers are very safety conscious and always make the safety of the riders their first priority. The horses are clean, healthy and well cared for. It’s hard to put into words how much Matt’s ROCK visits have come to mean to him. He looks forward to the trip every time. I would enthusiastically recommend ROCK to anyone as an activity for their special needs loved ones. I'd give them six stars if I could.
I’ve always loved horses and have always wanted to ride a horse since i was little. Fast forward to now, i get to live that dream i always had. I get so much joy out of it. I’ve been riding at ROCK for a little over a year and i’ve learned so much as a rider and about horses. Riding is the highlight of every week for me, it makes me really happy and loved by my horse. That dream that i always had was able to come true because of ROCK.
Our daughter has gained independence, social skills, and physical strength and balance through riding at the ROCK. She loves the horses, side walkers, leaders, and riders. What a loving extended family of support for her. Thank you ROCK for all the love, patience, and fun! We look forward to many more years ahead of being a part of the ROCK family. ROCK on!!!
ROCK is nothing short of amazing. The various programs for the kids and the veterans, are just phenomenal. We love the instructors, staff, and volunteers! Our daughter looks forward each week to her lessons. We plan on staying involved for years to come.
This has been a transformative experience for my teen son with Autism and behavior issues. Devin is a great instructor who is very patient and has nerves of steel. The volunteers are all great, too. My son now is calm and comfortable riding a horse and that is something I thought I would never see. My son and whole family feel accepted and comfortable while at ROCK. We are thankful that we have found them.
The ROCK has been a VERY therapeutic place for my granddaughter not to mention she is becoming quite a rider. My granddaughter has been through many challenges in her life from being diagnosed with Autism, having to be raised my her grandparents to be being bullied in school. She loves the horses and she loves her trainer and horse handlers. Although shes done this for only 2 years, she has become confident and has gained so many new riding skills. I can not tell you how grateful I am for the ROCK and everything they do there!! May God continue to bless that organization, the people who run it and all the ones who support it, financially and otherwise.
Bless you
A grateful grandmother.
Our family loves ROCK! Our son is 6 years old and has autism. The team at ROCK is very experienced in working with children on the spectrum, and I am able to see an independent side of my son during his horseback riding lessons that I normally don't see every day. We attend other therapies, but the equine provided by ROCK brings out a different side and set of skills in my son. It is a wonderful organization that I am proud to be a part of, and the impact it has had on my son is life-changing.
An amazing place which touches the lives of those challenged in difficult circumstances. It’s been a tremendous blessing to my 90 year old mom who started riding due to the loss of her eye sight and depression. She continued to ride throughout treatment for CNS. It remains a bright spot in her week. The staff and volunteers are awesome.
This organization is nothing short of amazing! Our daughter, Faith who has Down syndrome, started her equine assisted therapy at ROCK when she was two years old. The compassion and attention shown by all the staff allowed our daughter to grow beyond what we could have imagined. The pediatrician no longer used terms like “floppy” when referring to her muscle tone! This is directly a benefit of her riding. Faith’s independence and overall confidence is thru the roof! Thank you ROCK for all you have done and continue to do for our family!!!
Our son Alex is a long-time rider at ROCK and he (and we) love this wonderful organization. The staff and volunteers are truly kind, giving people. Alex looks forward to riding every week and we can’t imagine NOT being a part of the ROCK family.
My daughter has a rare epileptic syndrome and experiences daily seizures. When she started at ROCK she was just 3 years old. This weekly therapy has allowed her to gain the strength to sit up on her own and gain control of her head more. It is because of her riding and all the people who assist her each week that she has gained the ability to interact with her world more. We are eternally grateful to ROCK for giving our daughter a better quality of life and the ability to have some independence, not to mention she gets to ride on a pony every week which she absolutely loves. No only has this therapy enriched her life physically but it has mentally as well. The therapists and volunteers truly become family and care wholeheartedly. They celebrate the little wins along with our family and are always happy smiling familiar faces for her to be around. We highly recommend ROCK to anyone interested in equine therapy.
Once I retired, I started volunteering for different organizations. An acquaintance gave me a tour of ROCK. As a retired nurse, I was comfortable around people with special needs and I loved being around horses. I figured it was a perfect fit for me. But once I start volunteering for an organization, it is important to me to believe that organization is fulfilling their mission statement, using their funds wisely and providing an important service to the community. I've now been volunteering at ROCK for over five years. They have more than met my expectations of a Great Nonprofit.
Everyone has a story! Everyone loves being appreciated, valued and heard! Not only can I appreciate greatly ROCK’s love and service to the people with special needs that show up, but also how they treat with respect and kindness those volunteering!
I felt right at home from the get go, as a volunteer, and was greatly inspired by the story of authenticity and humble beginnings, of how ROCK was started!
I am one of the lucky individuals that gets to volunteer my time at ROCK and see and FEEL first hand the amazing work that happens there. It's more then just a non-profit, there are miracles that happen in that dirt, on those horses and even as a volunteer, I get to feel those benefits when I am onsite. If you've ever considered getting involved with ROCK or an organization like it, do yourself and your soul a favor, and DO IT!
There are probably several great non profit organizations doing good work in our communities. However, I don’t believe there are any that change it’s riders/volunteers/staff for the better, in every way.
In looking for the right place - for me - to volunteer, I decided on ROCK because I wanted to be near and work with horses. I felt this would be a good fit because I am not a ‘people’ person, always preferring the company of animals.
I learned that to work with the horses I’d have to start out as a side walker, a position required to help keep the rider safe. The purpose of ROCK is to do therapies for riders with varying disabilities, using horses to aid in that therapy. And the work they do, the healing that happens through equine therapy is nothing short of amazing!
I started side walking in three classes. I noticed a change happening within ME with the very first class! My heart was being broken open by being in the presence of these amazing kids, who against all odds, are improving and thriving. The absolutely noble, intuitive and sweet natured horses served to open my heart even further.
What I originally thought of as me filling a need for ROCK has become ROCK filling a need in me, a need I wasn’t even aware of. I cry often at the utter wonder of what is taking place daily at ROCK. I get to see the riders get stronger, become more confident and overcome challenges. But, there is more healing taking place; that of the volunteers, who might not have realized how much they needed to be in this place, and it is profound. There is no other place - anywhere in my opinion - as special as ROCK.
I am currently serving as a volunteer for ROCK in appreciation for the services they provided our family over 20 years ago. ROCK is an incredible program with exceptional leadership. It is amazing to see how the program has significantly grown in providing equine-assisted services to the community for many years. Speaking from both a client and volunteer perspective, ROCK consistently delivers an exceptional experience to all participants in the program. I highly recommend their services and encourage those looking for volunteer opportunities to join the ROCKateer Team.
ROCK, has definitely been a place that has brought light into my life. From the first day I walked in, to each and every day after I feel more and more at peace. The work that is done at ROCK is nothing short of magic. I've heard the stories and now I'm seeing it for myself. It is truly a place dedicated to each and every participant that comes into the facility.
As a cowgirl and retired orthopedic surgeon, I naturally gravitated to ROCK as of way of maintaining my connection to horses and the care of people. But ROCK was so much more than just a place to volunteer. The care for our riders, volunteers, staff and horses is palpable and exceptional. The progressive push for improvement, education and safety, in order to further the care of our riders and horses, is remarkable. AND…its a great place to volunteer!
The Georgetown Ride On Center for Kids (ROCK) is a gift to the greater community. It’s mission is strictly focused on improving lives to include clients, parents and caregivers. The organization is exemplified by a professional and loving spirit to anyone walking through the doors of ROCK. The instructors are experienced and practice the latest techniques in the field of equine therapy. Volunteers, the lifeblood of ROCK, are treated with dignity and respect and are valued as members of the client team. ROCK is special, and provides life improvement in relationship with the horse.
They do an excellent job with the participants. The horses are well taken care of. The staff are extremely invested in all aspects of the business. They train the volunteers well to provide a safe environment for all.
ROCK is the best nonprofit to volunteer with for so many reasons. The volunteer experience has enriched my life in so many ways that I could have imagined. The interactions with clients, families, therapists, and horses are so meaningful and impactful. I appreciate learning new skills that I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to learn. When individuals and corporations donate to ROCK, their funds are used to further the ROCK mission and vision. Clients and families are treated with love and respect and their achievements, no matter how small, are celebrated!
I have been volunteering at ROCK since 2015, when I first learned about the Veterans Equine Therapy program. I was lucky to also participate in this program as a rider.
I now volunteer 3 days a week. The horses, the staff, and the joy of the riders inspire me to keep coming back.
ROCK, Ride On Center For Kids has had a tremendous impact on my family. It is an amazing place filled with incredible people and horses. Here, you can see and feel the difference you make in the lives of others. There are many different opportunities to serve and each one gives you purpose and joy in completing the task. The work is fun and fulfilling.
Rock and its Horses are wonderful. The program greatly helps its participants and is a blessing to be at and volunteer for. The staff, volunteers and facilities are excellent!
I love this organization, aside from the great work it does for children, it also has an amazing opportunity for veterans with their ROCK on Veterans program. I was fortunate enough to participate in the program in the Fall of 2013 and it was very helpful to not only me but also a very close friend of mine. The staff and volunteers alike were extraordinary and I am eager to see our paths cross again in the future!
When I first discovered this organization, I was immediately impressed by the people. Volunteers and staff seemed genuinely friendly and caring. As I got to know the organization better, I came to understand that everyone involved seems drawn there by a passion - a passion for the work, for the children and adults who are there as clients, for the horses and for the mission of the organization. The veterans program is incredible and truly changes the lives of the families involved. Board members are in he arena working with clients as volunteers. It is a place where lives change, miracles happen, children who could not walk now walk, veterans who could not leave their home are now in school, volunteering, doing public speaking and are happy. This is indeed a very special place.
Review from Guidestar