Our Mission: Healing Through Connection
At Aloha Therapeutic Horsemanship, we envision a Big Island community where every individual—regardless of physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges—has access to the life-changing benefits of the equine bond.
Bridging the Gap in Care
Our journey began in 2022 when we identified a critical lack of equine-assisted therapy (EAT) services on our island. What started as a private program has grown into a dedicated non-profit organization designed to ensure that cost is never a barrier to healing. We envision a future where our subsidized lesson programs allow every family in need to experience the rhythmic, healing movement of a horse.
A Foundation of Strength and Courage
We believe in the unique ability of horses to act as partners in rehabilitation and growth. Our vision is to empower our riders to:
Regain Independence: Utilizing the horse’s movement to help those with physical injuries regain balance, core strength, and even the ability to walk again.
Cultivate Resilience: Helping individuals navigate emotional hurdles and anxiety by building unwavering confidence and inspiring courage.
Expand our Ohana: As a flourishing organization, we are actively working to grow our equine team and our reach, bringing more specialized care to those with Autism, Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and other diverse needs.
Cultivating a Community of Support
The heart of our vision is a thriving network of dedicated volunteers and supporters. We see a future where our stables in Waikoloa and Holualoa serve as vibrant hubs of community service,
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Robbi Nanni
Founder
Testimonials
“Through her attention to each student, and in her pre-class preparation of horse and learning materials, Robbi creates pleasant, purposeful, fun, therapeutic recreation sessions. Therapeutic riding horse, Lena, at 27, time and time again proves herself to be imperturbable." MD
Driven by passion
“My experience at ATH is very enjoyable and rewarding. I have been around horses for decades and love working with them, Robbi made me feel welcome and appreciated, she is an excellent trainer and loves all the riders. The other volunteers are outstanding and brighten my day.
Thank you Robbi for including me in the Aloha Therapeutic Horsemanship program. As a volunteer in this program, I have had a great experience with the children of special needs. Your interaction with the children is very engaging and promotes trust and learning. Horses and children, a great combination.” CD
Prior to starting therapy with Robbi our family struggled with communicating, independent learning and aggression with my autistic angel Kaira.
We had spent many years in traditional therapies and never saw the progress we made after just one session with Robbi. Robbi helped us navigate the complexities of interpersonal relationships through an experiential process to help break down barriers and overcome conflict and create communication and confidence in Kaira. She’s also improved in emotional regulation, and social skills, helping with conditions such as anxiety, PTSD, and she’s now no longer afraid of animals. You have been and continue to be a huge blessing to us and Kaira.
Thank you Robbi.
“My son Dax is 4 years old and struggles with the ability to focus. Specifically being able to commit to learning a task before jumping ahead or losing interest. He also has certain sensory needs like deep pressure sensory seeking. When Dax is on Lena his distractions are limited. He is confined to being in one place without feeling restricted. He is enjoying his time on horseback while learning new skills and the ability to maintain his focus. His sensory needs are also met while riding. The movements of his joints being pushed together help him with deep pressure sensory seeking. We all know horses bring calmness. And that is exactly what Lena does for Dax. She helps him to bring his energy down and with his overall wellbeing. We are truly grateful for her, Robbi and her wonderful group of volunteers at Aloha Therapeutic Horsemanship. “ -HS