Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship

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Helotes, TX
Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship

Upward Transitions provides a positive, safe environment allowing those in need to escape their normal daily challenges while discovering new abilities.

Upward Transitions is a non profit 501(c)3 organization. We exist because of the generous monetary and in-kind donations from our community. Your donation is tax-exempt as allowable by law.

04/20/2026

It’s a good day to hang out in a dry stall and appreciate this beautiful rain. 🌧️

04/15/2026

Look at these two. 😍 What looks like a game is actually focus, problem-solving, and a whole lot of “that’s a match!” with teamwork and a few thank-you scratches for your horse all happening in real time. Horse and human both leaning in, thinking it through together. Learning sneaks in when it feels like play and that’s our favorite way to do it. ♥️

04/14/2026

Kids don’t just learn around horses… they change around horses.
Horses don’t judge. They respond to what’s happening right now. That alone helps kids slow down and become more aware.
A breath before moving.
A pause before reacting.
A chance to try again.
In our Saddle Bag Wisdom, we call these “tools before you need them.” Kids start building simple ways to reset, refocus, and keep going.
And the best part?
It’s fun, it builds confidence, and kids get to build life skills they can carry far beyond the arena.

04/13/2026

Doesn’t Archie look majestic 🤩
Well, that was Saturday morning. Today is Monday and he’s back to his muddy self. 🤣

03/02/2026

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.

We’re proud to celebrate Adam and the hard work he brings to each lesson. Adam shows us what determination looks like in the saddle — steady, focused, and full of heart.

We support Adam and his family as they raise awareness for cerebral palsy.

10/15/2025

🦋🐞🐸 Life cycles in action with our horses!
This week we brought science into the arena. We chose a story about a butterfly, ladybug, or frog and talked through each stage of its life. Then we searched for the matching life cycle cards around the arena and finished by matching the figures to each stage.
Hands-on learning with our horses—and of course, carrots always waiting at the end! 🥕🧡

10/07/2025

Horses reveal their thoughts and feelings with their body language and behavior. They do not ask, demand, or expect anything from us. They want to feel safe, comfortable, and get along.

Dr. Grandin reports that there is often a special connection or identification that occurs when an autistic person begins to interact with a horse. She points to a possible basis for this, stating that both horses and autistic people think in pictures, not words or verbal language, and both are hyperspecific. Whether it's a horse or a human, we are both powerfully attracted to that which is most familiar.

10/02/2025

Meet Archie! Some days, all you need is a really good scratch. Whether it’s a rub on his withers or scratches on his neck, he’s living his best life. 🐴♥️

09/29/2025

Horses really are the best listeners. When you say things out loud, it helps your brain sort through what’s going on. And with a horse, it’s even more powerful—they don’t judge, they just tune in. Horses can feel the shifts in your energy as you talk, and sometimes their response shows you what you didn’t even realize you were carrying.
Sometimes all we need is a quiet moment, a trusted horse, and the space to let the words out.

09/28/2025

Nothing like a refreshing drink of water! Did you know horses can drink 5–15 gallons of water a day depending on their size, diet, and weather—and while eating they can make up to 10 gallons of saliva to help chew and digest their food? Staying hydrated isn’t just important for us, it’s just as important for our horses! 🐴

09/26/2025

One of the things we love is watching how our horses and participants respond to each other—and it’s always nice when research backs it up. 💜
When a horse has the freedom to choose—whether to come close, step away, or accept touch—the connection is so much stronger. We’ve seen participants learn to notice the horse’s body language, like when they lean in for a hug, wait patiently for a carrot, or simply stand quietly because they want to, not because they have to.
A new study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science confirms this. Horses showed less stress and more calm when they had the option to say yes or no to touch. That choice not only builds trust, it also helps participants grow in awareness and makes every interaction safer and more positive for both horse and human.
Study: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159125001960

09/25/2025

Spending time with horses is about more than fun—it helps kids grow in lots of ways. The gentle movement of a horse relaxes muscles and helps with coordination, balance, and posture. For kids with challenges like cerebral palsy, it can even improve stability and confidence. And caring for a horse—grooming, leading, or just being around them—helps kids focus and manage their energy. Being with a horse helps kids build skills they can carry into everyday life.

Address

19804 High Bluff Road
Helotes, TX
78023

Telephone

+12108671188

Website

http://www.upward-transitions.org/

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Our Story

The goal of Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship (UTTH) is to provide a safe, positive environment, allowing participants to become more self-sufficient and enrich their daily lives. Upward Transitions provides independence to participants by enabling them to feel the freedom of sitting on top of a horse and leaving the confines of their disability behind. For individuals with mental or emotional challenges, the unique relationship formed between a rider and horse can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. The therapeutic environment that horses provide cannot be duplicated in a clinical setting and as a result riders benefit from their accepting and trusting interaction.

Upward Transitions offers Spring, Summer and Fall Riding Sessions. Each session includes a weekly, hour-long therapeutic riding lesson. Therapeutic riding is a powerful, highly specialized service with an overwhelming need in our community. UTTH is one of just three such organizations in the county and the only one located in NW San Antonio. With such a high need, the ultimate goal of UTTH is to increase their reach to more students and veterans per session. Therapeutic riding services are very expensive to deliver resulting in the continued need for funding to bring this extremely beneficial option to more riders.

Upward Transitions is a non profit 501(c)3 organization. We exist because of the generous monetary and in-kind donations from our community.