About Us
The Children's TherAplay Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit pediatric outpatient clinic just north of Indianapolis serving children with special needs. But, that’s just the beginning of the story.
Children's TherAplay is the largest clinic in the country providing physical and occupational therapies on horseback, through an innovative treatment strategy called hippotherapy. Our kiddos experience transformational outcomes through these unique therapies.
The Children’s TherAplay Foundation came from the most unlikely of beginnings. In 2000, an Indianapolis-area occupational therapist contacted Craig Dobbs, owner of Lucky Farms, about borrowing some of the Lucky horses to help special needs children utilizing an innovative form of treatment called hippotherapy.
Blessed with four children of his own, Craig was happy share some of Lucky Farms' resources to help children in need, especially when he began to see for himself what the therapist had told him to begin with: Hippotherapy works.
In 2001, Children's TherAplay became a not-for-profit organization, still on the grounds of Lucky Farms. In the ensuing years, Children's TherAplay founder Craig and other caring individuals helped expand not only the facility, building the therapy clinic and administrative offices we still use to this day, but also the program.
Today we are proud to offer pediatric physical and occupational therapy, both using the tool of hippotherapy, to 170 children each week. Each day we are honored to contribute to and celebrate the first steps, first words, first jumps, and other remarkable gains of Central Indiana children who have special needs.
The mission of The Children's TherAplay Foundation is to provide children with special needs a foundation for developing life skills through innovative therapies, including physical and occupational therapies using a horse as a treatment tool, in a safe and caring environment.
The Children's TherAplay Foundation is the nationally renowned leader and educator in physical and occupational therapy on horseback, which is enthusiastically endorsed as an effective treatment tool for children with special needs.
Children's TherAplay collaborates with organizations that share our passion for improving the lives of those we serve. By providing a warm and supportive environment, we help children and their families achieve their goals and dreams.
Why does it matter that Children's TherAplay is a United Way of Central Indiana partner agency?
United Way agency partners must go through a certification process, ensuring each program is fully vetted and certified. The United Way partner agency logo guarantees your contributions are being used wisely and appropriately.
We're proud to say Children's TherAplay has received the highest rating possible in this intensive evaluation, and to be an official partner agency of the United Way of Central Indiana.
The Children's TherAplay Foundation is committed to the inclusion of and full participation by all persons in the achievement of its mission. It is the belief of all associated with Children's TherAplay that bringing together different experiences, beliefs, and cultures allows us to collectively and more effectively serve our constituents, our community, and our world.
Children's TherAplay will provide equal opportunity in the delivery of services and in employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age, gender or sexual orientation. Further, Children's TherAplay shall, to the fullest extent possible, refrain from making financial or contractual commitments to any other agency, organization, business, or industry which practices, condones, or perpetuates discrimination in employment and/or provision of services.
This year, we celebrate twenty years of Children's TherAplay providing life-changing therapy to children with disabilities. Please consider making a meaningful gift to celebrate twenty years of Children's TherAplay! Together, we'll continue to grow, serving central Indiana children and their families who rely on hippotherapy for hope.