About Us

In 1997, current Executive Director Amber Varner was hired by a fledgling nonprofit, Agape Institute, to be a trainer and barn manager. In 2003, Agape Institute was dissolved and Forward Stride was incorporated, its creation facilitated by Amber and a small group of fellow volunteers.

Forward Stride has had several homes throughout its history. We spent a short amount of time at two private facilities in Sherwood, then found a home at a barn in Wilsonville. Eventually we moved to a property in Beaverton at the old Fox Hollow Farms (pictured right). When our lease was up, we relocated to our current, custom designed facility off of Farmington Road in Beaverton, our forever home!

Founded to meet the demand for therapeutic horseback riding services in the Portland Metro area, Forward Stride is a haven of learning, growing, and healing for individuals of all abilities, ages, and walks of life.

Since its founding, Forward Stride has expanded its service offerings to include a variety of horse-centered activities and therapies. Our philosophy of safety and inclusion underlies all of our programs.

SERVICES

Click any of the icons below to learn more or register for Equestrian Sports, Clinical Services, and Personal Development programs.

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Riding Program

Offering children and adults of all abilities opportunities to develop horsemanship skills, fitness, communication, social skills and self-confidence.
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Vaulting Program

Offering Competitive Vaulting and Interactive Vaulting coming soon. Vaulting is proven to promote strength, balance, flexibility, team bonding, and self-confidence.
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Rehabilitation Services

Offers children and adults sessions with licensed physical, occupation, speech and language health therapists who specialize in using equine movement as a treatment tool in integrated treatment plans.
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Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy icon

Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy

Offering individual and group therapy sessions for personal growth and treatment for those with mental disorders and/or looking to improve relationships with self and others.
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Vocational Training Program

Providing vocational training for individuals ages 18 and older with the goal of demonstrating the skills to obtain meaningful and regular employment in the community.
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Volunteer Program

Volunteering plays a huge role in building self-esteem, confidence, and overall well-being. Our volunteers are a crucial component of our Continuum of Care.
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Equine Facilitated Learning

An experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional, and personal goals through equine-assisted activities.
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Accreditations, Memberships, and Awards