Upward Transitions Therapeutic Horsemanship

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.

09/02/2026

Sometimes the best part of a lesson is the little routine that belongs to just you and your horse.
For this veteran and Paulie, “see you next week” has become a short jog together before heading out.
We didn’t plan it. It just became their thing.
That’s one of the best parts of working with horses. We make room for the connection and let them figure out what works for them.
The Big Give is coming up this month. Your support helps make room for more of these moments and the connections that grow from them. We’re looking forward to sharing more of what your support makes possible!

Sometimes, saying hi is enough.On these hot August days, we often skip the arena and just hang out with the horses under...
08/27/2026

Sometimes, saying hi is enough.
On these hot August days, we often skip the arena and just hang out with the horses under a tree.
For some of our veterans, that can be harder than it sounds. There’s always that feeling that you should be doing something.
But sometimes the horses remind us that we don’t have to. It’s okay to just say hi, watch them graze, breathe, and be there with them.
No agenda. No accomplishment needed. Just be.
Sometimes, that’s enough.

Be Someone Your Horse Wants to Be WithWhat if the goal isn’t to make a horse follow you, but to become someone they want...
08/13/2026

Be Someone Your Horse Wants to Be With
What if the goal isn’t to make a horse follow you, but to become someone they want to be with?
We play games with our horses, like asking Archie to carry a hula hoop, but there’s more going on than just having fun. We’re building connection, communication, and trust.
When a horse feels safe and understood, they’re more likely to choose to be with us and join in. For individuals with autism, these moments also create a natural way to practice social interaction, reading cues, communicating, and noticing how their actions affect someone else.
It’s about creating a relationship where both feel safe, connected, and want to participate.

Paulie practicing straddling a ground pole. Learning doesn’t always look graceful. Sometimes it looks like trying, think...
08/11/2026

Paulie practicing straddling a ground pole. Learning doesn’t always look graceful. Sometimes it looks like trying, thinking, complaining a little, and trying again.
But Paulie tried anyway. And he’d like it noted that he did so under protest. 😂

Some of the best learning happens when a child doesn't even realize they're learning.At the barn, reading isn't just rea...
07/29/2026

Some of the best learning happens when a child doesn't even realize they're learning.
At the barn, reading isn't just reading. It might mean following clues, solving a challenge, reading a horse's body language, or working together to figure out the next step. Along the way, they're moving their bodies, practicing patience, building confidence, and learning how to pause when things feel hard.
The horses don't care if learning looks different. Neither do we.
Sometimes different is what makes learning click.

Time builds trust. Take the time it takes.One of the most meaningful parts of this moment is easy to miss.Archie isn't w...
07/21/2026

Time builds trust. Take the time it takes.
One of the most meaningful parts of this moment is easy to miss.
Archie isn't wearing a halter. He is free to walk away at any time, yet he chooses to stay.
Research shows that working with horses can help veterans reduce stress, strengthen emotional regulation, and rebuild confidence. But anyone who has spent time with a horse knows trust is not something you can demand. It is built quietly, through patience, consistency, and showing up.
And in moments like this, you can see what trust has become.
The greatest lesson isn't teaching a horse to tie and stand quietly. It's becoming someone a horse chooses to stay with.

We love moments like these. ♥️Today our friend spent time brushing Shimmer and Indy, sharing carrots and apples, and dec...
06/08/2026

We love moments like these. ♥️
Today our friend spent time brushing Shimmer and Indy, sharing carrots and apples, and decorating a horseshoe to take home. No matter how long it's been since her last visit, she always reconnects with her horse friends in her own way.
The horses don't seem to care how much time has passed. They just meet us where we are.

05/20/2026

There’s something pretty special that happens when a horse and human really start understanding each other through clear communication, teamwork, and patience. All the little moments start turning into real connection.
Today Archie and his partner worked through the pool noodle obstacle at liberty, stayed together through a little distraction, and ended with a quiet whoa together. No lead rope just trust, feel, and paying attention to each other.
This is the kind of stuff we love. We don’t look for perfect. Just two partners learning to work together and figuring it out together.

This week’s adventure stories had us crossing bridges, working through obstacles, practicing reading, and slow breathin...
05/14/2026

This week’s adventure stories had us crossing bridges, working through obstacles, practicing reading, and slow breathing with our horses.

The pool noodle obstacle was voted both the hardest and the most fun. Lots of pauses, problem solving, laughs, and trying again.

Each adventure story was personalized for the rider, using things they enjoy and/or are working on to help them connect with the lesson and become part of the story themselves.

These activities may look like games from the outside, but they are also helping build emotional awareness, confidence, resilience, communication, and trust both with the horse and within themselves.

Some partnerships become something really special. 💖Over time, this rider and Autumn have built more than riding skills ...
05/09/2026

Some partnerships become something really special. 💖
Over time, this rider and Autumn have built more than riding skills together, they’ve built a friendship based on trust, gentleness, and connection. The horsemanship she is learning with Autumn is carrying over as she works with other horses too.
Today brought one of those sweet surprise moments. She described something as “teal,” and mom excitedly asked, “How do you know teal?!” Seeing new words connect so naturally was such a joy.
With every ride, her confidence and connection continue to grow, while always maintaining a softness and gentleness with her horse. A beautiful friendship built on trust, learning, and connection. 🐴♥️

Address

19804 High Bluff Road
Helotes, TX
78023

Telephone

+12108671188

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