Hope and healing through equine-assisted services

Our Mission

Rhythms of Grace is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that partners with exceptional horses to bring healing and hope to children and adults with disabilities and special needs.

Our Story

Rhythms of Grace reflects both our inspiration and our experience. Horses invite us into the present moment—they help calm our anxieties, bring clarity to our thoughts, and restore hope to our hearts. It exists to offer a place where people of all ages and needs can find healing, purpose, and rest in the company of these amazing animals.

Our Services

  • Riders develop independence, empathy, safety, decision-making and a variety of cognitive, physical, emotional and social skills that impact their daily lives through customized lesson plans.

  • Equine-assisted psychotherapy, trauma informed care and learning are offered by licensed therapists and credentialed equine professionals. In addition to care through therapy, participants learn general equine knowledge, horse behavior, communication, empathy and other social skills by interacting with horses from the ground. The horse helps teach relationship and connection skills such as trust, respect, honesty and communication.

  • Our licensed therapists use treatments that incorporate horse movement or the horse’s environment to address medical, cognitive, or behavioral health conditions as part of the individualized plan of care.

Our Facility

Rhythms of Grace makes its home at the beautiful River Heights Ranch rural setting near Dallas Center, Iowa just west of Des Moines. The Ranch is nestled along the Raccoon River and offers clients a large outdoor arena and indoor arena to ride in. The barn is wheelchair accessible and offers visitors a comfortable viewing area to watch participants.

Join Our Community

Become A Client

Our services are beneficial to all ages of participants with special physical, cognitive, sensory, learning, social and/or emotional needs.

Volunteer

Volunteers are the heart of Rhythms of Grace. We have numerous opportunities available.

Donate

Gifts from our Rhythms of Grace community help us carry out the mission to serve children and adults with special needs, conditions, diagnosis and/or disabilities.

One hour on the back of a horse is like having a full week of physical therapy in a clinic.”

— Janey (Client)