Silhouette illustration of a mother and child sitting together, with the mother holding her child's hand, set against a black background.

About us

Therapy Strides is a groundbreaking initiative that harnesses equine-facilitated speech and language therapy to promote positive functional outcomes for children with communication needs. 

Located at the picturesque Benson Oaks Farm,—created by Bill and Pam Benson in 2019— a serene retreat featuring a 120 x 80 indoor arena and home to eight gentle horses, making it the perfect setting for this innovative therapeutic experience. The farm’s name is inspired by the stunning Pin Oak trees that line its scenic drive, adding to its peaceful and welcoming atmosphere. 

Group of people interacting with horses inside a barn, some petting and grooming the horses.

The vision for Therapy Strides was born from a shared passion between Pam Benson and Karen Carver, who recognized the transformative potential of using horses to enhance the lives of children with communication challenges. Now, with the support of OSU, they are eager to expand therapy offerings in the near future, including additional camp sessions and individual therapy services.  

Two women smiling and wearing sunglasses, standing next to a brown horse with a white stripe on its face in a grassy outdoor area with a wooden fence in the background.
Group of children and adults gathered around a large white and brown horse inside an indoor riding arena. They appear to be examining or caring for the horse, with some children reaching out to it. The arena has a dirt floor and wooden walls.

The collaboration between Therapy Strides and The Ohio State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic will create: (1) an innovative equine clinical placement model linking graduate Speech-Language Pathology programs with community practitioners, and (2) an equine-specific curriculum for diverse communication disorders, grounded in rigorous clinical research.

Ohio State University logo with text for College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.
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Curious to know if Therapy Strides is the right fit for your child?

Click below to find out more about our program and take our Pre-Registration Questionnaire.

Take the Screening Questionnaire