Horses Helping Kids Communicate
Equine-Oriented Summer Speech & Language Camps
In Collaboration with The Ohio State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
A one-of-a-kind summer therapy experience combining evidence-based speech-language intervention with movement, nature, and purposeful equine interaction, designed and delivered by licensed Speech-Language Pathologists.
Therapy Strides’ Equine-Oriented Summer Camp offers children ages 6–10 an engaging, clinically grounded approach to speech and language therapy in a dynamic barn environment.
Camp Dates Available for 2026
June 22nd–26th
July 6th-10th
July 27th-31st
*August 10th-14th
*August Stuttering Camp Details
Ages:
5–7 years 8-10 years
Schedule:
Monday–Friday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Price:
$600
Group Size:
Limited to 4 children per age group
Who is this camp for?
This is a specially designed camp for children who:
Have singular fluency disorder
Demonstrate any severity of dysfluency
Have little, no, or extensive therapy experience
Dear Parents,
As the parent of a child who stutters, you may have discovered how difficult it can be to access fluency services through the schools. Because stuttering often does not adversely affect academic performance, many children who could benefit from specialized intervention do not qualify for school-based services. To address this need, I developed a 10 20-minute session fluency intervention protocol that that has been successfully used by speech-language pathologists in Columbus City Schools for more than 11 years with children from preschool through high school.
Did you know that it is virtually impossible to sing and stutter at the same time? Drawing on my experience as both a speech-language pathologist and a trained classical singer, I teach children two foundational respiratory and phonatory skills that, when used simultaneously, result in fluent speech.
At camp, horses become active partners in the learning process. Through equine-related activities, campers engage in regular and rhythmic gross motor movements while developing the respiratory and voice-control skills that support fluent speech. During camp, you will learn the same strategies your child is practicing so that you can support and reinforce their progress at home as a knowledgeable and confident conversational partner.
If you are interested in learning more about our stuttering camp, please complete the pre-registration screening form. Once I receive your information, I will contact you to schedule a conversation - I look forward to speaking with you and answering the many questions I am sure you have!
Karen Carver, M.A., CCC-SLP
Founder, Therapy Strides
Averys’ Story:
Avery is a first-grade student. She demonstrates a significant fluency disorder, characterized by blocks, sound prolongations, and sound repetitions. She also demonstrates the secondary characteristics of facial tension and arm/leg movements (e.g., smacking arm or leg down). After only 3 separate 30-minute therapy sessions, her response to the intervention strategies of “all-the-time air” and “all-the-time voice” has resulted in wonderful outcomes. While practicing these strategies during therapy, she is 100% fluent and her body is calm. Additionally, she demonstrates increased fluency after therapy sessions have ended, even when she is not directly using these strategies. She also tends to be more talkative after her therapy sessions, readily sharing information about her day at school and seems more eager to have a conversation. The implementation of this intervention has already resulted in increased fluency for Avery.
Avery’s Mom
Abby Hamilton, M.A., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Columbus City Schools
Averys’ Update:
Avery completed 2 additional 30-minute therapy sessions – after a total of 5 sessions, Avery could engage in 15-minute conversations with me and her mom without dysfluencies or secondary characteristics. Avery and her mom have one structured 15-minute conversation a day to help keep Avery’s skills fresh and then Avery decides when she is going to (or not going to) use them when speaking the rest of the day. When she does experience a dysfluency, Avery is able to immediately employ the two fluency strategies she was taught and repeat her words without stuttering. Her secondary characteristics are completely gone.
Karen
Summer Camp Details
Ages:
6–10 years
Schedule:
Monday–Friday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Price:
$600
Group Size:
Limited to 10 children per session
Camp Experience
During the week-long camp, children participate in a blend of small-group and individual therapy, all delivered within an equine setting.
Camp includes:
Small-group and individual speech-language therapy sessions
Services delivered by licensed and certified SLPs
Support from OSU Speech-Language Pathology graduate students
Collaboratively designed, equine-themed interventions
Therapy aligned with each child’s existing IEP or treatment goals
Progress updates shared with the child’s treating SLP, when applicable
All activities are purposeful, structured, and clinically driven.
Who Is This Camp For?
This camp is designed for children ages 6–10 who:
Have identified speech and/or language needs
Can comprehend and follow verbal directions
Can participate safely in a small-group barn environment
Children may present with a range of diagnoses or concomitant disorders; however, safety and participation are essential in an equine setting.
Important Note About Readiness
Because therapy takes place in an active barn environment, campers must be able to:
Follow basic safety rules
Demonstrate functional comprehension
Participate without requiring a 1:1 safety aide
All families complete a pre-camp screening process to ensure that the program is an appropriate and supportive fit for their child.
Helping children build communication skills where learning feels natural.
Interested in joining our summer camps?
Click below to take our pre-screening questionnaire. If accepted, one of our team members will be in touch to secure your childs spot
A Collaborative Program with Ohio State University
In July 2025, Therapy Strides proudly launched a pilot Equine-Oriented Summer Camp in partnership with The Ohio State University Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.
This collaboration
brought together:
Licensed and certified Speech-Language Pathologists
Graduate clinicians from OSU’s SLP program
Equine-facilitated therapy specialists
Together, the team delivered a 20-hour immersive therapy experience designed to supplement each child’s existing speech-language goals.