A woman with red hair riding a white horse with a black bridle and pink saddle, outdoors in a sunny area with a fence, plants, trees, and the ocean in the background. She is smiling and has her arms outstretched while a man in a helmet and jacket is riding the horse and holding the reins.

What’s AHT?

Some children arrive at our stable unable to speak. Others arrive unable to sit upright on their own. What happens next is difficult to put into words — but those who witness it never forget it.

At AHT, we believe in the extraordinary power of horses to reach people in ways that traditional therapy often cannot. There is something about the warmth of a horse, its rhythm, its patience, its complete absence of judgment, that unlocks something in a rider. A child who struggles to communicate finds a language. A body that fights for balance discovers stillness. A person who has felt limited finds, on horseback, that they are not.

Founded in 1989, AHT — Associação Hípica Terapêutica — has spent over three decades bringing therapeutic riding to children with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities in Cascais, Portugal. We have supported more than 800 riders and their families, delivering thousands of sessions from our home at Clube Dom Carlos, steps from the Atlantic coast.

Today, up to 100 riders come through our stable each week. They come referred by schools, doctors, therapists, and families searching for something different. What they find is a team of dedicated professionals, trained volunteers, and five remarkable horses who show up — session after session — with calm, intuition, and care.

We are a registered Portuguese nonprofit, a community, and a place where the impossible becomes possible — one session at a time.

"The impact on their lives has been significant." Mariana Lima, Physiotherapist, CERCICA

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"It has been a delight to see the progress of our students." Mónica Lampreia, Senior Technician in Special Education and Rehabilitation, Alvide School Group

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"A very positive educational experience." Ana Rita Aguiar, Special Education Teacher, Alvide School Group

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"There are very positive opinions from the parents." Francisco Fernandes, School Representative, Escola nº 1 do Murtal

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"An excellent partnership built on trust and teamwork that prioritizes the student-horse relationship." Mónica Lampreia, Senior Technician in Special Education and Rehabilitation, Alvide School Group

"The impact on their lives has been significant." Mariana Lima, Physiotherapist, CERCICA - "It has been a delight to see the progress of our students." Mónica Lampreia, Senior Technician in Special Education and Rehabilitation, Alvide School Group - "A very positive educational experience." Ana Rita Aguiar, Special Education Teacher, Alvide School Group - "There are very positive opinions from the parents." Francisco Fernandes, School Representative, Escola nº 1 do Murtal - "An excellent partnership built on trust and teamwork that prioritizes the student-horse relationship." Mónica Lampreia, Senior Technician in Special Education and Rehabilitation, Alvide School Group

Meet Our Horses

  • Therapy Horse Zara

    ZARA

    She’s beautiful, but loves to get dirty. Will kick door for attention. Alpha mare.

  • Therapy Horse Tina

    TINA

    Our beloved old lady and the workhorse of the stable. Known to flirt with photographers.

  • Therapy Horse Stella

    STELLA

    Snorts when curious, so nicknamed Dragon Horse. Not partial to playing polo. Chronic nibbler.

  • Therapy Horse Morane

    MORANE

    She’s “Queen of the Side Eye” and our biggest girl in the stable. Probably most loved.

  • Flora Therapy Horse

    FLORA

    Can always be found eating something. Cheeky outside of work hours. Baby in the herd.

AHT VIP’s

A man leading a horse down a set of stone steps outdoors, with trees and a stone wall in the background.

António Manoel

António Manoel has served as AHT’s Technical Manager since 2005. He studied a technical course in Equine Management at the Professional School of Agriculture in Abrantes from 1997 to 2000, and has worked as an equine professional ever since.

Technical Manager & Riding Instructor
A woman with long brown hair smiling and standing close to a brown horse with a white stripe on its face, outdoors in a sunny field with blue sky and clouds.

Ticha Madeira

Ticha began grooming in 2018 at Quinta do Pisão and has consistently shown strong dedication and initiative in her development. She has continued to focus on training, most recently completing a specialization in equine-assisted services, strengthening the quality and scope of her work.

Groom & Certified in Assisted Riding
A man wearing a gray FBI cap and a green polo shirt with a horse riding emblem, smiling while holding the reins of a white horse with a bridle. A child with a helmet touches the horse's face. The background is an indoor riding arena with a stone wall.

Guilherme Sena

Guilherme first joined AHT via his school as part of a transition-to-work program. He completed a course in animal care at Cercica and returned to AHT in 2017. Now he works as a groom’s assistant and supports therapeutic riding sessions.

Assistant Groom

Board of Directors

A woman with white hair holding a horse's reins and smiling, standing outdoors on a clear day with blue skies. The horse is brown with a white face and is wearing a black ear bonnet and saddle.

Kathryn Watson | President

Kathryn Jane Watson helped establish AHT in 1989 and has dedicated nearly four decades to therapeutic riding in Portugal. An internationally accredited instructor and Paralympic Equestrian judge, she has transformed the lives of over 800 riders with disabilities.

A woman with blonde hair standing next to a brown horse with a white blaze on its face.

Christine Mendes Leal | Treasurer

Christine Mendes Leal serves as AHT's treasurer, bringing over 14 years of dedicated financial stewardship to the organization. A HEC Lausanne graduate and senior consultant at Lane Exclusive Real Estate, she combines business acumen with a genuine passion for AHT's mission.

A woman with shoulder-length red hair wearing a pink jacket and a matching skirt, smiling and holding a red rope. She stands beside a white horse with a red halter, outdoors in front of a building with a terracotta tiled roof and a blue sky.

Suzanne Vaughan | Volunteers & Grants

Suzanne Vaughan leads AHT's grant writing and volunteer recruitment. A PhD graduate of the University of Manchester and Director of Research at Red Leaf Recruitment, she brings a decade of research-led strategy from life sciences, human services, and beyond.

A woman in a denim jacket and black riding boots standing next to a brown horse, holding its head, inside a stable with a window and a blue and white wall.

Frances Austin | Fundraising & Marketing

Frances Austin leads fundraising for AHT, bringing 15 years at the British Council and senior roles at Ernst & Young and Diageo, along with hands-on fundraising experience at Associação Laço. She is a strong advocate for mission-driven organizations.

A woman with blonde hair wearing a blue dress and holding a glass of white wine is playfully pulling away as a horse tries to lick her face outside a stable.

Allison Migliore Cody | Digital Communication & Events

Allison Cody brings international marketing experience from Northern Europe to AHT’s communications. Certified in assisted riding and a trauma-informed Death Doula, she is driven by a deep belief in the healing power of horses.

Person holding crumpled euro banknotes in their hands.

Fluxo Activo | Accountancy Firm

AHT's accounts and tax returns are managed by Fluxo Activo. Our annual reports, reflecting our commitment to full transparency, are available by request. Simply email us.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Therapeutic riding supports balance, coordination, core strength, and posture, as well as emotional regulation, confidence, social connection, and communication. The horse's natural movement stimulates the rider's body in ways that are difficult to replicate in traditional therapy.

  • AHT operates Monday to Friday from 9am to noon. We want to expand our services with more volunteers and more sessions. To do that, we are seeking new donations and members. Our wish is to expand to weekday afternoons from 3pm to 5pm.

  • Yes. Our five horses are carefully selected and trained for therapeutic work. They are calm, intuitive, and responsive to riders with diverse needs. Horses respond without judgment. They mirror emotion, build trust, and create a powerful connection that supports healing in ways words often cannot.

  • Sessions happen every Monday to Friday from roughly 9am to 12 noon. Participants typically join through family referral, school referral, medical or therapeutic recommendation or direct inquiry to AHT. We assess each rider individually to ensure the right fit. Visit Enroll on our website, or use the Contact page to email us.


  • Volunteer roles include assisting during riding sessions, helping with horse care and grooming, supporting events and fundraising and a variety of additional operational support. Join us to learn more. Many roles do not require prior experience. We provide guidance and training. We operate bilingually and welcome both Portuguese and English speakers.


  • Yes. AHT is a legally registered IPSS Portuguese nonprofit, funded through donations, memberships, limited program fees, and grants or sponsorships.