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Therapeutic Riding Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Mental Health Tech - PT

Ocala, FL · On-site

$14.75 - $20/hr

... the area's riding trails. Considered the heart of Florida, the beautiful region is centrally ... Lead patients in therapeutic and recreational activities * Provide medications and other treatments ...

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Therapeutic Riding information

What is therapeutic riding?

Therapeutic riding is a form of equine-assisted activity where individuals with physical, emotional, or cognitive challenges participate in horseback riding sessions. These sessions are led by certified instructors and aim to improve balance, coordination, confidence, and social skills. Unlike hippotherapy, which is conducted by licensed therapists for medical treatment, therapeutic riding focuses on overall well-being, recreation, and personal development. It can benefit people of all ages with a variety of needs, including autism, cerebral palsy, and learning disabilities.

What are therapeutic riding jobs?

Therapeutic riding, also known as equine therapy, is a program in which a client with a mental or physical disability interacts with horses. The program does not treat a condition like ADHD or depression, but instead helps clients learn necessary skills, social cues, and responsibilities. Your duties in therapeutic riding involve assisting clients with a ride, showing them how to groom or feed a horse, teaching them how to stock or clean a barn, and talking to clients during and after their experience about what they learned and how to apply those lessons to their life. An equine therapist, riding instructor or aide, program director, and program manager are some therapeutic riding positions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a therapeutic riding instructor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor, you need a strong understanding of horsemanship, equine care, and the basics of physical or occupational therapy, usually demonstrated by certification from organizations like PATH Intl. Familiarity with adaptive riding equipment and safety protocols is essential, as is experience with lesson planning and record-keeping systems. Exceptional communication, patience, and empathy set instructors apart when working with individuals with diverse physical, emotional, or cognitive needs. These skills ensure safe, effective sessions that foster client progress and well-being while maintaining high safety standards for both riders and horses.

What are some common challenges therapeutic riding instructors face when working with clients and horses?

Therapeutic riding instructors often encounter challenges such as adapting lesson plans to meet the diverse physical, cognitive, or emotional needs of their clients. They must also ensure the safety and well-being of both riders and horses, which requires strong observation skills and quick decision-making. Coordinating with therapists, volunteers, and horse handlers is essential for smooth sessions, and instructors need to be flexible and patient as progress can vary greatly among participants. Additionally, maintaining the physical health and training of therapy horses is an ongoing responsibility.

What is the difference between Therapeutic Riding vs Equine Therapist?

AspectTherapeutic RidingEquine Therapist
CertificationsCertified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, PATH Intl. certificationEquine-assisted therapy certification, related mental health or occupational therapy credentials
Work EnvironmentEquestrian centers, therapy facilities, clinicsTherapy clinics, mental health settings, equine therapy centers
Industry UsageFocuses on riding as a therapeutic activity for individuals with disabilitiesProvides mental health or physical therapy using horses, often including riding and groundwork

Therapeutic Riding primarily involves instructing individuals with disabilities in riding activities to promote physical and emotional well-being. Equine Therapists may incorporate riding but often focus more on therapy sessions that include groundwork and mental health interventions. Both roles require specialized certifications and work in equine-assisted environments, but their primary goals and methods differ.

What are popular job titles related to Therapeutic Riding jobs in Florida?

For Therapeutic Riding jobs in Florida, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Therapeutic Riding job openings in Florida as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Mental Health Tech - PT

UHS

Ocala, FL • On-site

$14.75 - $20/hr

Part-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


Universal Health Services rating

6.8

Company rating: 6.8 out of 10

Based on 253 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

495th of 887 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Responsibilities
About Us
The Vines Hospital (affiliated with Universal Health Services), located in Ocala, FL is a premier behavioral health facility offering individualized mental health and addiction treatment to adults and adolescents in a secure and private setting. Our services include partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. We offer acute psychiatric, detox, and PTSD treatment. We are located in picturesque Marion County, FL. The county is known as the Horse Capital of the World. Enjoy the outdoors at one of the county's serene parks, which includes wonderful hiking trails, river rafting, and tubing. Watch the county's wildlife and view the scenery by taking a horseback ride through one of the area's riding trails. Considered the heart of Florida, the beautiful region is centrally located within hours of many activities. Just a drive away from some of the state's amusement parks or beautiful Florida beaches. The county is less than two hours away from some of the state's large metropolitan areas. From young professionals to a growing family, the area has plenty of activities for every individual.
Visit our website for more information on our hospital and services: www.TheVinesHospital.com
Job Summary
The Mental Health Technician PT functions as an active part of the treatment team, providing continuous patient care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling to patients ranging in age from preschool through geriatrics depending on which unit worked. The Mental Health Technician work under the direction of the Registered Nurse.
Responsibilities
  • Listen to patients' concerns, observe their behavior, and record their condition
  • Report changes in patient health or behavior to medical staff
  • Lead patients in therapeutic and recreational activities
  • Provide medications and other treatments to patients, following instructions from doctors and other medical professionals
  • Help with patient intake and discharge
  • Monitor patients' vital signs, such as their blood pressure and body temperature
  • Help patients with daily living activities, including eating and bathing
  • Restrain patients who may become physically volatile
  • Provides appropriate crisis intervention as necessary by anticipating and responding quickly to escalating behaviors, utilizing de-escalation techniques to diffuse the situation, correctly prioritizing safety concerns.
Skills and Competencies
  • Previous experience in a mental health hospital setting is preferred.
  • Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, are essential for effective patient interaction.
  • Strong collaborative skills and ability to work effectively with others.
  • Ability to exhibit empathy, respect and compassion that involve understanding and care for patients.
Work Hours
This position is Part Time 20-31 hours/per week.
Benefit Highlights
  • Challenging and rewarding work environment
  • Competitive Compensation & Generous Paid Time Off
  • Excellent Medical, Dental, Vision and Prescription Drug Plans
  • 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan
  • SoFi Student Loan Refinancing Program
  • Career development opportunities within UHS and its 300+ Subsidiaries!
  • Up to $3.50 shift differential
More information is available on our Benefits Guest Website: benefits.uhsguest.com
Qualifications
Requirements:
  • High school diploma or equivalent required. Associates or Bachelor's degree in psychology or related field preferred.
  • Direct patient care experience, CNA, or previous acute care/behavioral related experience preferred. Associate's degree and/or Bachelor's degree in psychology or related field may be used in lieu of related experience. Nursing students who have completed all pre-requisites can use education in lieu of related experience.
About Universal Health Services (UHS)
One of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, annual revenues were $15.8 billion in 2024. UHS was again recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune; listed in Forbes ranking of America's Largest Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 99,000 employees and continues to grow through its subsidiaries. Operating acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located all over the U.S. States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. www.uhs.com
EEO Statement
All UHS subsidiaries are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates. UHS subsidiaries are equal opportunity employers and as such, openly support and fully commit to recruitment, selection, placement, promotion and compensation of individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Avoid and Report Recruitment Scams
We are aware of a scam whereby imposters are posing as Recruiters from UHS, and our subsidiary hospitals and facilities. Beware of anyone requesting financial or personal information.
At UHS and all our subsidiaries, our Human Resources departments and recruiters are here to help prospective candidates by matching skill set and experience with the best possible career path at UHS and our subsidiaries. During the recruitment process, no recruiter or employee will request financial or personal information (e.g., Social Security Number, credit card or bank information, etc.) from you via email. Our recruiters will not email you from a public webmail client like Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc.
If you suspect a fraudulent job posting or job-related email mentioning UHS or its subsidiaries, we encourage you to report such concerns to appropriate law enforcement. We encourage you to refer to legitimate UHS and UHS subsidiary career websites to verify job opportunities and not rely on unsolicited calls from recruiters.

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About Universal Health Services

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Universal Health Services (UHS) is a major player in the healthcare industry, based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Founded in 1978, UHS offers hospital and healthcare services. Their diverse services range from acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and ambulatory centers nationwide. The company's mission of enhancing the health and well-being of their patients is reflected in their commitment to 'Helping Individuals Live Longer, Healthier and Happier Lives'. Universal Health Services' consistent growth and success in their industry have been recognized on numerous occasions, including being ranked amongst the Fortune 500 list of largest companies.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

King of Prussia, PA, US