By Meg Mullery
Sprout: To Grow. Spring Forth.
Loudoun County is thriving with new homes, data centers, and a new brewery seems to open every month. But on the outskirts of the county in the town of Aldie another kind of thriving happens every day.
In 2011, when Aldie was a sleepy little town on Route 50, Sprout Therapeutic Riding and Education Center began operations. It opened on a 27-acre parcel of land, two horses, a barn, a paddock, and a desire to improve the lives of people with disabilities through a collaboration with horses. Today, Sprout’s herd has grown to 22 horses who partner with 185 students of all ages dealing with a variety of cognitive, physical and behavioral challenges.
Sprout founder Brooke Waldron grew up with horses and has a deep appreciation for the unique relationship between horses and humans. She believes we are not bound by our limitations, but are called to achieve personal greatness and invest in one another. This ethos is embraced by all associated with Sprout–students, instructors, staff and volunteers.
Brooke is so much more than the founder of Sprout. She is its heart, soul and brains. Her management and leadership skills are evident as she oversees an equestrian center with 20 dedicated staff members that include instructors, physical therapists, a barn manager and assistants, as well as front office personnel. Then add more than 100 weekly volunteers, all working together to provide lessons and programs six days a week, ten months a year.
Programs in the barn include clinical-based therapy using the movement of a horse to support functional physical improvement, adaptive riding/driving, and hands-on instruction on horse care and barn management. Outside of the barn, students and all associated with Sprout have the opportunity to participate in group activities with book club and exercise classes, 4-H club, and fun projects like contributing to the annual Sprout cookbook. The entirety of the programming uses a holistic approach that takes into account a person’s physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual well-being. Its goals are to create an integrated community and, as always, shift the focus to what is possible both on and off the horse. This reaching for the possible gives student’s self-confidence to face challenges and achieve in every aspect of life.
Equine therapy has a surprising history. It dates back to 600 BC Greece where Hippocrates documented the physical benefits of horseback riding. Modern practice evolved in 1946 when Scandinavia used therapeutic riding to treat polio victims. By the 1960s, it expanded into formalized therapeutic riding. In 1969 the North American Riding for Handicapped Association (now PATH Intl) was founded in the United States to create safety guidelines and certify instructors.
Full disclosure: the author has volunteered at Sprout for several years and witnessed what can only be described as miracles. My friend Nancy is back in the saddle at the age of 70-something after being diagnosed with MS years ago. A mechanical lift takes her from wheelchair to therapy horse Peter with the help of the amazing instructor Vicki and a team of volunteers. Nancy and Peter engage in a lesson involving the walk and trot gaits and balancing on the horse in jockey position. Nancy amazes her doctors with her core strength and positive attitude. Given her disability, they can’t believe riding a horse in a lesson every week is possible. Sprout’s favorite word!
Sprout is a tax-exempt charitable organization. Caring for the horses is a large part of Sprout’s budget. But Sprout donations also go toward ensuring that no student is turned away through subsidizing more than 50% of each student’s lesson cost.
The annual September black-tie gala is only one of several fundraisers throughout the year. Donor contributions, volunteer manpower, and in-kind donations allow Sprout to provide on-going therapeutic programs and build a community. Therapy horse, Spot, an Appaloosa aptly named due to brown dots on a white body, will be honored at the gala as the Horse of the Year.
For information on lessons, programs, events, tours of the facility contact info@sproutcenter.org or visit Sprout Therapeutic Riding and Education Center on Facebook.
About the Author: Meg Mullery is a contributing writer and Blue Ridge distribution “assistant” to the OTC and just a great all-around person. She is a Middleburg resident who has retired from her real estate career and continues volunteering at Sprout.
Wild & Free 2026 Gallup Gala
- September 12th – 6 pm – 11 pm
- 40685 John Mosby Highway
- Aldie, Virginia
The Sprout Gala is our annual celebration of service! This black-tie event begins with valet parking upon your arrival and includes:
– Elegant cocktail hour with signature drinks!
– Delicious dinner!
– Robust silent and live auctions!
– Dancing the night away to the lively sounds of Virginia’s favorite dance bands!
Guests also have the opportunity to tour our barn, meet our horses and see our programs in action through the premier of the annual Impact Video.
All proceeds support the Sprout Center’s mission to empower and uplift our community, making this a night not just of celebration, but of impactful change.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gallop into a brighter future together and become a part of our herd! For tickets and detailed information: https://sproutcenter.org/events/the-gallop-gala/
