Meet the 2024 PNHS Therapy Horse of the Year: Splash From Maryland Therapeutic Riding
Each year, the PNHS Therapy Horse of the Year Award, sponsored by Susan Harmon, is presented to one standout horse actively involved in a therapeutic riding program. For 2024, that distinction was bestowed upon Maryland Therapeutic Riding’s Splash!

Read more about this exceptional 28-year-old Pony of the Americas, as described in Maryland Therapeutic Riding’s nomination letter, here:
“To be an equine partner in equine-assisted services requires an extraordinary set of attributes— horses must go beyond their natural instincts to respond intuitively to the unique needs of each individual that they are paired with for mounted and unmounted activities. To have a single herd member that can move from adaptive riding to hippotherapy to equine-assisted psychotherapy without skipping a beat is truly a gift to any program, and that is exactly what Splash is for Maryland Therapeutic Riding.

From the moment Splash began his work at Maryland Therapeutic Riding, it was clear that we indeed had hit the jackpot on a horse that can do all services that we provide to our participants. Splash has consistently demonstrated his life-changing abilities since he joined the team at Maryland Therapeutic Riding. Meeting each participant exactly where they are to help them grow, heal and thrive. Whether guiding someone through the technicalities of maintaining a two-point position, posting on the correct diagonal or a smooth canter transition, Splash does it with ease, regardless of their abilities. He naturally adapts his movement to accommodate the diverse set of needs for each individual.

One of our longtime participants, Katie, has been riding with us for nearly 30 years. Katie is wheelchair-assisted, utilizes a lift for mounting and dismounting and requires two side aides and a horse leader during her lessons. Katie has ridden Splash for many years and thanks to his patience and talents, she is able to ride independently through a dressage pattern. While the test is completed at a walk, together they demonstrate working walk, bend in the corners, 20-meter circles,and effective collection. Splash allows Katie to feel strong and confident, enabling her to continue her true passion in life—being an equestrian.
Splash has a remarkable ability to teach our most involved participants not just how to ride, but how to truly be themselves. With Splash, people don’t see a rider overcoming a disability-they see a powerful connection between horse and human, a partnership built on trust and understanding. Splash’s unique gift lies in his ability to make thoughtful decisions based on the needs of his team, especially when it comes to lessons requiring careful mounts and dismounts. His steady calmness during these moments ensures that participants and volunteers feel safe and secure.
Splash’s strength allows him to partner with adults, while at the same time his gentle demeanor ensures that even the smallest participants, working to improve head and trunk control in physical therapy, can benefit from being partnered with him.
Splash is not just a horse—he is a teacher guiding those to physical and mental health and a partner who enriches the lives of everyone he meets. His contributions to the Equine Assisted Services programming at MTR make him a true embodiment of what it means to be an equine partner, and it is with great pride that we nominate Splash for PNHS 2024 Therapy Horse of the Year.”
Congratulations, Splash and all of the team at Maryland Therapeutic Riding!