Welcome to Great Oak
What It Takes to be Great – Your Help!
Great Oak maintains its commitment to providing award winning equine therapeutic services to persons with disabilities on its beautiful 44 acre farm located just 1.5 miles North of Downtown Aiken, SC. This is due to the continued care for and interest in Great Oak from the community. Join us and know you are making a daily impact in the lives of those who have a disability.
Equine-Assisted Services
Equine-assisted services is a term that encompasses various services previously termed therapeutic riding. At Great Oak, we offer Equine-assisted learning (EAL). EAL is an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional, and personal goals through equine-assisted activities. PATH Intl. provides standards of professionalism and safety for people working in the field and guidelines for those providing EAL.
“My adult son rides weekly and his time at Great Oak with the horses and staff is the 30 minutes that he talks about all week. His critical thinking and ability to follow directions has improved. His physical strength, coordination and balance have been greatly positively impacted. Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs has been a game changer!”
Our Purpose
Great Oak provides equine assisted activities that promote the physical, emotional, and psychological health of individuals with disabilities.
At Great Oak, we change lives. Our programs are the catalyst for unbridled personal growth and awareness. We share our knowledge to empower individuals and their families.
Volunteer at Great Oak
Great Oak relies on our fantastic volunteers to run our programs and events. Please consider becoming a volunteer now.
Become a VolunteerMeet our "GO" Ponies
The “GO” Ponies are the backbone of our programs and, frankly, pretty darn cute.
Meet the "GO" Ponies
Meet Our Students
Ranging in age from 4 to 10, The Santos Brothers have quickly become a living highlight reel on our farm each week. The four boys began riding at Great Oak in May of ‘21. Since then, they have captured the hearts of our volunteers, been celebrated for their achievements by our barn staff, and managed to create moments of situational humor amongst themselves when here.
"ToGO" List
(Our version of a needs list.) Would you please help us? Have a donation? Call the barn office at 803-226-0056 today!
Truck
3/4 or 1/2 Ton Truck
Trailer
Flatbed trailer
"GO" Pony
An ideal “GO” Pony is a gelding, under the age of 20, with a sensible temperament, sound, and currently in work. Click for more information