Our Mission

Josef Rivers is the Director and guiding force that inspires this school of champions. The unique philosophy of River’s program offers horsemanship and animal interaction as a means of physical therapy to its handicapped students. Dragon Slayers is founded on the premise that love and courage will vanquish the mightiest of dragons!

For over twenty years, Josef has been teaching horsemanship to disabled adults and children, watching them discover and nurture their own heroic inner abilities. Having polio as a child further qualifies Josef to teach and understand the physically challenged. All weekly lessons are private, and tailored to maximize each student’s physical and personal potential.

At Dragon Slayers, handicapped people of all ages, with disabilities ranging from muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and polio to those missing limbs from birth or accidents, must follow a complete curriculum in horsemanship. Learning to care for horses through grooming and feeding, they train them so the one day other students will share the joy they’ve discovered. All horses on the compound are carefully screened before the students train them, a process lasting three to five years. Ninety percent never make it to the final level, where they can be introduced to students.

As all of our students needs are unique, we also need to match appropriate animals to the abilities of our students. We primarily use miniature horses (they stand less than 32” at the shoulder), and Shetland Ponies – however the students’ experience is enriched with a multitude of exotic animals including Camels, Emus, Macaws, African Tortoises, Curacaos, and many more!