Eos Therapeutic Riding Center

Debbie Smith,

Founder, Certified Riding Instructor since 1994

Hello, my name is Debbie Smith. I've had horses in my blood for over 62 years. My little-girl dream has turned into a lifetime of horse exposure, as well as creating a new dream of sharing the miracle of horses to children and adults with special needs and veterans.

I grew up on our family homestead farm, riding my first pony, named Mr. Ed. My dad farmed with horses for many years. Dad made sure my brothers and I had horses, but I was the child who was bitten by the lifetime horse bug.

I grew up as a 4-H member, showing and learning all I could until I graduated high school. All I wanted to do was train horses and teach people how to manage and show horses. That passion led me to the next phase of my life, working on a Standardbred horse farm in Bloomsburg. I worked for U.C. Steel as a laborer and broke the yearlings to lead and get them ready for the annual yearling sale. In the spring, I was delivering foals and caring for them until they became weanlings. Working for U.C. Steel formed the best work ethic any horse person could gain in the horse world.

Over the many years, I've trained and shown Quarter Horses and P.O.A.s. I have also judged many horse shows, sharing my knowledge with youth and helping enrich their goals of becoming professionals in the horse world.

After two back surgeries and going through many therapies, I wanted to be able to continue sharing the miracles of horses with children and adults with special needs, as well as veterans. Eos Therapeutic Riding Center was born in 1992 with the help of two ponies, my daughter, 4-H members, my dear friend Debby, friends, families, and the Millville area business community-along with The Millville Lions Club. "Miracles on Horseback" began to happen.