Compassionate, Personalized, Horse First Recovery
San Diego Equine Rehabilitation & Associates is a unique, low-key rehab facility nestled in Ramona’s Goose Valley. It's conveniently located just 3 minutes off Hwy 78, at the top of the hill, before you get into town. SDERA provides a safe, peaceful environment to rehab, leg up, and return your horse to full work along with referrals to support your recovery efforts.
From a fully enclosed arena with world class Premier Equestrian footing mixed with supporting additives and groomed daily, to referrals to an informal group of well-regarded, experienced, caring, horse-first thinking therapists, practitioners, farriers, and saddle fitter associates, SDERA is here to help you rehab your horse.
We provide the environment and therapies you choose, and you are hands-on, because no one knows your horse better than you do.
Horse First Thinking
“Horse first” thinking means the horse’s physical soundness, psychological welfare, and long-term development is the highest priority. It's more important than human convenience, timelines, ego, or competitive goals. It is not a specific training method.
It is an ethical and management philosophy that informs how you ride, train, trim, feed, compete, house and medically treat, the horse.
It means welfare before agenda. It means long-term soundness over short-term performance. You listen to the horse. The question is, “What is he telling me?” not, “How do I make him comply?”
It is neither permissive, nor is it avoiding structure or discipline. It is not anti-performance or anti-competition.
It's simple. Ask yourself if the option you're considering improves the horse’s long-term soundness and if you’re doing this for the horse’s benefit, or your own timeline.
If the answer favors the horse, it aligns with the “horse first” thinking that is at the core of our philosophy.
EXPERTISE • CARE • RECOVERY • HORSE FIRST PHILOSOPHY