Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is a therapeutic approach that uses guided interactions with horses to help individuals address psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues. It involves activities where horses serve as metaphors to uncover deeper emotional responses and insights, facilitated by a licensed mental health professional and an equine specialist.
While EAP focuses on mental health therapy, Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is aimed at personal and professional development through experiential learning with horses. EAL programs are designed to enhance skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication, without the direct involvement of mental health therapy.
Our Equine Assisted Therapy programs are tailored for a wide array of individuals seeking support and healing. Key beneficiaries include military and VA families through our Horses for Heroes program, which addresses issues such as PTSD and depression. We also support foster care children, helping them overcome challenges related to abuse and bullying, and residential treatment groups focusing on addiction recovery and reintegration into sober living. Additionally, our therapy sessions cater to adolescents and groups dealing with anxiety and depression, facilitating their journey towards emotional well-being.
Our Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) programs are designed to foster personal and professional development for children, adolescents, adults, and various groups. These programs are particularly beneficial for those looking to enhance life skills such as decision-making, empathy, and teamwork without the need for psychotherapy. EAL is effectively utilized in corporate training and development, helping teams improve problem-solving skills, increase creativity, and boost overall team performance. It is also valuable in educational settings to address bullying, lack of respect, and enhance group cohesion among students. Through interactive group activities with horses, participants gain practical insights into how their behaviors and attitudes affect others, facilitating meaningful personal and group growth.
In addition to our equine friends, our sanctuary is home to over 50 farm animals, including miniature horses, llamas, goats, sheep, and a variety of birds, all of which participate in our animal-assisted therapy sessions to provide healing and comfort to our clients.
Our animals are rescued from situations of neglect or abuse, and they are lovingly rehabilitated and cared for by our dedicated team. They live in well-maintained facilities with regular veterinary check-ups, proper nutrition, and lots of love and attention from our staff and visitors.
During your first visit, you will be introduced to our therapy animals and given a detailed orientation on what to expect. You'll participate in safe, guided activities designed to meet your specific needs and goals, all while under the supervision of our certified therapy specialists.
Participants are required to complete a registration process, which includes a consultation to discuss their goals and any specific needs. There are no prerequisite skills with horses required, as all interactions are guided by professionals.
Our corporate team-building sessions involve specially designed activities that encourage members to engage in problem-solving, communication, and leadership exercises. These sessions are facilitated using horses as dynamic tools for learning and reflection, enhancing teamwork and cooperation among participants.
Volunteers are crucial to our operation, and we require a minimum commitment of a few hours each week. Duties can range from animal care and maintenance to assisting in therapy sessions, depending on your interests and skills.
To sponsor an animal, you can choose from various sponsorship levels that provide for their care expenses such as food, medical treatment, and shelter maintenance. Details and benefits of animal sponsorship can be found here.
