Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy is more than just riding a horse; it literally means “therapy with the help of a horse” from the Greek word “hippos” meaning horse.  Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy used by a licensed physical therapist, occupational therapist and/or a speech-language pathologist to improve posture, balance, core stability, coordination, strength, and gait measures. It uses purposeful manipulation of equine movement to facilitate sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes. It helps children with developmental delays, sensorimotor dysfunctions, autism, cerebral palsy and many other disorders benefit from the interaction with the horses and the therapy on the horse and in the equine environment. Adults with similar disorders as well as other disorders such as MS can also benefit from Hippotherapy.    

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
What is EAP? The letters stand for Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.  I prefer to call it Heart Centered Equine Assisted Counseling and Life Coaching.  I think a Counselor, like the horse, is present as a friend with special training who witnesses and assists as individuals and groups discover their strengths and find strategies to reinvent their future.  Research shows that people experience many physiological benefits while interacting with horses, including lowered blood pressure and heart rate, increased levels of beta-endorphins (neurotransmitters that serve as pain suppressors), decreased stress levels, reduced feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety, and increased feelings of inner strength, calm, trust and patience.  The horse as facilitator teaches positive relationship and leadership skills that enhance a person’s ability to have healthy happy relationships with their intimate other, family, friends and in business/work/school relationships but perhaps most importantly they discover themselves.  Focus, clear intentions and authenticity are some of the skills these amazing animals can teach us.  The Counselor serves as a guide who provides carefully selected activities and unconditional regard to every client as they discover creative ways to heal, deal with challenges and grow. EAP sessions are facilitated by a licensed therapist and equine specialist. 

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)
Equine Assisted Learning is a learning approach that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional and personal goals with the assistance of the horse. Sessions for EAL are never quite the same, some days we will incorporate horsemanship, general horse science and tutoring into our sessions. Clients do not work directly with a therapist but EAL sessions are facilitated by an equine specialist. 

Riding Lessons
If you’re wanting to learn basic horse care, riding skills, and general horse knowledge our riding lessons may be an option for you. All riders begin with the basics and progress to learning basic riding skills.