We provide an alternative setting for clients to receive services and learn life skills under the supervision of licensed therapists utilizing horses.  We provide therapy services such as hippotherapy for those with disabilities to help with motor skills and mobility as well as OT/PT, and speech/language services to experience the horse as a learning and facilitation tool for social, psychological and mental health. 

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 and Learning
What is EAPL. The letters stand for Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning.  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. 

The interactions between the assisted rider and the horse will increase social interactions, increase and facilitate speech/language services, and increase quality of life for all participants.

Services provided to youth and adults of all disabilities.

Our community needs this unique therapy for survivors of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Autism Spectrum, and physical impairments.