About Us

  Growing evidence tells us that equine-assisted activities have contributed to improved motor functioning, social communication, adaptive behaviors, and reduction in systemic behaviors in individuals, including children and adolescents, diagnosed with Autism Syndrome Disorder (Ken et al. 2011; Gabriels et al. 2012; Page, 2012).

Equine-assisted activities, such as equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP), equine-facilitated learning (EFL), and therapeutic riding (TR) utilize the horse’s instincts to promote behavioral change. These activities take an experiential approach that not only has therapeutic effects but also promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional, and personal goals.

  Our approach to implementing and administering EFL interventions is based on empirical evidence. Our staff of professionals, with decades of experience working with special populations, are experienced professional horsemen and women who work in collaboration with licensed clinicians to provide professional, courteous, and confidential services. Our ongoing empirical research and program evaluation allow us to maximize the positive effects of our interventions, and adapt our intervention delivery to any client, or group of clients, to maximize intervention benefits throughout the sessions. 

  Field experts, such as Claudine Pelletier-Milet (2010), have pointed out that the horse with its associated smells, visual cues, sounds, and physical motion, enables the participant to start working on her/his cognitive processes (the way they perceive the world and how they respond to it); and that the horses’ biomechanics, (i.e., posture and coordination), social behavior (developing emotional intelligence) and their special relationship with their environment also contribute to the observed benefits of these activities.

The horses used in our interventions are selected based on their tolerance, demeanor, gate, character, and ability to connect with ease. These characteristics contribute to a safe and successful intervention. Horses that are selected to assist in an intervention are assessed prior the intervention to ensure that the horse is sound and does not exhibit behaviors that may be perceived by the participant as stressful or aggressive. Therefore, our equine specialist/horse handlers are very familiar with the horse they are working with and can pick up on subtle behavioral cues expressed by the horse to anticipate future behaviors, which greatly contributes to a safety and success of the session.