Though our program is not a traditional ‘Therapeutic Riding’ program working with people with physical and cognitive challenges, and utilizing ‘side walkers’ and ‘horse handlers,’ we do work with many children, teens and even adults on the autism spectrum.
This is a wonderful article, from the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, on their study about how work with horses helps people on the autism spectrum. The findings support the
Equine Therapy offers many benefits, including decreased irritability, as well as better social and communications skills.
Guess what? Along with our focus on each client’s individual goals, all of our clients receive these benefits too!
If you have a child or teen on the spectrum or who is dealing with social, emotional, behavioral or mental health issues, give us a call or send us an email to schedule a visit to the ranch. We will give you a tour, introduce our incredible herd of horses, learn more about what you are dealing with, and share how we might be able to help.
We talk about the people who have died in shooting incidents. We talk about those who are killed while serving our country. We talk about those who lose everything in a massive wild fire. We talk about those who slip away due to addiction issues. These are all shattering events and we mourn those who are lost. 
However, we often neglect to consider the long term consequences for the ‘survivors,’ especially the children who may very well carry the aftermath of trauma with them for the rest of their lives.
those who survive trauma. They paint a grim picture, but do go on to say “…these alterations can be reversed.” but note that “…healing will be individual. There is no one-size-fits-all or personal guarantee for what will work…”
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seen the results for ourselves. Equine Assisted Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) can be a powerful part of the treatment for those dealing with the aftermath of trauma. We are here to help. If you, or someone you know, are struggling 
please seek help. Email or call and we will schedule a time for you to visit the ranch. We will show you around, introduce our incredible herd of horses, learn more about what you are dealing with and share how we may be able to help.
Living with ‘special needs’ children and teens offers daily challenges but, after time, you figure out what you have to do to make things work. Who cares if they have hotdogs for breakfast, always wears a blue shirt or can’t sit at the table for more than about 5 min.? You have figured out how to work around it and everyone gets along.
kiddos it can be challenging and it is easy to be embarrassed by their behavior when others start to be critical. This article from 
your daily routines as much as possible. Structure helps kids and teens with special needs feel safe. The bottom line is do what works for you and your kids. Other people just need to deal with it!
is help our clients (your kids and teens) learn to adjust to change and help them learn to problem solve when things do not go as they expect. This can help prepare them for all the day-to-day challenges they will face.
We are here for you. Call or email and we will schedule a time for you to visit the ranch. We will show you around, introduce our heard of wonderful horses, learn more about what you are dealing with and share how we may be able to help. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU!
We are so proud of our partnership with the For Kids Foundation! This allows YOU to help kids in teens through your TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION to a N.E.A.T. Scholarship fund!
as well as mental health interventions for children, teens, adults and even seniors.
their Facebook page (
caring for her younger brothers and sisters when mom was busy doing other things and keeping them quiet when her father was in ‘one of his moods’. The family lived pretty rough when her parents finally split up. Samantha did all she could to help when her mom had to go to work. When mom remarried Samantha thought things might get better, but they didn’t. It started with her new step-dad being really nice to her, offering compliments and ‘cuddling’ with her, but that’s not where it ended. When Samantha tried to rebuff his 
every day to do simple thing to take care of herself. When Samantha first met the horses she spent a lot of time just brushing and hugging them. At first she worried a lot about whether they would remember her from week to week, but she 
has slowly built a strong bond with Mystic and is delighted when Mystic sees her and neighs a greeting. Samantha is slowly developing confidence and has begun to set appropriate boundaries so that she does not get stepped on or pushed around while working with Mystic. She has slowly begun to trust the human she works with too. The healing has begun.
with her horse, Humphrey. The program sounds phenomenal! I especially like how the article talks about “childhood trauma can affect the way the brain organises, including sensory integration (responses to touch, sound and other senses); relationship building; and the ability to regulate emotions.” and “Before some people are ready for “cognitive interventions” such as counselling, they need to learn how to handle more primitive feelings like fear, anger and frustration.” And horses are awesome for helping people work through these feelings!
teens like ‘Derek.’ Derek’s mom had a gambling addiction. By the time it was discovered the family had lost their home. Mom was unable to face what she had done and abandoned her family. Derek’s dad has managed to hold things together, but Derek and his younger sister have had a rough time. As kids often do, Derek wonders if it was something he did…Derek is withdrawn, has few friends and really does not enjoy much. He is a smart kid, but you wouldn’t know if from his grades. But Derek has always loved animals and he has responded well to his work with horses. He has picked the biggest horse in our herd and is starting to really connect with ‘his horse’. He is smiling again and his teachers report that he is always happy to tell the other kids about his horse. The healing has begun.
As I have shared before, most of us experience some anxiety in our lives. We get anxious when we are running late, or maybe when we have a big project/assignment due. We might have some anxiety when we have an unexpected expense that impacts our budget. Or perhaps we are trying 
something new and, though we are excited, we are also a bit anxious. Anxiety can impact young and old alike. Some anxiety is reasonable and normal but there can be a darker and more troubling side to anxiety.
The process of grooming their horse can be a soothing time of gentle repetitive motions. We encourage them, in times of stress or anxiety, to remember how it feels when they are with their horses and may even give them a picture of their horse to carry with them. Additionally, our clients get gentle exercise while leading, grooming and riding their horse. And of course this does not even touch on the ‘therapeutic’ parts of the intervention.
I love the articles ‘Takeaway’ – “Anxiety itself is not a medical condition but a natural emotion that is vital for survival when an individual finds themselves facing danger” and this is part of the message we share with our clients. Being anxious or worried may be justified. What is important is how 
mother was seriously injured and spent months in the hospital. It’s not surprising that Angela is experiencing a lot of anxiety. She has become clingy and needy. She does not like to leave her parents and struggles to do anything on her own. However, the lure of being able to work with horses has helped her take the first step towards recovery. She is slowly becoming more willing to try new things. She loves her horse Ruby, and is able to practice self-soothing and calming skills while working with Ruby. She is proud of herself and her parents are very proud of her too. The healing has begun.
She was starting to show signs of succumbing to peer pressure and was beginning to make very poor choice ‘following the crowd’ when she started working with horses. Through work with horses, Susan has been able to open up and share her feelings about her fears and worries. She has been learning self-soothing/calming skills and has begun to set good boundaries with her horse. She is practicing considering the consequences of her decisions (before making them) and is beginning to see herself as a leader, rather than a follower. Susan has a brighter future because of her work with horses.
Traditional talk therapy is incredibly helpful for many, many people struggling with a variety of social, emotional, behavioral and mental health issues. However, we also need to recognize that it might not be the best/only intervention for everyone. Specifically, children and teens who have may have trouble articulating their feelings, or those who demonstrate a resistance to talking about their issues, may benefit from other, more ‘hands on’ programs.
a look at a couple of other therapy options that can help with healing.