Our Programs

H.E.L.P. serves children and adults with a variety of special mental, physical, and emotional disabilities. Instructors design and monitor individualized lesson plans for each client to address their physical, emotional, and social needs while they learn skills of horseback riding. Individual and class goals encourage each rider to be the best he or she can be, on and off the horse.

Equine Assisted Services (EAS)

Equine-assisted services incorporate equine-assisted therapy, equine-assisted learning, and horsemanship. Read more about the various methods of partnering with horses for healing below. Learn more about EAS with PATH International HERE.

Client Interest Important Information

There are a variety of equine assisted services offered in the industry and understanding what programs H.E.L.P. has available and their benefits is the first step in deciding if H.E.L.P. is the right place to partner with you and your family for your goals.

Please take a moment to read the PATH International document linked in the picture to the right to understand more about H.E.L.P.’s TR and EAL programs. CLICK——————————>

After reading the document to see if we offer the right program for you/your family. Please email Stephanie HERE to set up a 30 min tour to start the process of becoming a client at H.E.L.P.

**Click the picture for more information about the programs H.E.L.P. offers.**

Horsemanship

Horsemanship includes any specific center activity, e.g.. therapeutic riding, mounted or ground activities, interactive vaulting, grooming and stable management, shows, parades, demonstrations, etc., in which the center’s clients, participants, volunteers, instructors and equines are involved.

Therapeutic Riding

Therapeutic Riding (TR), also called Adaptive Riding, is an equine-assisted activity for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals with special needs. Based on input from doctors, therapists, teachers, and parents, the client’s individual goals are designed to complement ongoing therapy and education. The benefits of therapeutic riding are threefold:

Physical
The three-dimensional motion of the horse provides the rider hip, back, and core action that simulates natural walking. Riding relaxes and strengthens muscles and improves body tone, posture, balance, joint mobility, and coordination.
Emotional
Contact with horses and horsemanship training provides a non-competitive setting for learning. New abilities, self-discipline, and improved concentration build self-confidence and emotional well-being. Participation in our programs can also foster a foundation of trust and emotional connection between both animals and humans alike.
Social
Horseback riding nurtures a positive self-image. Riders may, for the first time in their lives, experience some independence and a sense of being part of a team. It is an opportunity for them to interact with other students and their team, building relationships that will further enhance their positive self-image.

Equine Assisted Learning

Not currently offered at H.E.L.P. - We’re looking to partner with a certified professional to further improve our impact with our clients and the community. If you’re certified in personal, professional, or education and would like to partner with H.E.L.P.’s herd and ESMHL please reach out to us today!

Whether for a corporation, in education or for personal development, equine-assisted learning provides non-therapeutic services in a mounted or unmounted environment with professionals trained in facilitating each specialty.

In an EAL setting, the experiential approach integrates equine-human interaction that is guided by a planned learning experience to meet the identified goals or desires of the participant(s). Working with equines provides opportunities to teach critical life skills such as trust, respect, honesty and communication.

Equines use mostly non-vocal communication and are in-tune with human behavior. This can help participants to better understand and learn how our non-verbal communication might be impacting or influencing others in their lives. Equines ask people to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Through interactions with the equines, participants learn a heightened self-awareness. Furthermore, participants gain self-esteem and self-confidence while learning how to work with such a large and powerful creature.

Moon and Ava connect after their TR lesson

Therapies Incorporating Equines

(Not currently offered at H.E.L.P. - If you are a licensed MHP interested in joining our team to offer this service, contact us today!)

Licensed/credentialed therapy professionals may incorporate horses in six distinct therapies – counseling, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, physical therapy, recreational therapy and speech-language pathology –to address individualized goals and improve overall function, health and wellness.

Benefits

The benefits of incorporating horses into a therapy treatment strategy align with the therapy being provided. Licensed medical or behavioral health professionals work within their scope of practice in counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, recreational therapy and speech-language pathology. The therapist determines how equine interactions, movement or aspects of the equine environment may enhance the client’s individualized treatment plan with the goals of improving the client’s sensorimotor, cognitive, behavioral, emotional or psychological function for improved health and wellness.

Phoebe’s Scholarship Fund

Named in honor of our incredible horse, Phoebe, who served riders with disabilities for over a decade! Our scholarship fund helps riders who cannot otherwise afford our unique program. We have a dedicated committee who carefully review and award scholarships based on financial need twice a year.

H.E.L.P.'s Phoebe's Scholarship Fund was established in 2017 by a passionate group of supporters of H.E.L.P. who recognized a need for existing and incoming clients for financial assistance to participate in our much-needed program.

Our Scholarship Fund wouldn't exist without generous designated donations from people like you. It only takes a few moments to tell your friends and family about H.E.L.P. and ask them to support our riders who could not otherwise afford our unique program.

Since 2017 our Scholarship Fund has helped 12 different clients continue their horsemanship journey by awarding over $13,000 to assist them in gaining independence, confidence and life skills in partnership with the horse.

Your $20 can make a difference! Please consider a monthly donation towards rider scholarships to help someone "mount up" and "walk on" with your support.

DONATE TO OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
You can mail a check to the address below with "Scholarship Fund" in the memo line

OR
Click HERE and Select “Phoebe’s Scholarship Fund” in the drop down menu. Please consider making your donation a recurring monthly donation to support our riders in need.