Our Mission ::: "To Assist Individuals with Special Needs in Reaching their Full Potential through Interaction with Horses"
What We Do ::: SpiritHorse Connections provides private therapeutic horseback riding services for individuals with various abilities. We use an award winning program of Equine-Assisted Healthcare developed at SpiritHorse International in Corinth, Texas.
Who We Serve :::
Our programs include:
Our programs include:
- Disabilities (Serving, but not limited to, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Traumatic Brain Injury, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism, Muscular Dystrophy, Speech Delay, Vision Impaired, Hearing Impaired, etc.)
- At-Risk Youth
- Horses for Heroes (for veterans wounded at war and PTSD)
- Children who are Victims of Abuse/Violence
- Children Who are Terminally Ill
- Battered Women
Lesson Curriculum ::: We teach riding, but the main goal is therapy. Our riders work through a 97 step program that is tailored to specific disabilities. Intervention is provided in a one-on-one setting with mandatory parent or guardian involvement. There is rider participation no matter how involved the riders disability may be. We work to develop greater ability in each of our riders. Each session begins with grooming and tacking up, leading the horse/pony, mounting, riding, and ends with leading the horse/pony back to the barn, unsaddling, grooming, and rewarding the horse/pony with a treat (often the favorite part of the session for horse and rider!!). Through this process riders also learn skills such as following instructions, focus, task sequence, participation, independence and they gain self confidence. For more information see the programs tab.
Why choose therapeutic riding ::: The movement of the horse/pony stimulates the rider's vestibular system as it responds to balance signals, which sends the signals through the nervous system to the muscles for movement. This system not only controls the muscles for balance, but all voluntary and some involuntary movement of the body. These include speech, walking, sitting up, balance recovery, and many other gross and fine motor skills. Therefore strengthening not only body, but also mind.
Numbers That Matter ::: Using SpiritHorse Methods...
- 104 Children have spoken their first word on a SpiritHorse horse/pony.
- 63 Children have walked for the first time to reach their horse/pony.
- 57 Children have sat up for the first time on a SpiritHorse horse/pony.
Our Horses ::: We have an additional mission and that is to "Provide a kind, rewarding, loving home for rescued or retired show horses and ponies."
Championing the the use of rescued and retired show horses and ponies is a key to the success of our program. They are extremely skilled with "been-there-done-that" personalities that add to their naturally calm spirit. They are selected very carefully based upon their gentleness, level of training, and love for their work. Having older, experienced horses not only benefits our riders, but the horses as well. Providing therapy to our riders gives them a job that they look forward to each day and keeps them limber and in shape during their retired years. Most of their work is walking, not much more work than walking around their pasture. They give unconditional love to our riders, as well as receive an abundance of love from them. Our horses and ponies love their work!!
Championing the the use of rescued and retired show horses and ponies is a key to the success of our program. They are extremely skilled with "been-there-done-that" personalities that add to their naturally calm spirit. They are selected very carefully based upon their gentleness, level of training, and love for their work. Having older, experienced horses not only benefits our riders, but the horses as well. Providing therapy to our riders gives them a job that they look forward to each day and keeps them limber and in shape during their retired years. Most of their work is walking, not much more work than walking around their pasture. They give unconditional love to our riders, as well as receive an abundance of love from them. Our horses and ponies love their work!!
Who We Are ::: We are a licensed operating center of SpiritHorse International. A major SpiritHorse goal is to advance knowledge and to develop more effective equine-assisted therapy methods for all types of disabilities, and share these methods worldwide. Founded by Charles I. Fletcher in 2001, SpiritHorse International is a functioning Equine Therapy facility, and has facilitated training and certification for many organizations such as ourselves. Since 2001, the approaches pioneered by SpiritHorse International have spread across the United States, Europe, and have branched as far as South America, and Africa.
