Animal Assisted Therapeutic Activities in Action!

Participants will spend each lesson engaging with the animals on the ranch and with each other. Each group program is customized to the individual group.

During each session, a preplanned educational and animal activity will be executed followed by a post activity group discussion around that activity. 

As a result of this program participants should:

· Experience greater self-esteem and confidence

· Enhance their motor skills

· Promote strength

· Foster teamwork, trust and relationship building

· Enhance social engagement and verbalization

· Foster critical thinking – task analysis, sequential tasking etc.

· Be able to demonstrate the basic skills required for animal care

We create lessons that promote learning, inclusion, respect, and independence. Therapeutic riding is widely recognized as beneficial for people with special needs. Specifically, it helps develop self-awareness and build self-confidence, improve concentration and increase self-discipline, strengthen and relax muscles, improve posture, while increasing core strength, balance, coordination, and joint mobility.

Each lesson is designed to address individual educational, emotional, recreational, social, and physical goals. For riders with cognitive or emotional challenges, the relationships formed with the horse, staff and volunteers can lead to increased self-confidence, patience, and self-esteem. We also see improved concentration, attention to tasks and functional life skills; all of which allows participants to enjoy a sense of freedom and independence.