What is Animal Assisted Learning?

Animal Assisted Learning pairs a qualified Equine Specialist with up to 3 clients and a horse in order to work through personal goals. It is entirely done on the ground. Each session will be geared towards the client’s individual goals. These goals may be physical in nature (increased mobility/strength), emotional growth (boost confidence/help with emotional stability and anxiety) or can help with overall life skills and life lessons (understanding communication, learning to take control of a situation, learning how to work as a team, etc.). 

What is the benefit of using animals?

Animal-assisted learning acknowledges the value of the human-animal bond. Animals can lower stress hormones and increase health and social-inducing hormones such as oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins. They can also provide opportunities to develop relationship-building skills such as empathy, patience, present-moment focus, trust, touch, respect, responsibility and boundary-setting.

Although we have other animals on our farm that may be incorporated into our sessions on occasion (who doesn’t want to pet a newborn goat?), horses will be our primary partners. While horsemanship is a side benefit of Animal Assisted Learning, it is different in that the goal is not necessarily to learn more about the horses, but rather to use the horses as a tool for personal growth. Sometimes we need to get out of our environment in order to learn those life lessons!
 
What will a session look like?

When a participant fills out our intake form, our equine specialists will review their goals and work with them to determine which activities would be most beneficial. A session could include simply grooming or walking a horse, or could be as complicated as trying to get a horse to move freely through an obstacle course—and anywhere in between.

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Pricing  
(per 60 minute session)

(50% off of the 1st Session)

​ Groups larger than 3 can be accommodated, price will vary.         

At this time, we do not accept insurance, however, ESA funds can be used for this program.