Open Trails

Open Trails is our brand new Equine Facilitated Wellness program, currently operating in the pilot project phase. Equine Facilitated Wellness is an unmounted program that provides an alternative approach to mental health services. During an Open Trails session, a certified mental health professional and horse handler work together to create a safe space for participants to explore their emotions, thoughts, and learn more about themselves. In comparison to traditional talk therapy, participants work in partnership with the equine, as well as the mental health professional and horse handler. Each session looks different depending on the individual needs of the participants. As we continue to grow our Open Trails Program, we hope to offer both individual and group therapy sessions.

 
 

During Open Trails, participants have the opportunity to build obstacle courses that represents a challenge they are facing in their own life. Together, the horse and participant work through the obstacle course and in doing so, learn strategies for coping through their challenges.

Who is Eligible?

We offer programming to children and adults of all ages who have a physical, emotional, cognitive or social disability. This includes a wide variety of diagnoses, including but not limited to:

  • Autism

  • Cerebral Palsy

  • Down Syndrome

  • ADHD

  • Emotional Trauma

  • PTSD

  • Genetic Anomalies

  • Blindness

  • Hearing or Speech Impairment

  • Anxiety, Depression and/or other mental health related diagnoses

  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

  • Developmental Coordination Disorder

  • Cognitive Delay

  • Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Spinal Cord Injuries

  • Muscular Dystrophy

  • Amputation, including congenital limb absence

  • Etc.