What is Healing with Horses?
Healing with Horses is an Equine-Assisted Learning program which helps develop life skills in individuals with cognitive, physical, social, and/or learning challenges. This program also supports children and adults with complex trauma and those with disabilities.
Our mission goes beyond traditional therapy. By equipping our clients (and their families and support staff) with essential life skills, we help empower them to regulate their emotions, build self-confidence and self-esteem, and navigate different situations. Through engaging hands-on activities, participants enhance their gross and fine motor skills, improve cognitive thinking, learn how to follow directions, and more—all while surrounded by the peaceful and nurturing environment of our farm.
This is an experiential mode of therapy, which means it is based on activities on the ground with the horses and around our farm. There is no horseback riding involved (If you are interested in horseback riding, please visit our Horseback Riding Program, to learn more). These activities are then processed to understand emotions, behaviors, and patterns which can lead to healing and change.
In Healing with Horses, we believe in the extraordinary bond between humans and animals. Our program features not only our majestic horses and mini donkeys, but also our goats, chickens, and our charming pet pig, Sassy. These wonderful creatures play an integral role in the healing journey, providing companionship, joy, and a unique pathway to emotional and physical well-being.
However, the essence of Healing with Horses extends far beyond skill-building. We are dedicated to fostering a sense of community where clients can develop their sense of belonging and purpose. Here, actions matter, and every contribution is meaningful. We focus on promoting self-worth, self-advocacy, and self-discovery, which ultimately leads to a profound sense of dignity.
When children and adults join Healing with Horses, they are welcomed into a family. They learn the importance of responsibility, compassion, and empathy, rediscovering themselves in the process. Our program is not just about healing; it’s about creating lasting connections and memories in a fun, hands-on farm environment.
Why Horses?
Horses are essential guides and teachers in an individual’s journey of self-discovery and healing. Horses are prey animals and highly sensitive as a result. In fact, they can sync their heartbeat to a human’s fostering co-regulation. Because they give honest feedback with no judgement or ego, they respond according to what the person’s body language, emotions and energy are communicating – our non-verbal communication.
They are particularly fitting for those who have experienced early developmental trauma due to the specific correlations between their characteristics. Because horses are prey animals, they are always in survival mode; much like children and adults with trauma. They are attuned to the environment and can sense energy and feelings in humans often before we can fully understand or express these. As a result, they can help draw out information we may not have had the opportunity to process.
Those who are trapped in survival mode, often turn to anger in an attempt to control their situation. It is a secondary emotion derived from fear, usually from not being in control. But ultimately, anger is born out of fear. However, nature does not reflect our anger back at us. Horses do not reflect our anger back at us.
Together we work to calm the storms inside. We help our clients understand their underlying beliefs that motivate their actions and help them find the answers that they already have inside themselves. Learning to care and work alongside a horse, takes a person out of chaos they may be experiencing and redirects this into a simplified environment, freeing them to learn to navigate their choices and their lives.
We’re in the News! ABC’s 8News Shared Our Story!
A farm in King and Queen County is using nature and animals to teach life skills to children with autism.
The Fox Moon Farm Project and its Healing with Horses program, aims to get children with special needs or trauma out in nature. This can impact emotional regulation, anger management and anxiety along with depression management.
Who Benefits from Equine-Assisted Learning?
Research shows Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) to be a successful treatment approach for children, teens, adults, families, and diverse groups. Some conditions or disorders that respond well to EAL or related equine-assisted therapies include:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Behavior Disorders
- Depression
- Down Syndrome
- Eating Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Grief/Loss
- Histories of Abuse/Abandonment/Neglect
- Learning Challenges
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Substance Use Disorders
- Stress Management
- Trauma
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- And More!
“I am thoroughly impressed with the Healing with Horses program. It has had a tremendous impact in the lives of the family that I am working with for case management services.
Each of the girls has made tremendous strides in their mental health treatment plan goals. They are learning breathing techniques, healthy coping skills, and about themselves as they work with the horses and other aspects of the farm. They are both demonstrating more patience, increased confidence, and self-esteem. They are getting along better with each other and their parents. Episodes of defiance have significantly decreased as well as emotional outbursts.”
Amber Harlow
MH Case Manager for Children and Adolescents
MPNN CSB-Youth and Family Services
Intake Assessment
Every individual starts with an in-person Intake Assessment on the farm, where our program director learns about the client’s history, strengths, interests, and challenges. We meet here at the farm so that we can all get to know one another and see how the client responds to different areas, activities, and animals.
The purpose of this assessment is to ensure that our program can appropriately support a client and so that goals and strategies for success are identified prior to starting the program. Only upon completion of this assessment will the program director be able to determine if an applicant is eligible to take part in our program.
Plan of Care
Once an Intake Assessment has been completed, we work to put together a Plan of Care, or a road-map, for each participant. This plan consists of a detailed outline addressing specific life skill goals for the participant, areas of strengths, challenges, and ultimately identifies the purpose of the individual’s enrollment in the program.
Our plan focuses on building the following life skill areas: Self worth, responsibility, emotional regulation, self awareness, healthy relationships, independence and more.
Treatment Plan
Once we have established the life skills that need support (based on our initial Intake Assessment), we target them through Lesson Plan Activities. Each activity is completed with the participant, a counselor, and a horse. The activities are designed to be fun and engaging, while addressing the individual’s areas of challenge and targets for growth. Often the activities involve problem solving, relationship building or are focused on critical thinking skills. Though students often learn horsemanship skills through the sessions, it is usually not the primary goal. For students who may be nervous to interact with horses, we utilize other areas and activities around the farm to work towards goals.
Life Skills We Teach:
- Anger management
- Assertiveness
- Confidence
- Critical thinking
- Empathy
- Executive functioning skills
- Focus
- Independent thinking
- Listening
- Respect
- Sense of purpose
- Trust
- Work ethic
- And more!
Sample Lesson Plan
Book Healing with Horses Sessions!
If you would like to learn more about our Equine-Assisted Learning Healing with Horses program, please fill out the form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
If you or someone you love, is interested in learning how to ride horses, we also offer a horseback riding program. In addition to teaching traditional horseback riding skills, we focus on the emotional and psychological benefits of riding horses. This program builds upon the behavioral and emotional support we provide in our Healing with Horses program. Horseback riding provides not only fun, outdoor activities, where the student can be challenged to learn how to ride a horse, but learning critical life skills is integrated into the process. Learn more by click on the button below.
Notice to Users
The Fox Moon Farm Project is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, medical treatment, medication, or therapy. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding any mental health symptom or medical condition. The Fox Moon Farm Project Inc. is not authorized to make recommendations about medication or serve as a substitute for professional advice. Never disregard professional psychological or medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice or treatment because of something you have read on The Fox Moon Farm Project, Inc.
We work with PATH International, a federally registered 501(c)3, which leads the advancement of professional equine-assisted services, by supporting its members and stakeholders through rigorously developed standards, credentialing and education.
PATH Intl. was founded in 1969 to promote safe and effective therapeutic — also known as adaptive horseback riding throughout the United States and Canada. Today, PATH Intl. has 813 member centers and nearly 7,000 individual members in countries all over the world who help and support more than 53,300 men, women and children — including nearly 6,000 veterans — with special needs each year through a variety of equine-assisted services.