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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.

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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.

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    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.

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    The Fox Moon Farm Project
    17 hours ago
    The Fox Moon Farm Project

    There's a moment that happens over and over again at Fox Moon Farm, and we never get tired of watching it.

    A child stands at the pasture fence, sure they can't climb it. Or stares at a halter, sure their hands won't figure out the buckle. Or looks up at a horse — enormous, powerful, nothing like them — and is sure, absolutely sure, that this isn't for them.

    So many of our kids arrive carrying that certainty. They've spent years being told, in a hundred small ways, that they're different — that they don't move through the world the way other kids do, don't learn the way the classroom expects, don't look or sound or act like what's "typical." That adds up. It settles into a child's sense of self long before they have words for it.

    Here, we don't start with big lessons. We start with small, achievable tasks — climbing the pasture fence, hooking a halter, jumping off a rock, grooming a horse, learning to drive the tractor. Nothing flashy. Just one thing, right at the edge of what feels possible.

    And when they do it — when the halter clicks, when their feet land on the other side of that fence — we celebrate. Loudly. High-fives, real "good jobs," the kind of recognition that says we saw that, and it mattered.

    Confidence isn't built in a single triumphant moment. It's built task by task, the same way trust is built with a horse — slowly, and only through proof. Every small win here becomes evidence a child can carry with them: I did the thing I didn't think I could do. That evidence adds up to something society hasn't handed them: the belief that they are capable.

    That's the work. One fence, one halter, one hoof pick at a time.     ... See MoreSee Less

    Theres a moment that happens over and over again at Fox Moon Farm, and we never get tired of watching it.A child stands at the pasture fence, sure they cant climb it. Or stares at a halter, sure their hands wont figure out the buckle. Or looks up at a horse — enormous, powerful, nothing like them — and is sure, absolutely sure, that this isnt for them.So many of our kids arrive carrying that certainty. Theyve spent years being told, in a hundred small ways, that theyre different — that they dont move through the world the way other kids do, dont learn the way the classroom expects, dont look or sound or act like whats typical. That adds up. It settles into a childs sense of self long before they have words for it.Here, we dont start with big lessons. We start with small, achievable tasks — climbing the pasture fence, hooking a halter, jumping off a rock, grooming a horse, learning to drive the tractor. Nothing flashy. Just one thing, right at the edge of what feels possible.And when they do it — when the halter clicks, when their feet land on the other side of that fence — we celebrate. Loudly. High-fives, real good jobs, the kind of recognition that says we saw that, and it mattered.Confidence isnt built in a single triumphant moment. Its built task by task, the same way trust is built with a horse — slowly, and only through proof. Every small win here becomes evidence a child can carry with them: I did the thing I didnt think I could do. That evidence adds up to something society hasnt handed them: the belief that they are capable.Thats the work. One fence, one halter, one hoof pick at a time.
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    The Fox Moon Farm Project
    2 days ago
    The Fox Moon Farm Project

    How do you measure joy?

    It's not a number on a chart. It's not something you can graph or quantify in a quarterly report. But if you spent a day here at Fox Moon Farm, you'd see it everywhere — and you'd understand exactly what we mean.

    It's the moment a child who struggles to make eye contact looks straight into the eyes of a horse and doesn't look away. It's the quiet pride on a teenager's face after they've mucked a runnin from start to finish, all by themselves. It's a grown adult, laughing out loud, because a goat just decided they were their new best friend.

    We serve children and adults of every age and every ability here. They come to us for a hundred different reasons — trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences, grief, isolation. But underneath all of it, they're looking for the same thing: a little more joy. A little more peace. A place where they're accepted exactly as they are.

    So how do we measure it? We measure it in the acts of kindness we see between strangers who just met an hour ago. We measure it in bare feet running through the grass because — for once — nobody's watching to see if they're doing it "right." We measure it in the deep exhale that happens when someone finally feels safe enough to just be.

    Joy doesn't always look like a big moment. Sometimes it's small, quiet, and easy to miss. But we see it every single day — and we never stop being grateful for it.     ... See MoreSee Less

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    How do you measure joy?Its not a number on a chart. Its not something you can graph or quantify in a quarterly report. But if you spent a day here at Fox Moon Farm, youd see it everywhere — and youd understand exactly what we mean.Its the moment a child who struggles to make eye contact looks straight into the eyes of a horse and doesnt look away. Its the quiet pride on a teenagers face after theyve mucked a runnin from start to finish, all by themselves. Its a grown adult, laughing out loud, because a goat just decided they were their new best friend.We serve children and adults of every age and every ability here. They come to us for a hundred different reasons — trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences, grief, isolation. But underneath all of it, theyre looking for the same thing: a little more joy. A little more peace. A place where theyre accepted exactly as they are.So how do we measure it? We measure it in the acts of kindness we see between strangers who just met an hour ago. We measure it in bare feet running through the grass because — for once — nobodys watching to see if theyre doing it right. We measure it in the deep exhale that happens when someone finally feels safe enough to just be.Joy doesnt always look like a big moment. Sometimes its small, quiet, and easy to miss. But we see it every single day — and we never stop being grateful for it.Image attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment
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    The Fox Moon Farm Project
    2 weeks ago
    The Fox Moon Farm Project

    🐴 A Milestone Worth Celebrating 🐴
    Yesterday brought one of those sessions that reminds us exactly why we do this work.

    One of our incredible young riders — a 17-year-old who lives with autism and works every day to navigate motor challenges, anxiety, and the world nonverbally — climbed up onto Merlin’s back for a brand-new challenge: threading rings onto cones and hanging them in the trees in the arena.

    It looks like a simple game. It isn’t. Every ring placed is a lesson in following multi-step directions, color recognition, fine motor control, and patience — skills that don’t always come easily, practiced here in a way that feels like joy instead of work.

    This rider has been part of our Healing with Horses community for over two years, and just recently graduated into our therapeutic riding program. And the growth has been remarkable. Grooming Merlin used to hold no interest at all — now it’s a ritual: twenty brush strokes on each side, every single time, before it’s time to tack up. That kind of focus, that kind of care for another living being, is something we get to witness grow week by week.

    Research consistently backs up what we witness on the ground every week: therapeutic horseback riding offers real, measurable benefits for individuals with autism. The horse’s rhythmic, three-dimensional gait mirrors human walking patterns and has a documented calming effect on the nervous system, helping to regulate sensory input and ease anxiety. Physically, riding builds core strength, balance, coordination, and body awareness. Behaviorally and emotionally, studies show reductions in irritability and hyperactivity alongside gains in social communication, focus, and self-confidence — many of these benefits proving durable months after sessions continue.

    We couldn’t be prouder of the courage, focus, and heart shown yesterday. And we’re deeply grateful to our team and to Merlin, our steady, patient partner in this work, for making moments like this possible.

    This is the power of nature and animals as healers. This is Fox Moon Farm Project. 🍂     ... See MoreSee Less

    🐴 A Milestone Worth Celebrating 🐴 Yesterday brought one of those sessions that reminds us exactly why we do this work.One of our incredible young riders — a 17-year-old who lives with autism and works every day to navigate motor challenges, anxiety, and the world nonverbally — climbed up onto Merlin’s back for a brand-new challenge: threading rings onto cones and hanging them in the trees in the arena.It looks like a simple game. It isn’t. Every ring placed is a lesson in following multi-step directions, color recognition, fine motor control, and patience — skills that don’t always come easily, practiced here in a way that feels like joy instead of work.This rider has been part of our Healing with Horses community for over two years, and just recently graduated into our therapeutic riding program. And the growth has been remarkable. Grooming Merlin used to hold no interest at all — now it’s a ritual: twenty brush strokes on each side, every single time, before it’s time to tack up. That kind of focus, that kind of care for another living being, is something we get to witness grow week by week.Research consistently backs up what we witness on the ground every week: therapeutic horseback riding offers real, measurable benefits for individuals with autism. The horse’s rhythmic, three-dimensional gait mirrors human walking patterns and has a documented calming effect on the nervous system, helping to regulate sensory input and ease anxiety. Physically, riding builds core strength, balance, coordination, and body awareness. Behaviorally and emotionally, studies show reductions in irritability and hyperactivity alongside gains in social communication, focus, and self-confidence — many of these benefits proving durable months after sessions continue.We couldn’t be prouder of the courage, focus, and heart shown yesterday. And we’re deeply grateful to our team and to Merlin, our steady, patient partner in this work, for making moments like this possible.This is the power of nature and animals as healers. This is Fox Moon Farm Project. 🍂Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment
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