New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy

At New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy, we provide therapeutic horseback riding services for people with a variety of disabilities, special needs, and challenges. We strive to bring hope, healing and happiness to all those that participate in our programs, including our program for veterans and first responders, Horses Helping Heroes.

In addition to providing services to our participants, New Hope's horses include rescues that are rehabilitated and trained for our program. Currently 64% of our herd came from rescue and/or rehabilitation situations. 

The rehabilitation required include, but is not limited to:

     Uveitis, an eye disease that will eventually cause blindness. People have a tendency to dump animals when they think that their care will be too overwhelming, or they won't be useful. At New Hope, we believe even horses with disabilities can have a meaningful job and deserve to be loved and have good care.  Our therapy mule, Daisy Mae came to us with Uveitis. She is treated with eye drops and occasionally steroid creams or oral steroids to keep her eyes as healthy as possible. She also spends 99% of her time in a face mask that she can see through, but keeps the harmful rays of the sun out of her eyes and protects against flies.

     Wave Mouth, something that can occur when horses teeth are neglected. The teeth grow at differing speeds and so the mount is like a wave. This condition can be painful and cause horses to be unable to correctly grind forage and grain. Our horse, Flash has taken 4 years to get his mouth back in alignment with regular dental appointments.

     Obesity, when horses are obese they are at risk for developing laminitis, a condition that can be fatal. Chito is a pony that came to us 200 pounds overweight and was at high risk for developing laminitis. Proper diet and exercise helped Chito to become a healthy, active pony, well loved by his riders.

     Cushing's Disease, or PPID, common in older horses and ponies, is a hormonal disease that can damage a horse's ability to regulate hormones, leading to abnormally high cortisol levels in the horse. Currently we have two ponies and an older Warmblood who have Cushing's Disease. The medication is expensive, currently $8.00 per day, but the results are that we have horses who have gifts to give working in our program helping children, adults and veterans with disabilities to connect and be changed by their amazing abilities. Libby, Gabby and Rain have Cushing's Disease.

     Poor Diet or starvation can cause a multitude of problems throughout a horse's life, particularly when it occurred during formative years. 

The Therapeutic Horsemanship program is in large part riding lessons for people with physical, developmental, and emotional disabilities. Therapeutic horseback riding transports individuals with special needs into a new, unexplored world, providing a sense of independence and freedom that can defy disabilities. When riding, individuals escape their physical and emotional limitations or challenges and embrace their abilities through working with a PATH or CHA certified instructor and a well-trained horse. For the physically, emotionally, and/or intellectually challenged individual, the experience offers a new view on life. In return, the horses not only have a delightful purpose, but receive the love of the trainers, volunteer handlers, and, most importantly, the riders themselves.

New Hope’s Horses Helping Heroes program offers a progressive therapeutic horsemanship program for military personnel, veterans, and first responders, especially those experiencing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress. Horses have shown the ability to read, understand, and relay emotional and physical stresses that people are experiencing. That ability to reflect and relay emotions creates an environment between horse and handler where individuals are able to build a stronger sense of security, confidence, and strengthening of coping mechanisms. To help create that environment, New Hope employs both Natural Horsemanship and Horse Speak philosophies.