Reports on Horse Heroes Help Individuals with Special Needs

Project Report | Feb 22, 2023
Jose Likes to Challenge His Riders to Be Better

By David Plath | Development Director

Jose is taking it easy between lessons.

Dear Friend,

Our Winter riding session is nearing its end with 63 participants, each having a diagnosed disability. I would like to thank you for supporting our herd of horses that help to provide exceptional care for the children and adults that participate in our programs.

For 40 years, our programs have been successful because of the synergy created between a participant and their horse. It is this partnership that goes a long way toward meeting individual goals where individuals can improve their balance and coordination, gain strength, build self-confidence, and develop their communication and social skills. Each of our horses work hard to give our participants the very best experience in four distinct programs: Therapeutic Riding, Unmounted Horsemanship, Hippotherapy and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy.

Jose arrived at EATSF in 2006. Born in 1997, He is an Argentinian Pony standing at 13.3 hands high and considered to be a Flea-Bitten Grey. He loves participating in our Mo-Neighs for the Horseshoe Hoedown. Jose’s pasture mate and best girl is Hallory. They love being together and have a blast when they are, as you can see from their funny faces above.

Jose is very intelligent and can find himself bored easily. Keeping him engaged in whatever he is doing will keep the cheeky little pony in him from coming out to play. He likes to challenge his participant as well as volunteers to make sure they are at their best.

Jose enjoyed a career as a jumper pony for his owner before she outgrew him. In his time at EATSF, he has served in the therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, unmounted horsemanship, and interactive vaulting programs.

We thank you for your support of our mission and hope that you will consider another gift for our horses. I invite you to come out and see our mission in action when you are in our neighborhood. It would be our pleasure to show you around our campus and share with you our latest achievements.

Links:

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Oct 28, 2022
Young Guns Prepare to Enter the Program

By David Plath | Development Director

Left to right: Ginny, Cherokee and Mo

Our Fall riding session is nearing its end with 52 participants, each having a diagnosed disability. I would like to thank you for supporting our herd of horses that help to provide exceptional care for the children and adults that participate in our programs.

For 40 years, our programs have been successful because of the synergy created between a participant and their horse. It is this partnership that goes a long way toward meeting individual goals where individuals can improve their balance and coordination, gain strength, build self-confidence, and develop their communication and social skills. Each of our horses work hard to give our participants the very best experience in four distinct programs: Therapeutic Riding, Unmounted Horsemanship, Hippotherapy and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy.

We here at EATSF are so lucky to have the herd that we do. Did you know that half of the horses here at the barn have been in the program for 10+ years? Star and Hallory have been working during lessons for about 20 years! If you have spent any amount of time with our horses, you know how wonderful and well behaved they are, but they weren’t always so well behaved. All horses that come into our program must start somewhere. What we ask of them is so much more than a typical riding setting. Not only do they have to be sound in body, but sound of mind and able to connect with our participants. Enter the Young Guns…

Mo and Cherokee are our newest horses and have yet to be integrated into classes. Ginny, although she has been here a bit longer, is still fairly new to the therapeutic world. These 3 horses are going through summer intensive trainings five days a week to teach them how to do their job safely and effectively. From learning to stand while getting groomed to entering the arena to working with a mock participant on their backs, these horses are being put through their paces to prepare them for their new jobs.

We thank you for your support of our mission and hope that you will consider another gift for our horses. I invite you to come out and see our mission in action when you are in our neighborhood. It would be our pleasure to show you around our campus and share with you our latest achievements.

Links:

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Jun 30, 2022
Oreo Loves to Help Riders with Special Needs

By David Plath | Development Director

The Spring riding session at Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida has just concluded with 63 participants, each having a diagnosed disability. I would like to thank you for supporting our herd of horses and help to provide exceptional care for the heroes of our mission and partners in therapeutic activities for children and adults with special needs.

For 40 years, our programs have been successful because of the synergy created between a participant and their horse. It is this partnership that goes a long way toward meeting individual goals where individuals can improve their balance and coordination, gain strength, build self-confidence, and develop their communication and social skills. Each of our horses work hard to give our participants the very best experience in four distinct programs: Therapeutic Riding, Unmounted Horsemanship, Hippotherapy and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy.

I would like to introduce you to Oreo who arrived at EATSF in 2017. Can you guess why she is named Oreo?! She is a black and white paint! Oreo was born in 2002 and is a Quarter Horse.

Oreo is a very sweet horse that was a lesson horse as well as a therapy horse before she came to us. In her time at EATSF, she has served in the therapeutic riding and unmounted horsemanship programs. She is extremely sensitive, and in lessons will stop if her rider is off balance. Oreo is losing her sight in her right eye and can only see spots of shadows. EATSF has worked hard to help her adjust to the new way of using her sight and building her confidence. Now, you would never even know she had limited vision!

We thank you for your support of our mission and hope that you will consider another gift for our horses. I invite you to come out and see our mission in action when you are in our neighborhood. It would be our pleasure to show you around our campus and share with you our latest achievements.