During therapeutic horsemanship, each 30-minute private session or 45-minute semi-private session is tailored to that individual rider. Our staff, in developing their lesson plans, will use a variety of activities and arena patterns to create opportunities to develop better posture, ability to focus and to achieve success during their session. Riders are supported by trained staff using a lead line, volunteers side walking and specifically trained horses to ensure their safety during the lesson. Depending on the ability of the rider, they will learn how to steer the horse and ask the horse to move forward or stop. These sessions help to gain communication skills and decision-making.

This hands-on program focuses on partnering with horses to gain self-awareness and build life skills. Participants engage with the horses on the ground, enhancing critical thinking through tasks that involve sequencing, decision-making, and problem-solving. By observing the horses’ behavior, participants can apply these insights to their own lives. The horses reflect participants' emotions, aiding in the development of vital skills such as communication, relationship-building, and self-regulation.

Our veterans program “Horses for Heroes” has been designed to support veterans in a variety of ways. Equine assisted services are a valuable and effective tool for many issues veterans face. Past participants have reported significant improvement in stress and anxiety, depression, PTSD, cognitive, physical and behavioral issues. Quality of life can be measurably improved with the assistance of equine assisted therapy and learning.

Our hands-on, experiential programs emphasize working with horses to foster self-awareness and develop essential life skills. Participants work with the horses on the ground, honing critical thinking through tasks that involve sequencing, decision-making, and problem-solving. By observing the horses' behavior, participants gain valuable insights that they can apply to their own lives. We partner with local agencies and schools, including the Salem-Keizer School District, to design and tailor programs that provide a distinctive and transformative experience with horses.

Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions about our programs, you can call us at 503.743.3890

Equine assisted services(EAS) incorporates equine activities and/or the equine environment into therapeutic sessions. EAS can include riding, mounted or ground activities, grooming, stable work, games, activities, sensory trail, or obstacles.

Horses of Hope Oregon's staff is very skilled in developing, adapting and expanding equine assisted services to address emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioral challenges. Participants we work with might have one or more physical and cognitive disabilities including: ADHD, cerebral palsy, spinal cord and brain injury, muscular dystrophy, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and hearing and visual impairment.

Spending time with a horse is a beneficial activity for anyone challenged with a physical, cognitive, emotional or behavioral disability. The uniqueness of equine assisted activities lies in the strengths of a horse. For example, the gait of a horse has been shown to benefit certain individuals. A horse has gaits that are three dimensional – enabling the rider to experience: up/down, forward/backward and side-to-side motion. This unique movement simultaneously stimulates nerves, muscles, and brain activity.

Equestrian activities:

Equine Assisted services promote health for the mind, body and soul, and support the physical and emotional needs of our clients. Horses of Hope Oregon’s goal is to partner with our horses to improve the lives of our participants, providing support in the pursuit of health, happiness and healing through horses.