Participate

Equine Assisted Services

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.  Service goals are related to the client’s needs and the medical professional’s standards of practice.  EAS involves clients, volunteers, and instructors.

Horses of Hope’s (HOH) staff is very skilled in developing, adapting and expanding equine assisted services to address emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioral challenges. Clients 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.  In the United States, approximately 1 in 4 people have some kind of developmental challenge that significantly impacts their daily life. Equine assisted services are one option for helping those individuals.

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

  • side-to-side motion

This unique movement simultaneously stimulates nerves, muscles, and brain activity.

Equestrian activities:

  • improve physical functionality – balance, strength, coordination

  • improve emotional functionality – focus, self-awareness, empathy

  • improve social well-being – confidence, mobility, independence.

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 clients, providing support in the pursuit of health, happiness and healing through horses.

To learn more about becoming a client:
email [email protected] or call the office at 503-743-3890

Download PDF

See The Programs

Hanna and Gary
Therapeutic Horsemanship
During therapeutic horsemanship, each private thirty-minute session is tailored to that individual rider. Our staff, in developing their lesson plans,…

Thank You To Our Supporters

We are forever grateful to all those who support Horses of Hope Oregon in providing Health, Happiness, and Healing through Horses. A special thank you to those who sponsored our 2023 Annual Dinner and Fundraiser, Denim and Diamonds.