About Our Programs

The Flying Horse Stable programs are grounded in the belief that the horse human bond connects you to the rhythm and balance of nature, the outdoors, wildlife, sunsets, wind on your face, quiet reflection, and joy.  In the midst of this is a heightened sense of being a part of something greater than yourself. Integrated with the horse activities is music, art, motion and journaling.

The horses at the Flying Horse Stable will lead you on a path of self-discovery and personal development.  With the support of the horses you will be aware of others' feelings, interests and needs.  You will learn kindness, respect, responsibility and love. The programs will help empower you to implement skills to be a better person, partner, parent, student, employee or friend.

Who Benefits from the Equine Facilitated Horse Experience?

Clinical studies indicate that equine facilitated programs positively impact depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, grief/loss/divorce and post traumatic stress from abuse or combat-related trauma. Programs are specifically designed for life coping skills and personal development treatment in these areas. Services are provided for children, adults and families.

Our programs are also available for those that have a desire for self-improvement and/or the joy of the connection with horses.

Flying Horse Stable Program Offerings

Programs take place year round at the barn, in the round pen, in the outdoor or indoor arena, in the Back 40 challenge course/labryrinth, or on a reflective trail ride/walk. There are facilities for warm or cold weather.

Participants are considered eligible if they are referred by: a county service care provider, physician, psychiatrist, mental health provider, special education teacher, at risk youth leader, counseling agencies, parent or self-referral. All participants have a plan including outcome based goals and session length/theme options.

Adult or children EFL program plans are developed for a three month session.

Adult or children EFP program plans are developed for a three to twelve month session.

All plans are re-evaluated at the end of a session. In addition, ongoing evaluation provides daily session adaptability and flexibility to meet the participants' needs.

Changes in plans are determined by outcome based evaluations, court orders, or changes in treatment needs.

Current offerings include programs relating to:

• Equine Facilitated Learning
• Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy
• Youth in Transition
• Asperger Syndrome
• Returning Veterans
• Eating Disorders
• AODA
• Wellness Workshops
• Training Programs

The Flying Horse Stable Programs adhere to the national standards and ethics developed by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH Intl), Equine Facilitated Learning and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy.

Program Fees

Individual one-hour EFL session - $65.00
Individual one-hour EFP session - $120.00
Group (2 to 4 individuals) EFL & EFP session - $45.00/person
Sponsorships for financial support are available.

Program Samples: Thematic Group Sessions

Social and Emotional Learning
Weekly area of focus

• Understanding communication
• Leadership
• Setting Boundaries
• Trust
• Support
• Challenges
• Balance
• Letting Go
• Love and Attachment
• Self Actualization

Citizenship/Personal Responsibility

• Weekly area of focus
• Rules and Respect
• Responsibility
• Dependability
• Communication
• Decision Making
• Teamwork
• Organization
• Acceptance

Asperger Syndrome Group
Weekly area of focus

• Nonverbal Communication Skills
• Relationship Building
• Decision Making

Program Samples: Individual or Group Sessions
Youth and Adolescent Issues

Programs focus on setting goals, improving family and peer relationships, developing teamwork, learning communication skills, and contributing to community life.

With immediate and honest feedback from the horse, young people have the opportunity to:

• channel impulsivity
• be physically active                                        
• redirect frustration with accomplishment                              
• replace addictions with healthy behaviors
• practice positive decision making
• cooperate with authority
• make a commitment and be responsible

Feelings of worry, panic, fears, distressful thoughts, phobias, or fear of social settings are calmed by the unconditional acceptance of the horse felt in the peaceful farm setting giving a sense of nurturing and safety.

Horses are gentle animals, but their size may be intimidating. Becoming a partner with the horse provides an opportunity for individuals to face and overcome fear, and to develop feelings of confidence and self-worth.

Participate in coping activities such as controlled breathing exercises, visualization, and physical movement while riding on a lunge line.

Learning how horses communicate with each other will help develop socialization skills, group acceptance, criticism, and personal relationships.

This support program is designed to change distorted thoughts to positive affirmations by recognizing the positive reaction and connection received from the horse. Individuals learn to:

Ask for help and receive it: deal with judgment, criticism and blaming: and develop trust.

Be centered and present in the moment: deal with energy force/heart field; focus intention on the relationship.

Relate the socialization of the herd behavior to one's own life through structured observation: deal with social roles, personal image, leaders, and interactions.

Learn congruence and to be authentic with feelings:
learn to be honest about feelings so the outward actions of the individual match what he or she feels on the inside.

Research has demonstrated improvement of mood in response to physical activity, sensory-motor activity (massage), music, being in a natural, calming environment, and having a mentor (human or animal).

Having a partnership with a horse develops feelings of worth and purpose from the relationship with the horse: acknowledgment of being lovable, identifying 'I am....' thoughts and beliefs.
"There is a lick and chew, he must like me...I am a good person."

Provide care-giving to increase feelings of worth and need.
"I know my horse depends on me to rub liniment on his sore muscles. It makes me feel needed."

Develop goals and a timeline for activities to provide
on-going involvement and a sense of purpose for the future.

Experience the joy and happiness as a result of a relationship.  

The sessions designed for PTSD are developed for individuals that have experienced traumatic events which include witnessing or being the victim of violence or abuse, enduring a natural disaster, losing a loved one due to death.

• Reoccurring experiences of the event
•  Numbing response
• Disengagement from social interactions
• Increased stimuli
• Tension in relationships
• Poor sleep or nightmares
• Anger      

In order to fully meet the needs of PTSD and to reprogram or re-pattern brainstem systems, the therapy needs to be relevant to the client's developmental stage and life settings, and be repetitive and rewarding. Activities need to include multiply sensory motor input.

The horse/human relationship will develop the skills to:

Identify and learn coping skills for freezing or numbing responses by observing how horses interact and deal with the flight response in the herd.

Deal with feelings of safe by learning breathing to handle the startle response and fear.

Identify levels of personal frustration and develop anger management skills for constructive expression of feelings, perfectionism, short attention span, physical release, and processing.

Set boundaries, be assertive, and create a safe space of mutual respect.

Assert positive leadership through tone of voice, making a plan, knowing body awareness, and self-confidence.                        

Implement self-protection, and the ability to stand up for oneself.

Be brave, take risks, and deal with fear of failure.

Workshops and retreats are tailored to different needs, topics, and themes.  They are designed to provide equine experiences, educational information, and group or individual processing.

Half-day workshops and day-long retreats are developed to focus on:

      Personal Wellness & Emotional Fitness
      Life Changes & Goal Setting
      Mindful Awareness
      Stress Management

Events may include:

      Personal journaling
      Music or artistic expression
      Hiking
      Reflective trail riding
      Bonfires

Training provided at the Flying Horse Stable is approved hours for certification with the Certified Board for Equine Interaction Professionals (CBEIP)

Training is also provided for programs in the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, PATH Intl

You will learn techniques that emphasize the use of relationship building, communication, trust, mindfulness and emotional well-being. You will participate in activities and review curriculum ideas for specific target groups, e.g. eating disorders, post traumatic stress, youth at risk.

Training is provided for 4-6 hour workshops or up to 60 hours of certified training. Training includes background information, techniques in current approaches, review of curriculums and matching activities to the needs of a specific mental health diagnosis, hands on experience with activities, goal writing and evaluation, horse participation, and direct client involvement.

Most importantly you will experience the healing power of the horse/human connection.