WINGS OF HOPE EQUITHERAPY

Wings of Hope was founded in 1996 to provide inclusion for those with disabilities, specifically for children and adults with physical, mental, or emotional challenges through the partnership of a horse. This partnership allows those with disabilities the opportunity to explore new ways to navigate independence, to gain tools and skills to sharpen and enhance abilities, to discover strengths and address challenges. It breaks down barriers for someone who has experienced isolation and exclusion through their disability. We serve as an advocate for meeting individuals where they are in life with a focus on abilities rather than disabilities.

We serve low-income families, children, youth, adults, seniors, and veterans. Wings of Hope is a faith motivated organization. We are called to share and show compassion and we are called to love. We are open to all, and our programs have no religious content.

So often those impacted by our mission find that they do not have an outlet that allows them to be comfortable and confident with their disability. Frequently, individuals with disabilities state that life can revolve around a diagnosis, the label, and stigma that comes with it.

Living in exclusion is not a livelihood any person or family should have to endure. Time after time we hear stories of how they are not able to play a team sport, they are not invited to birthday parties or included in typical childhood or adult peer networks.

Wings of Hope has been a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International since 2002. This distinguished affiliation holds our facility to the highest industry standard above and beyond industry requirements to promote excellence and safety. PATH Intl was formed in 1969.

As prey animals, horses possess a higher level of awareness of their environment. Unlike any other domesticated animal, they notice subtle ques and provide a mirror image of feedback to those around them. The connection with the horse provides partnership, opportunity and discovery. This partnership forms quickly, breaks down barriers and address challenges. The experiential setting allows for learning life skills acquired in the barn that can also be utilized in all aspects of life.

Traditionally those that we serve participate in a spectrum of therapies. While a variety of therapies are necessary, they can often be considered mundane. Frequently we hear that the services received a Wings of Hope are non-clinical and are out of the box.

The horse's movement provides much needed rhythmic and repetitive physical and sensory input. The four-beat gait of the horse simulates a person's natural gait. The horse's gait allows an individual to use the same muscles and core strength on horseback as they would when having the movement and use of a normal gait.

In an equine assisted learning setting, the experiential approach integrates equine-human interaction that is guided by a planned learning experience to meet the identified goals and objectives for the equestrian. Partnering with equines provides opportunities to learn critical life skills such as trust, respect, honesty and communication. Equines use non-verbal communication and are highly in-tune with human behavior. This can help individuals to better understand and learn how their non-verbal communication might be impacting or influencing others in their lives.