HORSESENSING INC

HorseSensing is a nonprofit 9 month residential program in Shelbyville that teaches veterans and people in recovery to work professionally in the horse industry. We have been in existence since 2009 and built our Kentucky facility in 2020. We provide free housing, food and all basic needs during their residency. Upon graduation, we match them with a job in the horse industry that is a good fit for their personality, professional goals and skills. We also have a relapse prevention program that provides counseling, drug testing and access to recovery meetings. Let me tell you about two of our recent residents.
Maisie, a person in recovery and on the autistic spectrum, excelled in taking care of the horses, grooming, farm chores and anything we asked of her. We knew her special needs limited the jobs that would be a good fit for her but, after some research and phone calls, we were able to place her in a saddlebred barn with a head trainer who taught special education. We knew Maisie would be accepted and appreciated for what she brings to the table. She has been working there for 3 months and is learning horse training skills and how to teach lessons!
Chris, a veteran and person in recovery is everything a show barn could want in a new employee. He works hard and seeks extra chores around the barn during his “off-time”. He works with young, unpredictable horses in training, and rises to the challenge of being the trainer’s “right hand” in the arena. He has accepted a position in a top show barn in Wisconsin beginning in January. He puts duty to his barn and his commitment to his recovery first and can be counted on and relied upon in his new position. Before coming to us, he had reached a low point in his life but is now stable in recovery, has a sponsor, is working the 12 steps and has a new life!
Both Maisie and Chris have set their lives on a new path because of HorseSensing and our free residential program. This year, 13 men and women residents attended our program for a new start in life.
In addition to Maisie and Chris, Robert graduated in April and works for a top show barn, being the trainer's right hand.
Tyler graduated in August and is a valued employee at Viviers stables. Here is an overview of the program:We have 3 Phases-Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3.
Phase 1-Participants live in the Phase 1 house at the HorseSensing Farm which houses 4. The first 3 months
consist of daily grooming skills and equine education training by Phillip Crittendon our Education Director, 6
recovery meetings per week, random drug testing, weekly psychotherapy sessions with our doctoral
psychologist interns from Spaulding University, drug and alcohol testing, and constant support from our staff
led by a licensed psychologist specializing in substance use disorder and treatment. After approximately 2
months each participant has an internship with a local professional horse farm, Harper Stables, after which
they are tested out on their skills, certified as a Groom Elite Groom, and placed in a job at a show barn in
Shelby County. Some participants have stayed in Phase 1 longer to be sure they were ready both skills-wise
and recovery-wise to move on to Phase 2.
Phase 2- The next 6 months. Once we place them in a job, they move to the Phase 2 house on Cropper Road
(houses 4). This is fully remodeled house that we bought at auction. It has 4 bedrooms and is beautiful and
serene, out in the country. In Phase 2 the guys are going to work every day. They carpool in a HorseSensing car
to and from work. They have no overhead to pay for and can save their money. They continue to work on their
sobriety goals and attend 6 meetings per week, carpooling with the Phase 1 and Phase 3 guys.
They also attend to their real-world needs. These real-world needs include completing any legal system
requirements that encumber them such as drug court, being licensed to drive, and any fines or restitution they
need to pay, including child support.
They also continue to address their mental health and physical health needs, including medications for issues
like depression and PTSD. Because we are led by a licensed psychologist, we understand that mental health
medications are sometimes necessary for full functioning and long term sobriety, even for preventing suicide.
Another top priority for us is the mending of family problems and reunification with their children. Because we
are a horse farm we are the perfect place for long broken bonds to heal, and for trust to once again be built
among the families of our participants. We encourage family visits on Sundays.
Phase 3-When a participant has been in the Phase 2 house for approximately 6 months (for a total of 9
months in our program at this point) they move to the Phase 3 house. In this phase, they begin to pay rent
and utilities themselves of $400 per month. This is paid to the owner of the building (an 8 unit apartment
building). They guys in Phase 3 are in charge of one HorseSensing car and are responsible for 5 of them getting
to work. One of the residents in Phase 2 now has a car and another uses a 2nd HorseSensing car to get back in
forth. The guys in Phase 3 also pick up the guys in Phase 1 and 2 to take them to recovery meetings. The
beauty of all of this is the support that ALL of them get from each other. The Phase 3 guys mentor the Phase 1
and 2 guys on recovery, work, getting back into society and meeting all of your responsibilities. Being a
productive member of society, of your family, of your work team and your HorseSensing family. They can
continue to live here indefinitely. They are still a part of the program and are randomly drug tested.