HEARTSTRIDES THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND HORSEMANSHIP OF OLYMPIA

Founded in 2011, HeartStrides Therapeutic Horsemanship is a non-profit organization in Olympia, WA that partners with horses for transformative experiences that strengthen, develop, and improve lives. HeartStrides utilizes Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT), peer support, and trauma-informed models to address underlying issues so that individuals can begin to develop healthy coping mechanisms and regain their autonomy and self-worth.

HeartStrides originated from one family’s healing experience with a horse and has grown into a community-recognized organization. We have a committed board of directors and specially trained staff that includes certified peer counselors, mental health counselors, recovery coaches, and PATH International certified instructors. All of our programs are evidence-based, rooted in the neuroscience of human and horse brain development. We offer a trauma-informed approach, teaching clients the role of healthy relationships in recovery and healing. In response to the needs of our community, we now offer programs, courses, weekend clinics and retreats for people from all walks of life. The populations we serve most include youth 10-17 years old with substance use, mental health and/or physical challenges. Many of the youth we work with are also involved in the criminal justice system or are currently placed at in-patient facilities. We serve all types of families, adults ages 18 years and older, those currently serving or have served in the armed forces, first responders, survivors of violence or human trafficking, and people in recovery. Many of our participants also identify as Black or Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, currently experiencing or have experienced homelessness, living in poverty, or have been in foster care. Our participants are mainly from Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Pierce, Kitsap and King counties, and we have served participants from other areas across Washington State.

With the unique capabilities of trained staff, trained horses, facility space and arena use, HeartStrides offers a therapeutic equine program for participants throughout Thurston, Pierce, King, Mason, Lewis and other surrounding counties. Our programs fulfill a very large gap in these communities by providing an alternative to traditional therapeutic approaches. The need for our program is not only apparent through local data, but is evident in the responses we have received from judges, probation counselors, community partners, family members, and most importantly, the participants themselves.
HeartStrides has earned credibility by consistently providing high-quality services that have provided proven beneficial outcomes for our clients. All of our participants receive an individualized experience through small program sizes and one-on-one time with their horse and peer counselor or therapist. We ensure everyone has ample horse and human interaction, enhancing the therapeutic experience while simultaneously providing our participants with an authentic connection to another social being. Programs take place at Healing Hearts Ranch, a naturally wooded setting carefully maintained to offer a peaceful environment where individuals can find solace in an atmosphere designed for self-reflection and healing.

HeartStrides currently provides four on-going programs along with a variety of weekend intensives, courses, and one-on-one opportunities. Our current programs:
Equine Assisted Peer Support Youth Program (EAYPS): In partnership with Thurston County Juvenile Court, we created a program that was incorporated into their annual budget. The EAYPS program is a therapeutic early intervention recovery-based 6-week course. It is offered through a partnership with the Thurston County Juvenile Court to accept referrals of youth (ages 10-17) who are receiving services through any civil or offender programs and have demonstrated symptoms of mental illness and/or substance use. During sessions, the adolescents work through a curriculum that is designed around twelve core values which are learned metaphorically through interactions with the horse. By gaining the trust of a horse, a connective bond occurs naturally, giving the youth a unique and authentic baseline for what a healthy relationship entails and feels like. EAYPS outcomes show vast improvements in CANS scores. With nearly five years of data, we have seen 72% reduction in mood disturbance, 67% reduction in anxiety, an 86% reduction in suicide risk, and a 70% reduction in substance use. To date we have served 157 youth from September 2017 through December 2021. We serve between 28-48 youth in this program annually.

Operation THRIVE: Operation THRIVE is a three-day weekend intensive course that is offered to veterans, active-duty military personnel and first responders suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). During the first day, participants are encouraged to invite their families to the ranch to share dinner, meet the staff, and learn about the basics of horsemanship. The next two days provide our participants time to work directly with the horses to develop a partnership based on mutual respect and shared goals. Because individuals with PTS often have difficulty trusting and feeling a connection with others, partnering with the horses helps them effectively break down barriers encountered with traditional approaches of counseling and PTSD programs. We serve between 15-30 participants in this program annually.

The Next Mission: The Next Mission is a 6-week recovery-based course offered to veterans and active-duty military personnel modeled off of our youth program (EAYPS). Our referral sources include Joint Base Lewis McChord and their Soldier Recovery Unit, Thurston County Veterans Services, mental health providers, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Washington State National Guard. The participants work through a curriculum that focuses on twelve core values which are learned metaphorically through interactions with the horses. We serve roughly 32-48 veterans and active duty military personnel in this program annually.

Family Recovery Court Equine Assisted Peer Support (FRC EAPS): This program is a 6-week recovery-based course modeled off of our youth program (EAYPS) and is offered to participants in Thurston County’s therapeutic courts (Family Recovery Court, Drug/DUI Court, and Mental Health and Veterans Court). The participants work through a curriculum that focuses on core values, parenting skills, and general life functioning which are learned metaphorically through interactions with the horses. We serve roughly 20-25 participants in this program annually.

All of our programs emphasize our twelve core values in lessons with the horses. Participants engage in horsemanship lessons including brushing while looking for signs of relaxation and consent, learning boundaries and “horse speak” buttons and how horses communicate with each other, learn frustration tolerance, and how to truly be in your body when riding a horse. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of horse and human partnerships, showing that it lowers blood pressure and heart rate, alleviates stress and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. This therapeutic model is especially effective for participants with mental health and/or substance use challenges.
HeartStrides provides a unique approach to recovery support for individuals facing mental health and chemical dependency issues. Not only do we offer a peer-support model for both our youth and adult participants, but we have clinical oversight from mental health professionals who are well versed in equine-assisted therapies. The biggest differentiator of our programs however, is our horses. Using the horse as a partner in recovery reduces common barriers faced in traditional interventions and therapeutic approaches.

There is currently one other known project in Thurston County that uses Equine Assisted Therapy in their horsemanship classes. Our program differs widely from their approach as we integrate the peer-support model with recovery support for individuals seeking healing. Unlike other programs, we provide an on-site therapist to ensure appropriate clinical oversight and support for our participants.

HeartStrides feels a strong commitment to our local community and works to partner with other organizations, mental health providers, medical professionals, and behavioral health providers to bring holistic care to the people we serve. Our current partners include Thurston County Juvenile Court, Thurston County Family Recovery Court, Thurston County Mental Health and Veterans Court, Thurston County Drug/DUI Court, Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), Community Youth Services, Catholic Community Services, Thurston County public school districts, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Soldier Recovery Unit, AmeriCorps, Department of Agriculture, and the Elks Club. HeartStrides focuses on whole-person health and believes that collaboration and connection with community partners lead to stronger and more vibrant communities. Whether it is through the Operation THRIVE program, a weekend intensive, or a clinical, our main goal is to ensure that everyone leaves our programs with an enhanced quality of life.