Ver causa | foobar

Bridle Paths is a nonprofit organization that offers authentic connections, in partnership with horses. Our mission is to offer strength, support, and healing to individuals and families through safe, effective, and high-quality equine-assisted services (EAS). We provide adaptive horseback riding instruction, equine-assisted learning, and equine-assisted psychotherapy services to individuals and families faced with physical, cognitive, psychological, and emotional needs. The program serves those with a wide variety of challenges, including attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorders, cognitive impairments, anxiety and depression, genetic disorders, seizure disorders, brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and trauma. It is our vision to sustain an environment and an opportunity for our clients to connect, communicate, and trust, in partnership with horses. Our work is guided by our values, which include: (1) respect for the individual, both human and equine; (2) focus on abilities and possibilities, rather than on labels and diagnoses; and (3) delivery of safe, ethical, and emotionally-attuned services. Bridle Paths serves children and adults, both civilian and military, who have challenges that are often invisible - attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety and depression, seizure disorders, self harm, suicidal ideation, brain injuries, post-traumatic stress, and trauma. We recognize that this is a disparate list of diagnoses and challenges, many of which result from racism or sexism experienced in the community, experiences of childhood abuse or neglect, and the judgments and expectations that are placed upon us in various aspects of our lives. Of course, these challenges have only been exacerbated by the persistent isolation and dislocation of the pandemic. In each of our programs (adaptive riding, equine-assisted learning, and equine-assisted psychotherapy), we provide emotionally-attuned services that focus on the cultivation of relationship, communication, connection, and trust. For almost every participant in Bridle Paths' programs, the progression follows a consistent path. First, participants find a place where they can simply be and breathe and be in the present moment. From that place of presence, they can begin to think. Bringing the prefrontal cortex on board in relational interactions is a critical step for participants who come to us with experiences of trauma, or with debilitating anxiety or depression; when participants have an experience of felt physical and emotional safety in our space, sympathetic nervous system responses such as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn diminish and reasoned responses can occur. Once participants are able to think clearly, they can learn; as they learn, they become able to do. Participants become better able to identify their needs, ask for help, and attempt more flexible ways of responding to emotional upheaval and life challenges as a result of their participation in our equine-assisted services program. Horses are uniquely suited to partner with humans in building connection, communication, and trust. As prey animals, horses are exquisitely attuned to their surroundings, and they offer and respond primarily to nonverbal communication. Like many participants with trauma histories, horses possess a heightened awareness of and sensitivity to their surroundings. As herd animals, horses seek safety and companionship, and they assume particular roles within the herd structure. Additionally, they live in the present and respond with honesty and authenticity, thus offering humans multiple opportunities to grasp and integrate the horses’ modeling and real-time feedback. Relationships with horses are built on trust and authenticity, rather than on fear or control. In relationships with humans, behavioral or emotional options may seem limited, seemingly requiring actions that are disconnected from the true self and authentic feelings. With horses, by contrast, it generally works best to “come as you are” and “be who you are” – not perfect, just present. The skills and strengths fostered during our sessions are generalizable to interpersonal relationships in many ways.

The services that Bridle Paths provides include the following:
ADAPTIVE RIDING programs at Bridle Paths offers adapted riding instruction to children and adults with physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional needs. In addition to mounted instruction, lessons incorporate groundwork in horse care and horsemanship. Our therapeutic equines are carefully chosen for their temperament, training, and quality of movement, and each lesson is staffed with a certified instructor and trained and committed volunteers to conduct lessons safely. Most of our adaptive riding clients participate in weekly private lessons that are an hour in length and include both unmounted and mounted components. As noted elsewhere, our client population has doubled over the past year, attributable almost entirely to an increase in our adaptive riding clients who have experienced significant deleterious mental health effects from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and have sought out our services to allay symptoms of anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EAP) is an experiential therapeutic approach that addresses treatment goals using collaborative efforts among a horse professional, licensed therapist, the horse, and the client. Each client-driven session includes hands-on activities with the horses, as well as processing (discussion) of feelings, behaviors, and patterns designed to enable clients to learn about themselves and others. Clients interact with the horses on the ground and use nonverbal communication, problem solving, and creative thinking to address a variety of mental health and developmental issues. The EAP process is solution-focused and is considered a short-term or "brief" approach designed to activate the client's own healing resources. EAP sessions with private clients are scheduled on weekdays; precise schedules are determined by client needs and availability and the schedules of referring mental health providers. Following our Covid-19 shutdown in spring 2020, we have resumed providing in-person EAP services, with 1-3 clients each week and new client referrals from partnerships with other referring mental health professionals.
EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING offers opportunities for clients to engage in hands-on learning opportunities with our horses, and to explore the connections that can be made between horses and humans. Among the areas addressed in these groups are: cognitive and physical development, executive functioning skills, and emotional and social development. In these groups, we explore topics such as mindfulness, communication, boundaries, safety and flexibility, belonging and fit, collaboration, and integration. These groups are targeted to the specific needs of particular populations, including survivors of traumatic brain injury, individuals with social and communication challenges, and veterans and service members, and are scheduled according to the needs and availability of participants and facilitators. The Covid-19 pandemic precluded us from offering planned groups for survivors of traumatic brain injury in 2020 (and from competing for grant funding for those groups, when one of our grantor organizations pivoted to provide Covid relief in place of their regular grant cycle). We are hopeful that we will receive grant funds to offer this program in the fall of 2022.
MILITARY SERVICES are provided to veterans, service members and their families at no cost to them. Bridle Paths offers weekly adaptive riding and horsemanship sessions and one-time visits for individuals and families, as well as 8-week equine-assisted learning groups focused on the cultivation of relationships, communication, and connection. Our sessions address physical, cognitive, social, and recreational goals. We also offer equine-assisted psychotherapy sessions staffed by an equine specialist and a licensed mental health provider, as well as equine-assisted psychotherapy groups for military families.Bridle Paths offers a continuum of services that is unique in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Our innovative, proprietary, and emotionally-attuned services include both unmounted and mounted components and emphasize relationship, communication, connection, and trust.

In the fiscal year 2021, Bridle Paths served 42 unique adaptive riding clients in nearly 1,000 lessons, and provided 40 lessons for military families. We served 16 unique equine-assisted psychotherapy clients in 60 sessions, and established relationships with new mental health professionals in Loudoun County to serve client needs. Revenue from therapeutic services exceeded $84,000, and contributions to the program exceeded $84,000, enabling us to provide enhanced wellness care for our horses, allocate funds to serve military families at no cost to them, and invest in technology and administrative improvements to support program growth. Nearly 30 veterans and military medical center staff participated in six equine-assisted psychotherapy groups for veterans and service members, funded by a VA Adaptive Sports Grant that was completed in 2021.

Following are some testimonial examples of our impact as well: (1) This place literally saved my life. Chance took a chance on me and it helped me to start my journey of healing. I felt so lost before I found this place. My heart rate slows more than medication can make it and it calms me. AR, VETERAN, US AIR FORCE (2) You, Bridle Paths, and the horses changed my life. Sunup is still the only person that I have trusted to tell my full trauma story to, and it’s likely to stay that way. He gave me the space and safety to release what I’d been carrying for over 10 years. It’s hard to find words for that! BR, VETERAN, US ARMY (3) This program changed my life, and helped me discover a peace and strength within myself I thought I had permanently lost. With the program’s support, I stopped hiding who I was from everyone, including myself… and in doing so, I realized just how very resilient and capable I really was. CM, VETERAN, US ARMY (4) After his diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, my husband began his journey toward healing at Bridle Paths. He included our family in the journey and we soon joined him for family equine sessions. Our family has received the blessing of healing and growing individually & as a family unit through our work with the staff and volunteers, who all show great honor and respect for the participants and the horses alike. Bridle Paths is unique because although they implement professional therapeutic techniques backed up by research, they also create an organic atmosphere that allows for bonding and connecting with the horses and with one another. Hearing my husband comment about the peace and serenity he feels during our time at Bridle Paths is the greatest gift to our children and me. Thank you, Bridle Paths, for all you bring to our family and other military families! OE, VETERAN, US AIR FORCE (5) Our 15 year old son was clinically depressed…we decided to try equine work with Bridle Paths. Our son originally was very reluctant to go. Katie made us all at ease right away, and I could see my son’s interest showing up, after a whole year of showing no interest in anything. Katie said that you can’t hide your emotions from a horse, and our son was very good at hiding his pain to protect us. Going to Bridle Paths is the best thing we did: almost a year later, he still goes happily every time and now volunteers his time to help with the barn afterwards. He is not on medication anymore and is back to his original self, interested in the things he loved before, and has acquired a lifetime love of horses. Katie and her staff have been so patient and supportive in spite of Covid, and they have helped our son get back to his life. This program saved us. We are so very thankful for their hard work and kindness. AS, PARENT, ADAPTIVE RIDING STUDENT (6) Bridle Paths works with our 7-year old daughter to develop ADHD coping mechanisms through horseback riding lessons. She has had a wonderful therapeutic and educational experience for the past year and, most importantly, we have seen her improvements carry over into her life outside the stable. For example, she has shown significant improvement in following multi step instructions as well as showing empathy toward others. Katie is a patient but firm instructor who understands how to communicate with children like our daughter who struggle with impulse control, hyperactivity, and focus. Through redirection, positive reinforcement, and other techniques, Bridle Paths has given our daughter an ongoing growth opportunity in a setting that she genuinely looks forward to every week. While we hope this is just the beginning of what will be a life-long hobby, we know no matter what happens she is developing social capacities that will follow her into adulthood. RO, PARENT, ADAPTIVE RIDING STUDENT (7) It's hard to explain what a visit to Bridle Paths can do for the soul. Worries melt away. Calm grows under the soft brown eyes of the healing horses. It's a safe, welcoming place for all. MS, VOLUNTEER

Ocultar texto completo

Como funcionam as doações

Clique em qualquer botão "Doe agora" e, em seguida, decida o valor da sua doação. Você será então direcionado ao processador de pagamento de sua escolha. Depois que sua doação for processada, será enviada para a instituição beneficente de sua escolha.

Precisa de ajuda?

View a list of Frequently Asked Questions or contact support.

BRIDLE PATHS