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Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International — Ensuring excellence and changing lives through equine-assisted services.

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Did you know you don’t have to ride a horse to experience the benefits of equine-assisted services?

Therapeutic driving is a recognized form of equine-assisted services that provides the benefits of equine connection without needing to mount a horse. Through the rhythm and movement of the cart, participants work on sitting balance, postural control, head and neck control, fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and communication while building greater independence.

Participants learn harnessing basics, driving cues, and cart navigation. These skills can carry over into everyday life, supporting greater confidence and independence.

Both Cosmo and Trooper pull a cart, and we think they love it just as much as we do!

#SurfAndTurfTherapy #TherapeuticDriving #HorseTherapy #EquineAssistedServices #minitherapyhorses

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I’m thrilled to join the Board of Trustees of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International
@path.intl. for the upcoming term. I am also very grateful to the PATH-Intl membership for the trust they have placed in me.

Since returning to @united Airlines 8 years ago, the thing I’ve missed most about my former life is being part of the equine therapy world. The years I worked alongside horses to help veterans, military families, and people with special needs improve their quality of life and overcome challenges was transformative - for my clients and for me. It was some of the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done.

Although many practitioners understand intuitively the capacity of horses to heal, it is the professionalization of the industry that is critical to its widespread acceptance. There has been no organization more central to this mission than PATH-Intl.

By providing credentialing, education, professional development, and advocacy for the past 57 years, PATH-Intl has moved equine assisted services (EAS) closer to the mainstream and broadened its appeal as a therapeutic modality. By identifying best practices, encouraging collaboration, and prioritizing data collection, PATH-Intl is directing the evolution of this industry and helping it fulfill its potential as a first-choice, life-changing intervention.

This is about much more than just “petting ponies”. EAS is an evidenced-based, life-changing intervention for people of all kinds facing all manner of challenges. It is because of PATH-Intl, more than any other organization, that I can say this with confidence.

I encourage you all to check out the great work PATH-Intl does at the link in my bio. And for my Dallas-area peeps, check out the PATH-Intl Premier Accredited Center, @equest. They are implementing our best practices to change lives every single day.

#horsesheal

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A fifth of the equine assisted services centers – or at least the accredited centers – have disappeared since 2016. The waitlist have continued to increase in number. Programs are chronically underfunded, and running and running the business has become too burdensome. It shouldn’t be this way, not when the services are so invaluable to so many lives. #unbridledrising #equineassistedlearning #equineassistedpsychotherapy

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From his first rides with a full team beside him… to posting trot independently with Tomi. 💚

Over the years, Liam has built so much confidence, strength, and skill in the saddle — and it has been pretty special to watch.

We can’t wait for everyone at Chukkers for Charity to see these two together. Liam and Tomi make such a lovely pair. 🐴

And as a fun little bonus — today happens to be Liam’s birthday. Happy birthday, Liam! 🎉

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Continuing education and herd care are core values for us! Today our staff is spending the day with Karen Irland of Centered Riding to learn how to give our aging herd the exercise they need. Have you ever tried double lunging?

#therapyanimals #equineassistedlearning #equineassistedtherapy #therapyhorses @path.intl

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Youth mental health isn’t just a youth problem. It’s tomorrow’s chronic disease burden. Youth with four or more adverse childhood experiences have roughly 4x the risk of type two diabetes and 3x the risk of heart or respiratory disease in adulthood. This does not have to be so. We built the RISE curriculum with the intention of interrupting this trajectory, integrating purpose science, strength- based interventions, and self-determination theory because they build the exact protective factors needed to build resilience, self-esteem, empathy, and belonging. #unbridledrising #youthmentalhealth #adversechildhoodexperiences #horses

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2 in 5 high schoolers report persistent sadness or hopelessness. 1 in 5 report anxiety. The systems built to catch them are stretched thin — 1 school counselor for every 372 students nationally (ASCA recommends 250), and 72% of U.S. counties don’t have a single child or adolescent psychiatrist (AACAP). That’s not a knock on those systems. They’re doing real work without enough people. It’s why we think about equine-assisted learning as additional capacity, not a replacement: a horse doesn’t require a child to find the words first. Not instead of. Alongside. #unbridledrising #youthmentalhealth #wellness #equineassistedtherapy #equineassistedlearning

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A few things: 1) Bringing more awareness of research about the effectiveness of equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy will benefit this industry in so many ways. 2) Using research and science that already exist and integrating it into our practices will help us to build more evidence of the effectiveness of our work - and why what we are doing is so impactful. We’re here for it both. #UnbridledRising #equineassistedlearning #equineassistedpsychotherapy #horses #wellness

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We feel honored to have Alejandra Lara, our Executive Director, and Lynn Thomas, LCSW | CEO and Chief Inspiration Lead at ARCH present “How a Story Lens Creates Safe Change” at the PATH INTL. Regional Conference.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share, connect, and contribute to this meaningful conversation.

Visit Equellness.com to know more.

#EquineAssistedServices #EquineHumanRelationship #Education #Collaboration #Community

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46,500 people.⁣
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5,200 horses. ⁣
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Countless lives impacted. 💙🐴⁣
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Across the United States, horses are helping thousands of people with special needs through Equine Assisted Services—providing opportunities for connection, growth, confidence, and so much more.⁣
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Today, an estimated 46,500 people with special needs are assisted by America’s horses, with approximately 5,200 horses playing a role in that work.⁣
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These numbers are a powerful reminder: the value of America’s horses extends far beyond the barn. They are partners, teachers, healers, and sources of strength.⁣
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At the EQUUS Foundation, we believe every horse deserves the opportunity to live a life where they are protected, respected, and valued.⁣
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46,500 people. 5,200 horses. One extraordinary bond.⁣
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*𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘈𝘭𝘮, 𝘊𝘌𝘖, 𝘗𝘈𝘛𝘏 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘭 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘔𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝟾𝟶𝟶 𝘗𝘈𝘛𝘏 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝟷,𝟼𝟶𝟶 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴.

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Our industry has a structural problem that nobody is talking about enough. Equine assisted work is stuck as a fragmented cottage industry. We serve those people who have been forgotten, pushed aside, overstepped – who are struggling the most, and need a pathway forward. Our industry is high mission, but low infrastructure. Most practitioners carry the sessions, the horses, the billing, the grant writing, and the program design all by themselves. And we’re failing. We’re burning out and closing shop. That’s not a personal failing. It’s a system’s problem. The truth is, we don’t need more certification or more training. That’s not what’s going to move the bottom line. We need more diversified funding pools and audiences to speak to. We know why this work is invaluable. It’s time to teach others why this is so, too. #unbridledrising #equineassistedservices #wellness #veterans #mentalhealth

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In celebration of America 250, Tribute purchases helped us reach our $25,000 goal for PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes, supporting equine-assisted services for veterans and military personnel.

We recently had the privilege of welcoming Kaye Marks and Kevin Price to present the check to @path.intl

Thank you to everyone who chose Tribute this summer and helped make this donation possible!🐴♥

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