Connected Horse

SERVICES

We are a certified partner with Connected Horse, a California based corporation who has developed an equine guided memory support program.

This is an evidence-based program that offers opportunities and understanding of human-animal connection for people living with memory loss and their care partners.

Your Path Begins Here

The power of the human-horse connection helps people living with memory loss and their care partners feel relaxed, confident, and happy in the moment.

Interacting with horses allows people to feel what they are often unable to articulate with words. The experiences help to maintain quality of life and gain relief from isolation, stress and loss of connection for people affected by memory loss and their care partner.

Connected Horse is excited to expand its powerful workshops with Horses with Hearts!

Workshops are 2.5 hours, once a week for 3 weeks
No prior experience with horses is necessary to participate
Participants will be engaging with horses from the ground, no riding
The horses are calm and gentle in nature
Each horse used will have a designated handler
All participants must be ambulatory and willing to participate together
There is no fee to participate, donations accepted
These intimate workshops are limited to 2-3 pairs of participants

*Participants must commit to attending all 3 weeks*

Let's Talk About

Who Can Ride

The minimum riding age is 3 years old. We are able to work with a wide range of diagnoses and ages, including, but are not limited to:

- Autism
- Anxiety
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cognitive Developmental Delay
- Down Syndrome
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
- Traumatic Brain Injury

In order for someone to participate in the Therapeutic Riding Sessions at Horses with Hearts they must meet the safety standards set by the Board of Directors:

Horses with Hearts must be able to safely mount, dismount or maintain a participant on the horse
Horses with Hearts must be able to provide a horse and volunteers that can safety carry and maintain participant during all activities

At Horses with Hearts, we do our best to serve everyone but there may be some individuals we cannot serve due to the following:

Weight limit restrictions
Behavioral concerns
Medical concerns that make riding unsafe.

Horses with Hearts is a Premium Accredited Path International Center and we require participants to complete required paperwork on annual basis including a Physician’s Health History form. Once paperwork is received and an available spot has been identified prospective participants will have an intake meeting with a Horses with Hearts representative to ensure the program is a good fit for the individual.

I believe Connected Horse is really onto something. Theirs is an organization that provides therapeutic equine therapy to those experiencing memory loss and dementia, along with their families and communities, to bring compassionate care and healing between people and horses.”

– Robert Redford

Actor, Filmmaker, Environmentalist

People Always Ask

Why The Horse

The three-dimensional movement of the horse mimics the human walk. The corrective stimulation and exercise from this movement profoundly affects the physical, cognitive, sensory and vestibular systems, which in turn can create abilities in a person with a disability to accomplish things previously not thought possible.

The horse is also a tremendous motivator. Horses and humans together often create a natural bonding relationship. Participants have been known to say their first words, or have taken their first steps because of the powerful influence of the horse. Plus, it is just plain fun!

Horses’ innate abilities to understand their environment, support their herd, and provide nonjudgemental responses and feedback allow for a rich learning and healing environment. Combining working with horses with workshop exercises such as mindfulness leads to a therapeutic result, including reduced feelings of depression and anxiety, strengthening coping skills and reducing isolation.

– Michael Splaine, MA

CEO Cognitive Solutions, LLC