60 ORGS · 1,016 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
theory of action →

Equine-Partnered Healing

By engaging humans in structured, relational interactions with horses, participants achieve emotional, cognitive, and physical development, because the horse’s sensitivity to nonverbal cues and capacity for attunement creates a unique feedback loop that mirrors human emotional states and fosters self-regulation, trust, and experiential learning. This strategy centers on the horse not merely as a tool or activity platform, but as an active therapeutic partner whose presence, responsiveness, and social nature catalyze growth. Unlike general recreational therapy or animal-assisted activities, this approach emphasizes the bidirectional relationship—where the human learns from the horse’s behavior, boundaries, and emotional honesty—making it distinct from models that use animals only for motivation or physical engagement. It integrates somatic, emotional, and social learning through real-time, nonverbal communication, setting it apart from purely clinical or didactic interventions.

60
orgs running it
1,016
activities of those orgs
12
clusters touched
who runs it

organizations running this strategy · 60

+ 30 more orgs
what it looks like in practice

activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above. These are what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Adaptive Riding Lessons MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Offers Adaptive Riding lessons for students with disabilities aged 7-18, focusing on horsemanship and riding skills in weekly, one-hour small group sessions led by a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor.
  • Adaptive Riding Lessons MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Offers Adaptive Riding lessons for students with disabilities aged 7-18, focusing on horsemanship and riding skills in weekly, one-hour small group sessions led by a PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor.
  • Equine Assisted Activities (Groundwork) MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Offers Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) focused on groundwork for individuals aged 3-18, with sessions lasting approximately 9 weeks per term, providing interaction with horses without riding.
  • Equine Assisted Activities (Groundwork) MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Offers Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) focused on groundwork for individuals aged 3-18, with sessions lasting approximately 9 weeks per term, providing interaction with horses without riding.
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy (Hippotherapy) MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Provides Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT), also known as Hippotherapy, for children aged 3-18. This specialized physical therapy utilizes the movement of a walking horse to improve neurological function and sensory integration.
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy (Hippotherapy) MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Provides Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT), also known as Hippotherapy, for children aged 3-18. This specialized physical therapy utilizes the movement of a walking horse to improve neurological function and sensory integration.
  • Facility Maintenance and Upkeep MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Conducts maintenance and routine upkeep of the organization's arenas, barns, and ranch facilities, including purchasing supplies for improvements like arena lights.
  • Facility Maintenance and Upkeep MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Conducts maintenance and routine upkeep of the organization's arenas, barns, and ranch facilities, including purchasing supplies for improvements like arena lights.
  • Integrated STEM and Horse Programs MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Offers programs focused on riding, caring for, and understanding horses, integrated with STEM activities, and has operated summer camps providing hands-on experience in animal care and anatomy, games, team-building, and crafts.
  • Integrated STEM and Horsemanship Programs MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Offers programs focused on riding, caring for, and understanding horses, integrated with STEM activities, and has operated summer camps providing hands-on experience in animal care and anatomy.
  • Scholarship Program MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Provides scholarships for equine-assisted therapy and adaptive riding for children with special needs, as well as for other programs and facility improvements.
  • Scholarship Program MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Provides scholarships for equine-assisted therapy and adaptive riding for children with special needs, as well as for other programs and facility improvements.
  • Therapeutic Horse-Related Experiences MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Supplies proper equipment and offers animal interaction through grooming and riding to provide hope, happiness, and healing to children, including engaging non-verbal children in naming therapy animals and using smaller ponies for hesitant individuals.
  • Therapeutic Horse-Related Experiences MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Supplies proper equipment and offers animal interaction through grooming and riding, utilizing smaller, gentle ponies to provide hope, happiness, and healing to children, including engaging non-verbal children in naming therapy animals.
  • Therapy Animal Care and Maintenance MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Provides animal care and upkeep to maintain a healthy and dependable herd of therapy horses and a flock of hens that serve as therapy animals.
  • Therapy Animal Care and Maintenance MANES AND MIRACLES
    direct service
    Provides animal care and upkeep to maintain a healthy and dependable herd of therapy horses and a flock of hens, which serve as therapy animals for visitor interaction.
  • Animals, Books, and Children (ABC) Program GABRIELS ANGELS INC
    direct service
    Runs the ABC program in schools where therapy pets visit to help children improve reading skills, comprehension, speed, and core strengths through animal-assisted learning.
  • Animals, Books, and Children (ABC) Program GABRIELS ANGELS INC
    direct service
    Runs the Animals, Books, and Children (ABC) program in schools, where therapy pets visit to help children improve their reading skills, comprehension, and speed, while also developing core strengths.