Enroll in Mental Health Equine-Assisted Wellness

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Guiding Reins offers a variety of small-group session Mental Health Equine-Assisted Wellness options, from a 12-week or 8-week program, to full-day and half-day sessions for veterans, active-duty personnel, first responders and their immediate family. One-on-one sessions are available, as needed.

• If you or someone you know is interested in participating, please fill out the form below.  
• Once we receive the completed form, we will be in contact to schedule an assessment and develop a platform that suits the individual's needs to apply through our program.    

Teams Welcome. If you manage a team and are interested in learning about how our programs can boost morale, improve productivity and help deal with workplace-related stress, contact us to learn how about customized programs. 

Our dress code rules are for your safety and comfort during a session. Please wear jeans or long pants and comfortable closed-toe shoes or boots that protect your feet. Shorts are not permitted.  Waterproof shoes are suggested for walking outside, especially in the spring and winter. Sandals, open toed shoes and open backed clogs or slides are NOT permitted. 

Jewelry should be limited to small earring studs and a watch. Dangling jewelry can get caught in manes or tails or can also distract the horses and therefore, is not permitted. Hats and sunscreen are advised during the summer. Raincoats are recommended for light rain showers.  (Sessions are NOT conducted during thunder/lightning storms.) 

• Please do not park anywhere that restricts others from accessing the area. 
• The area in front of the barn entrance is to be kept clear at all times. 
• Leave purses and personal items locked in your vehicle.
• No running, screaming or boisterous behavior.
• Please leave your pets at home. 
• Gates to the arenas and/or outside turnout areas are to be kept shut and latched at all times. 
• Please do not disturb horses in the stalls. Do not reach in over the door or attempt to call them to you unless you are instructed to take them out. 
• Please do not pet horses on the muzzle or face area, as it encourages them to enter your space or nibble. 
• Horses wearing halters with a lead line should not be allowed to graze at will but may be allowed to graze on occasion before or after session.  
• Do not allow a horse to rub on you or anyone else. 

Emergency situations are addressed immediately as events unfold.  Guiding Reins has previously communicated with local emergency personnel, who are familiar with locations where sessions are held.  

A phone list for people and equine emergencies is available at all sessions. Also, a farm location address card is visible during all sessions. 

The first aid kit and AED unit for people are brought to the assembly area during each session. Please alert the Instructor or Lead Facilitator if it is needed for any reason. If the severity of an injury is beyond the scope of treatment with the first aid kit, the Instructor or the Lead Facilitator will call 911 for emergency medical service. 

In case of a barn fire, please exit the barn through the closest doorway. Once you have safely left the barn area, please gather a safe distance away from the site until the Instructor or Lead Facilitator has determined that all participants and volunteers are out of harm’s way. He/she will provide additional instruction, depending on the situation.  You may be asked to leave the property to make room for emergency vehicles. 

In case of inclement weather such as thunderstorms and/or tornadoes we will immediately seek shelter inside the barn center aisle and follow the guidelines provided by the National Weather Service.

In the event of an emergency with a participant during a ground session, the dedicated volunteer should announce loudly, “ASSISTANCE NEEDED” and immediately render aid to the participant. Drop the horse’s lead line and lower the participant gently to the ground, by standing behind them and holding him/her under the arms. All other participant teams should stop and remain in place.  The Instructor will immediately take control of the horse and move it out of the way. The Lead Facilitator will assess the situation and determine if assistance can be rendered on site or warrants a call for medical aid.