Please reach us at info@guidingreins.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Guiding Reins provides equine-assisted wellness programs for groups and individuals struggling with trauma-induced, emotional challenges. Programs vary to accommodate a variety of situations, from single-day group workshops, group half day retreats, group and individual weekly sessions, to more intensive successive sessions. Sessions are facilitated by a certified facilitator and an equine specialist. A mental health professional may also be present if deemed necessary. No prior horse experience is required. Our programs are ground-based, with no riding involved.
A session begins with a check-in voluntary group discussion, ground activities with the horses, and closes with personal written reflection of time spent with the horses.
An open mind and a commitment to yourself and to Guiding Reins to attend all sessions. Guiding Reins goes to great lengths to provide our services at no cost to participants. We are committed to helping our participants cope with their challenges and ask for the same commitment in return.
Activities with the horses vary depending on the group or individual. They are ground-based and designed to invoke thoughtfulness and self-discovery. In successive sessions, activities build on each session as participants become more comfortable interacting with the horses and each other.
Individual sessions are 60 minutes and group sessions are 90 minutes.
Guiding Reins is committed to protecting the privacy of our participants. All documents and notes relating to participants and sessions are for Guiding Reins’ use only and are stored in locked file cabinets at the office of Guiding Reins. We are not affiliated with any health care provider, VA and/or insurance company.
No information will be shared by Guiding Reins with anyone without the participant’s consent. If a participant’s counselor attends Guiding Reins sessions with them, any notes they take during the session are the property of the counselor.
Group sessions consist of up to 6 participants with horse activities, voluntary discussions, and written reflections of time spent with the horses. No one is required to share their story if it is uncomfortable to do so.
There is no cost to active military, veterans, first responders, or qualifying family member participants for our programs.
No, our programs are ground-based, incorporating basic unmounted horsemanship practices and natural interaction with equines.
Many employers will allow participants to report for work late, or take an extended lunch break one day a week. We are happy to provide you with a letter to present to your employer highlighting the benefits of equine-assisted wellness programs and outlining the necessary commitment to participate.
Our core 12-session program, with consistency of facilitation team and participants, offers the best results.
With that said, we understand that life happens. We certainly don’t want you to participate if you are ill, especially with a contagious condition, however the program is designed to build upon each successive session. If you miss two or more consecutive sessions, you will likely fall behind and may be asked to restart with another group at a later date.
While certified service animals may accompany you to the farm, for safety reasons, they must be on-leash at all times and cannot be present in the arena with the horses during the session. If the animal cannot be contained quietly outside the arena during your session, you must bring a handler with you to manage the animal. Experience has shown that some dogs become agitated if they sense your discomfort during a session and are not allowed to do their job.
