The Connected Horse workshops provide opportunities for engagement together and enrich the lives of participants. Trained facilitators guide on-the-ground interactions between horses and participants, who report a greater sense of awareness, confidence, and social connection. These invaluable workshops are offered for free to all people affected by memory changes and dementia.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
ORINDA
Sessions run 10:30am–12:30pm
Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center
60 Don Gabriel Way
Orinda, CA 94563
Session 1: April: 19, 26, May 3, 10 (Wednesday)
Session 2: June: 6, 13, 20, 27 (Tuesday)
PLEASANTON
Sessions run
1:00 pm–3:30 pm
Five Star Equestrian Center
7220 Johnston Road
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Session 1: March: 12, 19, 26 (Sunday)
Session 2: April 16, 23, 30 (Sunday)
Session 3: May 7, 21, June 4 (Sunday)
Session 4: June 11,18, 25 (Sunday)
Session 5: July 9, 16, 23 (Sunday)
MINDEN, NV
Sessions run
9:00am-11:30am
Kids n Horses
2869 Esaw Street
Minden, NV 89423
Session 1: April 22, 29, and May 6
Session 2: May 27, June 3, 10
CALISTOGA, CA
Session runs
9:30am-12:00pm
Sunrise Horse Rescue
1400 Tubbs Lane
Calistoga, CA 94515
Session 1: May 2,9, 16
For more information about upcoming workshops, please email Judy@connectedhorse.org or call 925-708-0067.
OUR SOCIAL AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING NEW.
The human-horse connection is especially powerful as the nonverbal responses and behaviors of horses often act as mirrors to participants and help to provide clarity, strength and healing. Our workshops are designed for people living with memory loss and early-stage dementia and their primary care partners (typically a spouse, friend, family member).
“Horses remind me of the value of caring deeply and unconditionally for another.”
Connected Horse Participant
“We will never have to tell our horse that we are sad, happy, confident, angry, or relaxed. He already knows — long before we do.”
M. de Jung
How do the workshops work?
The workshops include a series of three to four days of facilitated programs with horses. No prior experience with horses is necessary. Participants do not ride; they engage with horses from the ground.
Our experienced facilitators lead participants through a variety of THERAPEUTIC activities including observing horses in pastures or stalls, over-the-fence introduction to horses, grooming, leading, and group exercises on how horses teach us to gain awareness, relax, and self-regulate our responses.
The work with the horses and facilitators helps participants to gain clarity, adjust patterns, define changing roles and to release emotions such as fear, grief, and negativity while learning to be fully present in the moment.
Being with horses miraculously allows us to feel what we are often unable to articulate with words — liberating the senses to experience emotional connections to something much deeper.
–Paula Hertel, MSW
Our outcomes include:
- Ability to Relax and Gain Trust and Confidence
- Awareness of Internal and External Responses
- Learn to Become Present
- Practice Stress Reduction Strategies
- Strengthen Communication and Relationships
Why Horses?
Horses are masters of perception, connection, and caring, they have a profound, immediate, and lasting effect on persons living with dementia and their care partners.
Horses are herd, prey animals. For centuries horses have relied on their abilities to adapt to change, sense their environment, self-regulate, and utilize the interdependence of the herd to thrive. Facilitators bring awareness to these instinctual characteristics while encouraging participants to utilize the power of connections and to build awareness and skills to adapt to changes.
The connection between people and horses is proven to be therapeutic in many populations due to the nonjudgmental, unconditional interactions animals offer humans. The human-horse connection is especially powerful as their behaviors often reflect the energy or emotions of the participants. Their responses can lead to deeper understanding and self-compassion.