Open 7 days a week Group or one-on-one Wheelchair accessible
HORSE ENCOUNTERS® aDAPTED rIDING
The Equicizer is a mechanical horse that provides a fun, engaging, and innovative approach to adapted riding and therapeutic exercises for children and adults. By simulating the experience of horseback riding, it combines recreational enjoyment with therapeutic benefits, enhancing fitness, posture, and confidence. The Equicizer has transformed countless lives by supporting individuals with physical, mental, and emotional challenges, serving as a proven therapeutic aid for a wide range of conditions. It is also a highly effective tool for individuals with emotional and learning disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum and those with Down syndrome.
Therapeutic Benfits
The Equicizer helps individuals with various physical, mental, and emotional challenges, including those with arthritis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia. It is also beneficial for those recovering from illness, injury, or an extended absence from riding. Furthermore, it supports individuals with emotional and learning disabilities, such as autism and Down syndrome.
Recreational Benefits
The Equicizer is a valuable tool for developing rhythm in the saddle, refining technique, and improving overall fitness.
Safe and Controlled Movement
The Equicizer simulates the movement of a real horse in a safe and controlled environment. Because it is not motorized, the rider generates the movement energy and tempo through their own seat, allowing for a tailored and interactive experience.
A Perfect Fit for the Horse Encounters Program
The Equicizer is a great addition to our Horse Encounters program. It can assist less mobile riders by helping them stretch and loosen up, and it offers a supportive platform for participants who may be apprehensive about riding a horse, mounting or dismounting to the ground.
Horse Encounters® for special needs
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) in personal development assists individuals and groups in discovering new ways to face life’s challenges and opportunities by developing skills in effective problem-solving, decision-making, critical and creative thinking, and communication.
Equine-assisted activities and learning for individuals with disabilities is a new approach to learning life skills. Participants and certified Equine Specialists team up with a horse to reach their goals. Presence, trust, respect, appreciation, affection, honesty, and communication are invaluable skills for daily life and critical skills when working with horses. When some people struggle to learn these, equine-assisted learning can help them.
Self-awareness is not only an invaluable trait for your own well-being and mental health but also when around such large animals. By working around such large, strong animals, participants will learn how to be aware of everything that’s going on around them and in their own selves. Also because of how large horses are, it instills a sense of self-confidence and self-discovery because you’re able to control something so much larger than you.
Horse Encounters: 7 days a week, group or one-on-one; wheelchair accessible
If you are a Far Northern Regional Center client in the Self Determination Program you've come to the right place. We offer one-on-one 7 days a week or social integration, community integration and peer-to-peer support on Tuesday's from 9am to 1pm.
HORSE ENCOUNTERS® stable hands Program
The Stable Hands Program offers hands-on learning experiences and promotes a sense of purpose and responsibility, encourages physical activity, and develops both fine and gross motor skills. This approach also builds confidence and fosters an environment of trust, safety, and comfort for both individuals and equines. such as barn chores, unmounted, ground-based activities that foster confidence, self-esteem, focus, stress reduction, self-awareness, and physical activity through the unique bond between humans and equines.
Stable Hands is year-round and designed to develop both personal (mental and physical) and professional skills. The program caters to youth and adults of all abilities.
By participating in Stable Hands, individuals can expect to experience a transformative journey that enhances their overall well-being and personal development.
Self-Determination Tuesdays
Every week, we come together to celebrate the empowering journey of self-determination for individuals with disabilities. Our program focuses on promoting independence, fostering meaningful community connections, and providing tailored resources that allow participants to take charge of their lives. Through engaging activities, shared learning, and hands-on experiences, Self-Determination Tuesdays offer a supportive space where everyone is encouraged to explore their passions, build relationships, and embrace their unique potential. Join us and discover the freedom to live life your way—on your terms!
If you are a Far Northern Regional Center client enrolled in the Self Determination Program, you've come to the right place. We are open 7 days a week for Horse Encounters, Stable Hands, community integration, and social recreation. On Tuesdays from 9 am to 1 pm, we have Self Determination Tuesdays for individuals enrolled in the program to make friends and hang out for social activities.
Open 7 days a week, group or one-on-one; wheelchair accessible
HORSE ENCOUNTERS® FOR VETERANS
Horses Helping Veterans and Life Restoration
Therapeutic Equine-assisted Activities or to put it simply "Horses Helping Veterans" for military veterans, has proven effective in helping veterans who suffer from a multitude of mental disorders like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and anger issues and more. To make it accessible to our veterans.
Horses have the ability to facilitate communication and breakthroughs. They sense nervousness, uncertainty, anger, fear and their reactions are unfiltered and often surprising. They honestly reflect what they sense and feel.
Horse Encounters: 7 days a week, group or one-on-one; wheelchair accessible
HORSE ENCOUNTERS® Therapeutic Horsemanship
Therapeutic horsemanship is an equine-assisted activity for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals no matter what your need is.
Therapeutic horsemanship is an equine-assisted activity for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals no matter what your need is.
Horse Encounters: 7 days a week, group or one-on-one; wheelchair accessible
AUTHENTICITY WORKSHOPS
Reflection, Discovery, and Horses
We create authentic safety by setting and holding boundaries and using conscious predictions of what we think will happen. Experiential learning is unlike learning by reading or videos, as it happens only with presence. Being present, and focused on the moment, brings clarity and confidence.
These workshops create an experiential, supportive learning environment for participants to learn about themselves, heal what has been broken, and reconnect with their own hearts. We allow the horse to ‘guide’ the process of learning as we reflect and explore our emotions. This leads us to integrate those wounded and subconscious beliefs and apply our insights to find our own authentic balance.