Our Services
Leadership Development Program
Chinook Horses’ Leadership Development Program is an 8-week program that combines the curricula of The Leader in Me by Stephen Covey and The Seven Habits of Happy Kids by Sean Covey to cultivate academic and character-building skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, time management, and working cooperatively in children and teenagers.
In each session, participants will work individually and in small groups with a mental health professional, an equine specialist, and a herd of horses. This program does NOT involve riding horses; instead, all lessons with horses are taught on the ground with the horses able to move away if they need to, allowing them to demonstrate the independence that will be instilled into program participants.
Click here to learn about our spring 2023 Leadership Development Program!
Social Thinking Groups
Social Thinking Groups, or Equine-Facilitated Learning (EFL), are sessions attended by up to 6 children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol syndrome, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or other diagnoses that may result in learning differences.
EFL sessions always include a four-member team: the client(s), a herd of horses, the certified equine specialist, and the specialized professional(s). The specialized professional(s) in these groups can include an occupational therapist, special education professional, and/or autism specialist. A herd of 2-4 horses is selected by the equine specialist to meet the goals of the children. Our curriculum incorporates Social Thinking, The Zones of Regulations, and Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy concepts. Children of at least 5 years old are grouped with others of similar cognitive abilities.
Click here to learn more about our summer 2023 Social Thinking Groups!
Equine-Facilitated Therapy
Equine-Facilitated Therapy (EFT) may be conducted in one-on-one or group sessions, depending on the goals of the client. EFT sessions always include a four-member team: the client(s), a herd of horses, the certified equine specialist, and the licensed mental health practitioner. Goals are set by the licensed practitioner and client(s) prior to beginning sessions. While the equine specialist may have planned activities, the sessions are flexible, allowing the client(s) to find new solutions to their goals.
EFT has been proven helpful for individuals experiencing a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement and loss, and/or when traditional therapy has not been effective in guiding the client through their therapeutic goals.