"The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man." ~Winston Churchill

The concept of Equine Experience is dedicated to the memory of Terry Ryan Sterling, who was killed in an alcohol related hazing incident in 2000 at age 19. He loved horses and he loved life, and he touched the life of all who knew him. We thought that we could have no better memorial to his than to found an organization that would bring together people and horses in a celebration of life.

Since the dawn of time, there has been a special bond between humans and horses. It is our goal to use that ancient and natural bond to benefit those who have difficulty coping with their lives or their environments. It is more mystical than the bond between dog and man, more personal than the bond of farm animal and man. It is different for each person, yet it is universal. Horses have served man as workers, transportation, family pets, and companions. They are the basis for the most widely diversified sports. But they also fire the imagination, support dreams, and represent a part of man that is unfortunately too often smothered by the crush of progress. Contact with horses helps support the freedom and spirit of the human soul, not just today, but in a continuum reaching far back into antiquity and far forward into the future.

When the automobile replaced horses as the standard means of transportation, many predicted the decline of horses. Yet the bond continued. We rate our new machine by "horse power" Men talk about "horses under the hood." But most importantly, the number of horses in the last century has INCREASED, not decreased. There are more horses today than ever before. The bond between man and horse has not wavered, it has simply changed. The horse industry is a $13 million dollar industry and is one of the most widely diversified and rapidly growing industries in our economy, certainly the leader in the recreational area.

We encourage getting back to nature as a means of healing the mind, body and spirit. There is great empowerment in finding the solid touchstone of nature and specifically through interaction with horses. These affirming powers have been recognized for many years and have benefited countless groups and individuals though positive, structured and supportive environments.

Equine assisted psychotherapy has been used successfully to help individuals with a wide range of problems. These equine programs have been tremendously effective, but have not been widely accessible in the past. They have been able to help a relatively small number of people. Equine Experience seeks to enhance the lives of those in need by training and making these programs accessible and available through a network of equine facilities.

MISSION STATEMENT: To provide at-risk groups the opportunity to learn healthy ways to deal with life issues using the healing power of horses. In creating a natural environment and positive support, individuals can build success leading to improved self-esteem and the re-enforcement of positive behavior.

Equine-Experience sessions create natural problem solving situations to aid individuals by developing emotional tools for success. It strives to utilize the healing power of horses and the natural environment to expand the horizons of individuals in need of emotional support.

Equine-Experience is not truly a psychotherapy program. It is a horse assisted emotional therapy program It does not require a clinically trained psychologist. It is a passive therapy rather than an active one. It allows students to DISCOVER more positive behaviors and it promotes alternative views of the world. It introduces a shift in pyridine and allows students to experience environments outside their everyday existence.

Equine-Experience instructors are not set up as authority figures, and they do not lead discussions to facilitate directed discovery. They aren't trained professional psychologists, nor do they need to be for the success of the program.. Equine-Experience instructors DO facilitate interaction with nature and horses to allow the student to make their own discoveries and take with them experiences which will stay with them for many years. Our emphasis is on life lessons and recognize that each student is an individual and will take their own unique emotional experiences from the programs.

Over the years, "Natural Horsemanship" has become recognized as an important part horsemanship. So called Natural Horsemanship has been around for two thousand years and is nothing more than simply allowing the horse to discover for himself the benefits and joy of working successfully with man. It is the positive reinforcement of success and allowing the animal to fight himself, not the man. We are applying the same principals to humans, allowing them to overcome their own obstacles such as fear and lack of self-image through interaction with nature. It allows them to more completely understand and appreciate the world of nature and to recognize their place within it. We recognize that self-discovery is just that ~ something within the conscious of each individual. It isn't something that can be "stuffed" in by discussion of the experience. And it may not take place for many weeks after the experience is over. Sometimes it is nothing more than a release from stress, a place in the memory where the mind can go to find relief and respite.

Equine-Experience harnesses the healing power of horses to address emotional needs of at risk individuals.