The Hands & Hoofs Experience is a day long program offered monthly from April through November. We anticipate serving over 144 young people and their guardians per year. We measure our success through solicitation of direct feedback at the close of each day’s program and written surveys distributed to participants. Hands & Hoofs Experience offers opportunities for youth to connect with horses, explore nature, discover Miwok culture, and create art. Our leader led program, supported by local volunteers, is an outdoor experience on a local ranch in the El Dorado National Forest.
Our goal is to connect all youth, including those on the autism spectrum and those impacted by trauma, through interactive experiences. Our nature and equine based learning is a non-riding program that fosters social connections and cultivates life skills such as confidence, creativity, problem solving, and empathy. Our innovative program for healing provides an opportunity to increase self-awareness, improve communication skills, and build relationships. Donations through community support ensures participation by all interested youth, regardless of ability to pay.
Hands & Hoofs is an Equine Assisted Program from an equine leader led/coaching perspective. Equine-Assisted Programs (EAP) are an appropriate therapeutic approach for children and teens. Some conditions that respond well to EAP include:
- Substance Use Disorders
- Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Stress
- Trauma
- ADD/ADHD
- Autism, Asperger’s