Bring the human-horse connection to families facing dementia. Bring back hope.
Support Equine Guided Programs for People Affected by Dementia
People facing dementia and their care partners experience tremendous loss, fear and stress.
Your donation will help families face dementia with new hope, through participation in Connected Horse Workshops.
Our workshops guide people living with early stage dementia and their care partners to through beneficial experiences and non-riding activities with horses, together.
The power of the human-horse connection helps participants not only feel relaxed, confident and happy in the moment, they also learn about self compassion, stress reduction strategies and communication and awareness practices.
We invite you to be a part of our vision of hope for families. Your donation will help establish more program sites, train more facilitators and complete ground-breaking research to demonstrate the unique benefits of equine-guided programs. Please, give today to be a vital part of this work.
The story of Maria and Axle shows the power of connection. A quiet woman who was an advocate for the underserved until she was forced to retire because of the effects of her dementia, Maria slowly walked toward the barn with her care partner. Axle, a large bay horse popped his head over the stall door to greet the strangers.
As Maria approached this horse at least 10 times her weight, he looked at her, she looked at him. The facilitator, trained in Connected Horse’s unique way to build on the power of the human-horse connection, brought them closer. Only a few steps each and they were face to face, when Axle slowly leaned sideways to rest his head on Maria’s shoulder, and breathed.
It was silent. She was motionless. And then, she smiled and for that moment it was okay that she can no longer speak. Pure joy filled the barn.
The benefits of experiences like these are long-lasting, and bring tremendous relief from stress, fear and uncertainty. Your gift will help us bring them to more people.
Please, donate now to to help us expand these workshops throughout California, and the country. Thank you.