OUR SERVICES
Our Services
At HorseLink, we’re often asked of our equine-assisted programs, “But what do you do, exactly?” The answer is not as simple as it sounds. That’s because our facilitators work with each participant within a group, choosing a horse-partner and designing interactive exercises based on each person’s needs.
For one person, it may begin with just getting comfortable around a horse and earning his or her trust. For another, it might include gaining confidence and awareness through grooming, working in the round pen, learning to give spoken commands or to “read” body-language cues. No riding is involved and safety is paramount.
Please note:
Why We Don’t Serve Kids, but We Support Programs that Do
We often receive requests for our equine learning and therapy programs for kids under the age of fourteen. While we believe this work is incredibly important and beneficial for this age group, we have decided to limit our services to adults and teens ages fourteen and up in need of support and healing. We do partner with ATX Kids Club whose mission to inspire youth to fearlessly explore and become independent, self-confident individuals through year-round educational and health-minded field trip adventures. They bring groups of kids to our ranch to learn about and interact with horses to instill confidence and emotional well-being, but it is not a therapy program. We encourage you to visit https://www.atxkidsclub.org/#/ to learn more and register your kids for an adventure to our ranch.
We understand the desire to help kids through this powerful work and we wholeheartedly support the many organizations who do this so well. Our facilitators are skilled and trained in equine-assisted modalities and concepts that are best suited for adults and teens. Our commitment to providing the highest level of service delivering the most impact requires that we make this distinction in our programming.
How We Can Help YOU Help Your Kids
For those seeking support for their children we invite you to consider exploring this option for yourself so that you may increase your capacity to relate with your children and be their primary resource for support and guidance. When your child is struggling, they need your calm, centered presence even more. Our equine-assisted programs can expand and strengthen your reserves, making you even more effective at being there for your child, at withstanding the storm. That is how Horselink can help your child— by supporting and strengthening YOU.
“The horse is a gift to us, to humanity. And for that, there comes responsibility. If the horse is gonna work for you and work with you, then the best thing I can do for the horse is to make it as good a life possible.” — Buck Brannaman
The People We Serve
People come to HorseLink at all different ages, from different backgrounds and for different reasons. Many have experienced a recent loss: of a loved one, a marriage, their health, or a way of life.
They are not “broken,” nor are they necessarily “horse people.” Rather, they are individuals in transition who seek to reconnect with themselves and others through equine-assisted programs emphasizing empowerment, self-awareness, and acceptance.
The Horses We Serve
Contrary to popular belief, most horse owners are not wealthy. Since the economic downturn of 2008, many competition horses in particular have been abandoned, sent to slaughterhouses, or “put out to pasture” by their owners. Used to stimulation and human companionship, those horses that survive often don’t thrive.
At HorseLink, we provide veterinary care, enrichment and purpose to these loving and intelligent animals for the remainder of their lives. Owners donate their horses to HorseLink and provide partial funds for their care through a tax-free annual donation.