A hands-on program that pairs certified equine professionals with the healing power of horses to build confidence, emotional regulation, and connection. You do not need to ride. You can come groom, feed, and care for our horses as part of therapy.
therapeutic benefits
supportive setting
A hands-on program that pairs certified equine professionals with the healing power of horses to build confidence, emotional regulation, and connection.
supportive setting
therapeutic benefits
Equine-assisted therapy uses structured, hands-on interaction with horses, including grooming, groundwork, and riding, to support emotional, cognitive, and physical growth. Horses respond honestly to body language and emotional state, which gives participants immediate, judgment-free feedback they can carry into daily life.
At Memory Lane Farm, our program builds on the horsemanship foundation families already know us for, extended into a therapeutic setting designed for children, teens, and adults working through anxiety, low self-esteem, grief, or general emotional and social challenges.
Equine-assisted therapy is not one single activity. Programs are typically grouped by who leads them and what they aim to accomplish. Here is how the field breaks it down, and where our program fits.
Ground-based sessions focused on confidence, communication, and social-emotional skill building. No riding is required. Sessions are led by an equine specialist and are ideal for school groups, individuals, and families.
You do not need to ride. You can come groom and care for our horses instead. Our equine-assisted therapy sessions typically involve basic caretaking activities with the horse, such as grooming, feeding, and leading the horse around the enclosure.
Riding and ground-based horse care taught by a certified instructor, focused on building responsibility, self-regulation, and a sense of accomplishment through daily barn skills.
Adaptive riding lessons that build balance, coordination, and confidence for riders with physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges, taught by a certified riding instructor.
Our program welcomes children, teens, and adults, regardless of riding experience. Families, schools, and individual clients work with us for a range of goals, including:
Every participant is matched with a horse and activity suited to their comfort level. No riding experience is required, and sessions can be tailored for individuals, families, or small groups.
Sessions take place in our riding arena. Depending on the program, a typical session might include:
Sessions are guided throughout by our equine specialist and, for clinical programming, a licensed mental health professional. No two sessions look the same, since each is shaped by the participant’s goals and how the horse responds that day.
Therapeutic riding teaches riding skills and uses the horse's movement to build balance, coordination, and confidence. Equine-assisted psychotherapy is ground-based, does not involve riding, and is guided by a licensed mental health professional working alongside an equine specialist to address emotional and behavioral goals.
No. Sessions are designed for participants with no prior horse experience. Our equine specialists guide every interaction and match each participant with a horse suited to their comfort level and goals.
Children, teens, and adults working through anxiety, low self-esteem, grief, trauma, ADHD, or general emotional and social challenges may benefit. A conversation with your therapist or our team can help determine if the program is a good fit.
Our summer camp and lesson programs focus on riding skill and horsemanship for all children. Our equine-assisted therapy program is a distinct, goal-driven service for participants working through specific emotional, social, or physical challenges, guided by an equine specialist and, where applicable, a licensed mental health professional.
Reach out to talk through your goals and find the right program for you or your family. Feel free to email, call or text Jessica Owen-Smith to schedule.