Our Program

The youth in our services are asked to become more aware of what their horse is sharing with them nonverbally and take responsibility for caring for their horses emotionally and physically. Through the honest and authentic work, the horse and youth begin to form a trusting relationship as evidenced by the progression in the horsemanship skills and activities. This slow learning process of exploring their horse initiates that same discovery of their own self, increasing their awareness of their feelings, communication, and needs.

Connecting with the horses opens the opportunity for the youth to explore and reconnect with their own feelings and do the work required to maintain healthy relationships.  All programs are facilitated by qualified Mental Health Therapists.  Simultaneously, we surround the youth with trained volunteers who assist them through this journey thereby creating healthy human-to-human relationship opportunities.

MSR has worked with trauma and relationship professionals to create a 16-week program that targets relationship skills identified as underdeveloped in youth diagnosed with trauma.  Each week, specialized horsemanship activities are facilitated that will create the metaphor needed to discuss and strengthen those relationship skills.  The desire to work with the horse acts as a motivator to do hard things and grow, something these youth traditionally don’t do in other environments.