Stockhands Equine-Assisted Therapies

Stockhands Horses for Healing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing equine facilitated therapies to veterans, adults, and children with developmental, mental, physical, and emotional disabilities.

The Equine Experience: Riding a horse can help riders to find confidence, peace, control, a mental and emotional calm, energy, understanding, purpose, pride, and all the things that can be forgotten when dealing with a mental, physical, or emotional disability. This experience of rediscovery is happening throughout the country in many therapeutic riding programs. Its success is evident in those who are part of or have completed therapeutic riding programs. Because horseback riding is physically; mentally and emotionally taxing, it presents the perfect opportunity and venue for therapy. The energy and connection between horse and rider are intense and unable to be recreated; it is infectious due to the horses’ loyalty, strength, lack of judgment, and caring.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE CORNAVIRUS & STOCKHANDS
To our students, volunteers, and supporters:

The Stockhands team is committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of all who participate in our non-profit cause. As part of our commitment, we are taking great care in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic by doing all we can to limit exposure and prevent the spread of the virus. As part of this effort, effective immediately, we are closing our offices and facilities per the local government’s requirements and recommendations. We will be monitoring the situation and will reopen when the authorities indicate that it is safe to do so. Our current expectation is that we will remain closed at least until mid-May at which time we will evaluate the situation. Please follow us online at our Facebook page and website for periodic updates. We will post pictures and provide regular updates.

Anyone visiting or participating in Stockhands events, lessons, or activities is required to complete and return our COVID-19 Liability form (find it here).

In limited cases, we are working with select volunteers to help with ongoing needs at the barn. However, if we have not been in contact and asked for participation, all volunteers and visitors should not come to the barn. Anyone who does visit must do so with permission in advance. We hope everyone understands and appreciates that the restrictions are in place to protect the health and safety of our community and recognize the need for us to play our part in the solution. But, we also appreciate the critical role our offerings play in many people’s lives. We are working hard to survive and reengage with our community as soon as possible.

As you know, donations, fundraising events, and lesson fees represent our only source of funding. Our most significant and important annual event is our Derby Party. The Kentucky Derby has been postponed until September 5th. We currently don’t have a date or plan to run the Derby party, but will post an update when we do. We also ask that our supporters do what they can to help us financially to maintain the barn, horses, and programs by donating during this difficult time. There are donation links on our website at www.stockhands.org, and we are working on setting up a Facebook fundraising campaign.

We hope you, your families, and friends are healthy and doing well. We very much appreciate your ongoing support and look forward to seeing you when the crisis is over. God bless and stay well.

Sincerely,
Stockhands Horses for Healing
Call us at 614-975-6694 for more information.