RED BARN FOUNDATION

The Red Barn aspires to offer the highest quality in equine assisted horsemanship, learning, and therapy. We aspire to grow our programs and develop a scholarship program that allows families to participate regardless of their finances. The Red Barn also aims to be a leader in the special needs and equine assisted services communities by providing training and mentorship to other organizations and professionals in the field.

The Red Barn's programs designed to serve individuals are equine assisted learning, equine assisted horsemanship, equine assisted therapy, a veteran's program, and instructor training. Therapeutic horseback riding lessons are individualized according to the student's goals and adapted according to the student's abilities. They are led by certified instructors who are specifically matched with students and horses suited to their needs, goal-directed, and meticulously recorded for the purpose of evaluation at the end of the term. All camps and classes are inclusive. Research shows that inclusive programs, particularly those incorporating equine assisted services, can improve social interaction, self-regulation and motor skills, provide greater access to the general curriculum, and promote an appreciation of individual differences. The program for veterans offers therapeutic, recreational, and educational activities to active and inactive veterans and their families at no cost. The instructor training program aims to equip the future leaders in special needs and equine assisted services by hosting regular professional development certifications, classes, and workshops.

The Red Barn's program staff are professionally trained to safely and effectively serve our participants. Many of our instructors possess both the Certified Horsemanship Association's certification for Instructors of Riders with Disabilities as well as certification from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International. Additionally, The Red Barn employs a certified Occupational Therapist, special education teachers, and autism specialists in order to better serve our participants. The Red Barn's Executive Director holds both a certificate in Non-Profit Management as well as a Master's in Public Administration.

The Red Barn also has a strong relationship with community partners to help better meet our goals and serve the community. These partners include Amelia Center, the Lakeshore Foundation, Lifeline Children's Services, JBS, the JAYC Foundation, Mitchell's Place, Magnolia Eating Disorder Clinic, APAC, Full Life Ahead Foundation, United Ability, and local area schools.

The Red Barn faced a tough 2020 like all organizations, but significant progress was still made on strategic planning goals.

One of our strategic goals is to offer excellent equine assisted activities and therapies to meet the needs of those who would not be able to receive services elsewhere. To meet this goal, the following actions were taken:
- Three research studies with the University of Alabama and UAB continued.
- All wait list students were evaluated in person. COVID interrupted this process to an extent, but evaluations are being conducted again.
- Students without compromised immune systems who have a degree of independence riding continued lessons safely throughout the pandemic.

Our strategic goal to have abundant resources was furthered by the following actions:
- Admin staff continued working with The Better Fundraising Company, seeing a slight increase in the amount raised from contributions even during a global pandemic.
- Continued working with the Junior Board, recruiting new members and planning activities to take place post-pandemic.
- Earned the Equus Foundation’s Messenger designation, the highest that can be earned.

Our goal of becoming known as experts in the industry was furthered by a “Barn in a Box” project wherein flow charts, copies of relevant documents, and documentation of processes and procedures are being collected. This project began in 2019 and has launched. Over 140 volunteer management professionals have signed up for the Volunteer Management class, proving a significant need for training in the area. Additional classes are scheduled to launch in 2021.