HORSES MAKE MIRACLES FOUNDATION INC

We are a 501c3 non-profit charity is based in Boulder County, Colorado and strive to encourage the goals and objectives for our participants, interns and volunteers and provide high quality Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy programs. Our Certified Instructors and Licensed Therapists offer specialized classes for individuals of all ages with emotional, physical, cognitive and mental challenges. The challenges of our clients include, but are not limited to: autism, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, sensory integration disorders, down syndrome, traumatic brain injuries, paraplegia, learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis, stroke, mental health issues and behavioral challenges. We also support mentoring, life coaching and counseling programs that incorporate other equine therapeutic techniques.

Life changing progress from guided interaction with horses improves communication skills, self-esteem, self-awareness as well as confidence and problem-solving abilities.
Originally founded in 2002 to facilitate healing for individuals with traumatic brain injuries, we reorganized in 2013 and are dedicated to equine assisted therapy programs.

These programs facilitate emotional and physical changes in children, adolescents and adults from a wide range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds; many having tried other traditional therapies without success. Annually, 140-180 clients are served and benefit from our weekly horsemanship lesson programs, workshops and group classes.

It has always been a priority of management, the board of directors and members of Horses Make Miracles to be continually involved with other organizations. Over the past several years, with management’s guidance we have coordinated with three local equine assisted therapy centers successfully assisting them with mentoring, consulting and volunteer training. Many of our members attended and two of our board members spearheaded a fundraiser and volunteered at an open house for a local equine assisted psychotherapy non-profit center in the process of reorganization. Educational exchanges with area businesses in the equine field as well as local clinical therapy offices has always been ongoing and outreach into the community is a given. We receive referrals, continuing education and staff involvement with the Boulder County and State of Colorado Autism Societies as well as the National Association on Disabilities. Our Certified Instructor has contracted with two local centers who provide recreational and therapeutic services for their participants with disabilities, autism and traumatic brain injuries. For many years our Instructor and Therapist (being local) have contracted and provided equine assisted therapeutic services with many private and local government organizations who are based right in Boulder County. We have collaborated with a local equine business who raised funds to enable us to offer scholarships to children under the age of eighteen who would love to take riding lessons but whose parents cannot afford it. Our therapist also runs the Embodied Presence workshops several times a year which is in collaboration with a Boulder County program for women who have been physically and sexually abused. We offer continual support and in-kind donations to the local horse rescue as well as a non-profit farm outside of Denver who provide animal therapy to at-risk children from the city to give them opportunities to be hands-on with livestock and learn farming. The Volunteer Connection is also a partner of ours and has matched many prospective volunteers with our programs for the Barn Team experience learning horse care as well as Teaching Assistants to help participants in our therapeutic riding and horsemanship programs.

Horses Make Miracles does indeed make miracles in so many ways we’ve witnessed. We’re proud to have created an atmosphere that welcomes diversity and values the many cultures in the communities we serve. Our Instructors, Coach and Therapist are certified and licensed professionals and are more than qualified to create lesson plans, workshops and programs but it’s the horses who mirror us humans and respect the advantages of our differences. In any program, it’s the horses who make our participants and volunteers feel included and valued. They are non-judgmental and gentle spiritual beings and the continual progress to all who they encounter we like to call magic moments. Our programs speak for themselves and are very diverse in providing a therapeutic healing space for all who step into our barn and paddocks. The high quality of being able to serve our clients in a safe and encouraging atmosphere covers a huge range of subjects. Our Administrator has always said that “Whatever it is a person needs, the horse will provide it”. We see that happen again and again.

Originally founded in 2004, Horses Make Miracles started out providing therapy for individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury in a clinical setting. The original founder realized the positive impact of equine assisted therapy with her clients and began working toward PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) certification. After she joined our internship program and became a certified instructor, we formed a lasting relationship with the goal of creating a variety of equine assisted therapeutic programs serving all populations that are designed specifically for each individual. The current manager has worked to create new programs, streamline operating systems and implement volunteer coordinating and fundraising since taking the proverbial reins in October of 2013 and beginning programs in the spring of 2014. Along with specialized programs, we provide weekly horsemanship and therapeutic riding lessons, Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy, Life Coaching as well as our “Hooves of Pride” program for veterans dealing with emotional and physical challenges upon returning to civilian life. Our Silver Stirrups program focuses on improving the lives of seniors specifically those folks living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Specialty workshops include “Pony Power”, “Embodied Presence” and “Women with Wings”. Each year we’ve increased participation considerably including group therapy sessions and private lessons. Dedicated volunteers help with training, horse care, farm maintenance, administrative duties and assist the instructor and therapist during classes to ensure a safe environment. Horses Make Miracles strives to continue our programs and ensure the health and welfare of our therapy horses. Our future plans focus on financial stability, creating a strategic plan, expanding programs to accommodate more participants on scholarship and providing the best care for the health and welfare of our priceless therapy horses.