Victory Hill Therapeutic Horsemanship
Finding Hope and Healing through Horses
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship
PATH Intl Certified Instructors, specially trained horses and volunteers all work together to greatly benefit the rider through the three dimensional movement of the horse. TR improves balance, postural control, motor function, strength, coordination and cognitive function. Other goals include improving social skills, spacial and body awareness, communication skills, attention span, the ability to follow multi-step instructions, mood regulation, boost confidence and lower anxiety.
Equine Assisted Learning
Equine Assisted Learning addresses a wide variety of needs and is customized to meet the specific therapeutic or educational goals of each participant. Some of these goals include learning strategies for overcoming anxiety and depression, identifying, regulating and improving moods and overall mental health, improving cognitive function and the ability to follow a specific set of multi-step instructions. Other goals may include learning empathy for animals as well as other people, improving self-advocacy, communication and social skills, improving self-esteem and confidence. EAL is also used to meet specific educational goals determined by a parent, educator or additional service provider. EAL sessions are conducted by a professional educator and a PATH Intl certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. Sessions are primarily conducted using ground work techniques. If riding is incorporated, a certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor co-facilitates the session.
Horses 4 Heroes
Victory Hill staff specializes in effective trauma informed treatments for veterans, active military members, first responders and their families. Using the philosophies of the Natural Lifemanship Institute which focuses on how forming properly connected relationships changes the neurobiology and function of the brain and alleviates the effects of trauma, they offer tremendous healing and successful outcomes for their “Horses 4 Heroes” participants. The specific mission of Victory Hill’s “Horses 4 Heroes” program is to significantly reduce high-risk factors by working to improve the mental health of its participants, therefore effectively reducing the incidents of substance use disorders, unemployment, broken relationships and homelessness and to support veterans with a successful social reintegration process.
This program provides Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Learning (TI-EAL) and Trauma Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP) as an effective treatment alternative.
Stable Moments
Stable Moments™ is a 10-month, weekly mentorship program where foster and adopted children achieve individualized life goals through Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Learning (TI-EAL). Through a trauma informed lens, the principles of neuropsychology are woven into each session and the effects of trauma are healed to create lasting change. The model utilizes volunteer mentors and PATH Intl Certified Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning to facilitate sessions. Licensed Mental Health Clinicians are also available for additional support as needed. Job readiness skills are taught to older teens and young adults who are getting ready to age out of the foster care system by preparing them for successful employment. This program improves stability and expands support to children and their care takers to ensure every young person from foster care is ready to move forward in a positive direction.
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy is conducted by a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. During sessions, the child performs a series of exercises and movements on horseback to promote improved strength and coordination of identified muscle groups. The three-dimensional movement of the horse is instrumental in this process making Hippotherapy a highly effective form of physical therapy. This program is best suited for children ages two and a half to eight years old whose physician has recommended physical or occupational therapy. Strengthens muscle groups, improves balance, coordination, spatial/body awareness, postural control and both large and fine motor skills. There are many secondary benefits including improved speech, confidence and social skills.
Vocational Training
Victory Hill offers teens and adults the opportunity to receive job skills training that can be used in almost any setting. The skills taught can be used successfully to gain and maintain employment or be more successful in a variety of volunteer positions throughout the community. Broad job skills include time management, prioritizing tasks, following multi-step instructions, dynamics of having a boss or manager, good communication, self-advocacy, getting along with co-workers and more. Participants can also learn about stable management, horse care, farm animal care (sheep, goats, donkeys, chickens, ducks, dogs and cats). Programs are individually designed to meet the needs and goals of each participant.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Victory Hill’s Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program provides Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Learning (TI-EAL) and Trauma Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP) as an effective treatment alternative to traditional clinical counseling. Using the philosophies of the Natural Lifemanship Institute which focuses on how forming properly connected relationships changes the neurobiology and function of the brain and alleviates the effects of trauma, Victory Hill’s program offers tremendous healing and successful outcomes for their EAP participants. The specific mission of the EAP program is to significantly reduce high-risk factors by working to improve the mental health of its participants, therefore effectively reducing the incidents of substance use disorders, unemployment, broken relationships, disruptions in education and homelessness.
Where we work
Awards
Hudson Valley Hero 2021
Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan
Affiliations & memberships
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) Intl Member Center 2020
Stable Moments 2022
Hudson Valley Veteran Task Force 2020
Orange County Chamber of Commerce 2020
External reviews

Photos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
Who are the people you serve with your mission?
Victory Hill Therapeutic Horsemanship serves a wide variety of children and adults with special needs or who have a need for mental health support or treatment. These include, but are not limited to veterans, active military members, first responders, children and adults with cognitive, developmental or physical disabilities, at-risk youth, adopted or fostered children and youth and all community members in need of mental health support or treatment.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, Compile data on effectiveness of programs, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
-
What significant change resulted from feedback?
Recently, it had become apparent that there was a lack of effective communication between our previous Program Director and the clients she was responsible for serving. Our newly hired Program Coordinator is creating new and improved procedures and policies for effective and timely communications.
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Victory Hill Therapeutic Horsemanship
Board of directorsas of 12/04/2022
Laurie Bryceland
Victory Hill Therapeutic Horsemanship
Term: 2022 - 2024
Brenda Duff
Garnett Health
Ashlee Lutz
Otisville Fire Dept
Tonya Addy
The Munshine Group
Dee Batziokas
Business Owner - Dee's Classic Cleaning
Corey Ferretti
Business Owner - CB's Farrier Service/ Navy Veteran
Emily Greaves
Banfield Pet Hospital
Lisa-Ann LaBue
Empire Bank
Jamie Striano
Cornerstone Family Healthcare
Ariana Vele
Wife of FDNY Firefighter and mother of a child with ASD
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 12/03/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.