Our Approach

At Kindle Hill Foundation, we offer three distinct yet interconnected programs that harness horses' unique wisdom to create profound personal growth and healing. Each program is carefully designed to meet specific needs while utilizing horses' extraordinary ability to mirror our emotions, challenge our assumptions, and guide us toward authentic self-discovery.

Our philosophy incorporates many aspects of Natural Horsemanship, which look to the horse’s instinctive behavior and communication.  Our model prescribes a direct approach where clients have the space to project, be creative, analyze their situations, make connections, and find their own solutions.  

All sessions are on the ground (non-riding), with no prior horse experience necessary. Working with a horse on the ground is incredibly insightful and restorative. Through ground engagement, participants can experience an open relationship, facilitating a two-way partnership.

Our Programs

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL)

Develop Essential Life Skills Through Authentic Connection

Who This Serves: Children, Pre-Teens, Teens, Young Adults, Individuals, families, professionals, and groups seeking personal development, improved communication, and enhanced leadership abilities

Imagine walking into a pasture and being immediately "read" by a 1,200-pound horse who responds to not just your words, but to your true intentions and energy. Horses are the foundation of our Equine-Assisted Learning program—a transformative experience that develops crucial life skills through genuine interaction with horses.

What You'll Experience:

Leadership Without Authority

Empathy in Action

Advanced Communication Skills

Negotiation and Partnering

Real-World Applications:

●Parents learn to connect more deeply with their children
●Professionals develop authentic leadership presence
●Children, Teens and Young Adults gain confidence and communication skills
●Couples improve their ability to work together
●Anyone seeking personal growth discovers hidden strengths

Program Structure: Sessions typically involve ground-based activities with horses—no riding. You might work with a horse to navigate obstacles, establish boundaries, or accomplish team-based challenges that reveal patterns in how you approach relationships and problems in your daily life.

Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT)

Clinical Mental Health Treatment Enhanced by Equine Partners

Whom This Serves: Children, adolescents, adults, and families dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, grief, relationship issues, behavioral challenges, and other mental health concerns

Our Equine-Assisted Therapy program combines the clinical expertise of licensed mental health professionals with the therapeutic presence of horses to create breakthroughs that traditional talk therapy alone may not achieve. We offer proprietary, evidence-based mental health treatment.

How It Works: Working alongside our licensed therapists, you'll engage with horses in carefully designed activities that address your specific therapeutic goals. Horses naturally create a safe, non-judgmental environment where defenses can be lower and authentic healing can begin.

What Makes This Different from Traditional Therapy:

Horses respond instantly to your emotional state, providing real-time insight into patterns you might not recognize in a traditional office setting.
Rather than just talking about feelings, you experience them in your body as you interact with horses, leading to more profound, more lasting change.
Activities with horses create powerful metaphors for life situations, making abstract concepts concrete and memorable. Many clients, especially adolescents, who resist traditional therapy find themselves opening up naturally in the presence of horses.

Specific Treatment Applications:

Anxiety
Depression
PTSD and Trauma
Behavioral Issues
Relationship Challenges
Integration with Traditional Treatment

What a Session Looks Like: You'll work with a licensed therapist and a horse professional in a safe, structured environment. Activities include grooming, leading, groundwork exercises, or simply being present with horses while processing thoughts and feelings with your therapist.

First Responder Equine-Assisted Training

Specialized Support for Those Who Serve and Protect

Whom This Serves: Law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, military personnel, and other first responders seeking enhanced professional skills and personal resilience

As the only facility in the country offering Equine-Assisted Training specifically for Law Enforcement, Kindle Hill Foundation understands the unique pressures, trauma exposure, and operational demands that first responders face daily. This program addresses professional skill development and personal wellness in ways that traditional training may be unable to match.

Why Horses for First Responders? Horses are prey animals with finely tuned survival instincts—much like the heightened awareness first responders must maintain. This natural parallel creates an ideal training environment where a client's tactical skills and stress management techniques can be developed simultaneously.

Program Components:

Professional Skill Development
and Advanced De-escalation Techniques

Enhanced Negotiation Skills

Tactical Partnering

Personal Resilience and Wellness

Stress Management That Works: Unlike classroom-based stress management, working with horses provides immediate biofeedback about your stress levels.

Processing Occupational Trauma

Family and Relationship Support

Program Structure: Training occurs in intensive workshops, ongoing skill development sessions, and individual support programs. Our activities simulate real-world pressures while maintaining the therapeutic benefits of working with horses.

Confidential and Supportive Environment: We understand the culture of first responders and the habit of a reluctance to show vulnerability. Our program builds strength while providing the support that those who serve others deserve.

Each of our programs leverages the unique qualities that make horses extraordinary teachers and healers:

●Authentic Response: Horses don't lie, manipulate, or pretend—they respond honestly to who you are

●Present Moment Awareness: Horses live entirely in the present, teaching you to do the same

●Non-Verbal Mastery: They communicate primarily through body language and energy, expanding your communication toolkit

●Emotional Regulation: Horses can help you learn to manage your emotions through their calm, grounding presence

●Trust Building: Creating a relationship with a horse teaches you about healthy boundaries, respect, and mutual partnership

Whether you choose Equine-Assisted Learning for personal development, Equine-Assisted Therapy for mental health support, or First Responder Training for professional enhancement, you'll discover that horses can help humans become their very best selves.

Why All Three Programs Work

Kindle Hill Foundation provides Equine Assisted programs for the public and specifically to the first responder community:

*First responder training costs are covered by donations from the public and the community, as well as our endowment. Other program costs may be subsidized or offered on a sliding scale, according to need.

Take a Tour!

Would you like to learn more? Join us for a tour at Kindle Hill Farm! You’ll have the opportunity to meet our wonderful horses and learn about the work we do at Kindle Hill Foundation.

Tours are available by appointment only.

Connect with us about pricing, scheduling, and additional information.

 

Non-Discrimination Statement and Policy

Kindle Hill Foundation is committed to providing quality and compassionate care to the community without regard to race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), age, marital status, partnership status, disability, alienage or citizenship status, genetic information (including family medical history), veteran status, political affiliation, employment, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all services and activities at Kindle Hill Foundation, including, but not limited to, provision of services, staff employment, and selection of volunteers, and subcontractors. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, and subcontractors.