1. Non-Judgmental
Horses provide a safe space for emotional expression without fear of judgment. Since they also don’t hold biases, individuals are offered a supportive environment where they can freely express themselves.
Experience the Healing Power of the Horse
The equine is at the center of everything we do, serving as the true teacher in each of our services. While every session is unique, the bond between horse & human is the foundation. By modeling healthy communication, choice, self-awareness, and acceptance, we help individuals build tools they can carry into everyday life.
We ensure all equine-assisted activities are grounded in research & science. Each of our evidence-based programs is designed to address a wide range of challenges & diagnoses through a trauma-informed lens. We continuously refine our services to set a standard for the industry and to strengthen the holistic health of our community through high-quality care.
In addition to maintaining high standards across all programs, we work to ensure that anyone in need can access the benefits of equine-assisted therapy. We offer financial assistance based on household income, and veterans receive services at no cost.
Our Programs
Adaptive Riding
Through our adaptive riding program students with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges improve independence & functional life skills all while learning to ride. The rhythmic, three-dimensional, and symmetrical movement of the horse provides physical benefits. The connection & communication with both the horse and the community of the Ranch foster social skills, emotional management, self-awareness, sensory integration, language skills and more. It is a fun, safe, and social environment, centered around interaction with the horse.
Equine-Assisted Learning
Our equine-assisted learning (EAL) program is an experiential learning program that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional, and personal growth through equine-assisted activities. With a focus on veterans & at-risk individuals, EAL creates an environment for creating new toolsets for individuals to overcome challenges in the day-to-day.
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) is an interactive process where a licensed mental health professional collaborates with a PATH certified Equine Specialist & appropriate equine(s) to address psychotherapy goals established by the mental health professional & the client. Sessions can be conducted individually, in groups, or with families, focusing on various aspects of mental, emotional & psychological wellness.
Veterans & First Responders
This program offers no-cost weekly group sessions that utilize strategies from our adaptive riding & equine-assisted learning programs to support veterans, current service members, and first responders. Participants develop a bond of partnership through horsemanship & riding, focusing on improving communication, reintegration techniques, and coping skills.
What is the science behind the healing power of horses?
For thousands of years, humans & horses have worked side by side historically through farming, transportation, or sport. Through research & lived experiences, we now know that the mutual bond runs much deeper below the surface. Horses can influence human health in powerful ways, from physical rehabilitation to emotional healing.
Click through to explore how working with equines transforms lives, and why we are passionate about sharing this work:
2. Emotional Connection
Much like beloved family pets, horses provide grounding comfort & companionship, which innately helps individuals ground & regulate their bodies.
3. Mirroring Behavior
In the wild, the survival of a horse depends on being attuned to subtle cues from herd mates. In a therapeutic setting, this instinct means they often reflect back what a person is feeling, sometimes before that person even realizes it themselves. Since they have evolved to read these shifts in body language & intention, it has become clear that horses respond to changes in human physiology in ways we are only beginning to understand.
Based on the theory that divides predatory animals from prey animals, we believe horses make the best therapy animals. Predators, such as dogs, hide their feelings to fool their prey, while prey animals, such as horses, do not. In this sense, the horse acts as a living biofeedback machine in sessions that provides valuable information to the instructor & deepens the effectiveness of the therapy.
4. Stress Reduction
Working with horses has been proven to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) & increase oxytocin (the bonding hormone), helping participants feel calmer & more connected. Some research has even shown improvements in sleep patterns & long-term reductions in anxiety after regularly-occurring equine-assisted sessions.
5. Physical Benefits
The rhythmic gait of a horse mimics the natural walking pattern of humans. This movement naturally engages the core strength, balance, and postural symmetry framework needed for rehabilitation.
6. Neurological Stimulation
Equine-assisted services activate cognitive, sensory, and motor systems all at once. This combination is powerful for neural pathways & motor skill development. Emerging research shows improvements for both children with developmental delays & veterans with PTSD in months beyond the initial program.
7. Trust & Communication
Because horses respond to clear, consistent cues, participants subsequently learn the value of honesty, patience, and boundaries. In practice, this can look like a veteran building up trust with an equine, and being able to explore vulnerability with this equine before they can with another human.
8. Social Interaction
Horse care requires teamwork. For participants, especially children & young adults, this structured social environment provides opportunities to practice collaboration, empathy, and responsibility in a safe space.
Who We Serve
We primarily serve three core populations within the greater Austin area from a trauma-informed approach. Our programs are available to individuals of all ages with mental health diagnoses through adaptive riding, equine-assisted learning, and equine-assisted psychotherapy.
At-Risk Youth
Resilience
At Healing with Horses Ranch, we use the power of the horse to build resilience in individuals who have suffered from emotional & physical harm, often leading to complicated challenges in their future.
For individuals who are particularly vulnerable to internal and/or external triggers, interactions with horses provide a non-competitive, non-judgmental setting to build their capacity, while providing the individuals with relationships that are both caring & consistent.
For this population, we focus on building self-awareness, enabling the individual to work through unexpressed emotional pain and learn how to recognize, verbalize and regulate their feelings. This is the imperative first step in the emotional recovery process and has improved psychological healing in remarkably short periods of time.
Veterans, Active Duty & First Responders
Transition
Many veterans & first responders return from duty carrying physical & emotional wounds. Whether from combat zones, emergency scenes, or prolonged exposure to trauma, adjusting to everyday life can be difficult. Our program uses horses to support that transition.
In each session, bonding activities are designed so the horse looks to the participant for guidance and a sense of safety. This shifts the focus away from stress and onto the present moment. Participants build trust & connection through subtle, nonverbal communication rooted in patience & consistency. That relationship helps regulate emotions & encourages confidence, often leading to faster recovery or better adaptation to conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Together, the horse & participant work on relaxation, memory, patience, confidence, physical wellness, and focus. These skills extend far beyond the arena and into daily life.
People with Disabilities
Independence
Adaptive riding lessons improve independence & functional life skills for riders with Down Syndrome, ADHD, Autism, Cerebral palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Spina Bifida, and many other diagnoses.
Because riding a horse rhythmically moves the body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often improve in flexibility, balance, muscle strength, and range of motion. In addition, due to the non-verbal communication between a horse & human, individuals learn to be sensitive to other’s needs, heightening their social awareness.
Our program improves physical & cognitive skills that spark new independence within the rider that they can then carry over into everyday life.
Meet Our Herd
Healing with Horses Ranch is a PATH International Premier Riding Center. Our instructors & equine specialists, all of whom are PATH certified, believe deeply in the transformative power of the horse-human connection, and the ability for individuals from all backgrounds to improve their emotional, cognitive, and physical abilities.
The horses, our greatest teachers, are the center of our team. We partner with a variety of breeds, shapes, and personalities of horses to meet the needs of our riders. Every member of our herd is part of the family for life. In 2025, we became an equine sanctuary, which means each horse will live out their days here, whether or not they’re actively involved in programs. While we are not a rescue, once an equine is here, they can rest assured that this is their forever home.
A Standard of Excellence
Healing with Horses Ranch is a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International center that provides evidence-based, trauma-informed services led by certified professionals. PATH certifies & accredits centers, instructors, and equine specialists based on field-tested standards to ensure safety, ethics, and effectiveness in the equine-assisted services industry. To become certified, instructors must complete workshops, fulfill student teaching requirements, and pass both written & practical exams.
Founded in 2011 as a PATH-compliant center, we underwent a voluntary peer review in 2018 and successfully met the accreditation requirements to become a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center. This designation allows us to be recognized in the community for upholding PATH’s highest standards & enables us to train other centers.