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 evidence-based program 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.
Healing with Horses Ranch is committed to creating an inclusive & equitable environment for all. We work to ensure anyone in need can access the benefits of equine-assisted therapy by offering financial assistance based on household income, as well as providing veterans’ services at no cost. We recognize that systemic inequities affect access to healing, education, and opportunity. We are dedicated to removing barriers, building cross-cultural awareness, and creating opportunities for people of all races, ethnicities, and abilities.
Our Services
Adaptive (Therapeutic) Riding
Through our adaptive riding program, clients navigating physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges improve independence & functional life skills while learning to ride. The rhythmic, three-dimensional, and symmetrical movement of the horse alone provides physical benefits. Additionally, the relationship-building within sessions develops social skills, emotional management, self-awareness, sensory integration, language skills, and so much more.
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 primary focus on groups, 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 in which a licensed mental health professional collaborates with a PATH Certified Equine Specialist & suitable equine(s) to address individualized psychotherapy goals set forth by the mental health professional & client(s). These sessions focus on various aspects of mental, emotional, & psychological wellness.
What is the science behind the healing power of horses?
For thousands of years, humans & horses have worked side by side through farming, transportation, and sport. Through centuries of lived experience & modern research, we are now much more aware that this mutual bond runs deeper than previously recognized. Equines have a unique ability to influence human health in powerful ways, from physical rehabilitation to emotional healing in a manner that is profoundly set apart from other animal species.
Click through to explore how working with horses transforms lives, and why we are passionate about sharing this work:
In the wild, a horse’s survival depends on herd attunement. Studies have shown that the equine electromagnetic field is about 5x bigger than that of a human, which has the power to regulate human blood pressure & heart rhythms. Within mere minutes of contact, a participant’s autonomic nervous system finds heart rate synchronicity with the horse. This interaction scientifically reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) & boosts oxytocin (the bonding hormone), which promotes long-term anxiety reduction & even improved sleep patterns.
As prey animals, horses possess an evolutionary hyper-vigilance, relying on absolute environmental awareness for survival. They mirror human micro-expressions, physical tension, and subtle movements, reflecting emotions that participants may mask or remain unaware of. This living biofeedback provides immediate, real-time insights that break through emotional barriers. This shared alertness creates an instant bond with trauma survivors, who generally navigate the world with a similar hyper-awareness.
Unlike domesticated animals with predatory instincts such as dogs or cats, horses live entirely in the present moment, free of bias, past judgment, or future anxiety. This steady awareness invites participants into the present, offering an emotionally safe space for unconditional self-expression.
Partnering with a large, powerful animal fosters a profound sense of empowerment. Mastering horsemanship skills builds confidence, personal agency, and self-esteem, helping individuals realize their own strength & capability in their lives outside of the Ranch.
Did you know that the rhythmic, three-dimensional gait of a horse precisely mimics the natural walking pattern of a human? This movement simultaneously engages core strength, balance, and postural symmetry while activating cognitive, sensory, and motor systems. This multi-system stimulation strengthens neural pathways & accelerates motor skill development in people experiencing developmental delays or injury recovery.
The sequencing, problem-solving, and focus required to groom, tack, or guide a horse directly exercises the brain’s executive networks. Building these connections are critical for treating diagnoses such as ADHD, autism (ASD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and PTSD. Because horses require clear, consistent, and honest communication, participants naturally practice patience & boundary-setting. In group settings & horse care, this structured environment cultivates teamwork, empathy, and responsibility, allowing participants to build trust with an equine partner before transferring those social skills to human relationships.
Who We Serve
Based in Manor, Texas, just outside Austin, Healing with Horses Ranch serves Travis County & surrounding communities. While welcoming individuals of all ages navigating mental health diagnoses or complex life challenges, our trauma-informed programs primarily focus on three core under-served populations who frequently encounter gaps in traditional support systems: at-risk youth, people with disabilities, and uniformed service members. We bridge these gaps by providing accessible, individualized adaptive (therapeutic) 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.
People with Disabilities
Independence
Adaptive riding improves independence & functional life skills for riders living 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 living 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.
Uniformed Service Members
Transition
The Veteran & First Responder (VFR) Program offers no-cost, weekly group sessions for veterans, active-duty military, and first responders navigating the challenges of adjustment to everyday life after experiencing combat zones, emergency scenes, or prolonged exposure to trauma. Combining adaptive riding & equine-assisted learning, this program uses the unique bond between horse & human to support healthy transitions.
Because horses look to humans for guidance & safety, the focus within a session naturally shifts away from stress into the present moment. Participants develop trust, connection, and partnership using subtle, non-verbal communication rooted in patience & consistency.
The skills practiced in the arena directly translate into daily life with the overall goal of meaningful recovery.
Dive Deeper
In 2025, we had the honor of a guest feature on the Into Healing podcast. Our staff ambassador, Alexa Ball, LPC-A, shares about the profoundly unique connection between humans & horses. She explains how these majestic creatures naturally guide us toward healing & self-awareness. Drawing from her personal journey, she takes listeners on a journey through the transformative power of equine therapy, highlighting how horses mirror human emotions, facilitate co-regulation, and offer nonverbal wisdom that transcends traditional therapy. Alexa also reflects on the ethics of caring for horses, the importance of honoring their agency, and how these interactions help people such as teens & those living with disabilities build emotional resilience.
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 diverse 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 affiliated with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International, which delivers evidence-based, trauma-informed services led by certified professionals. PATH certifies & accredits centers, instructors, and equine specialists using field-tested standards for safety, ethics, and effectiveness. To become certified, instructors must complete a series of continuing education, fulfill student teaching requirements, and pass both written & practical exams.
Originally founded in 2011 as a PATH-compliant center by Patty D’Andrea, an Advanced Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor & Certified Equine Specialist, Healing with Horses Ranch held the first session in January 2012. Just six years later, a voluntary peer review earned the organization status as a PATH International Premier Accredited Center, which has been maintained annually since 2018. This designation recognizes the Ranch for upholding PATH’s highest standards & enables us to train other centers toward the same goals.