In-Person Workshops
Connected Horse’s in-person workshops occur at horse barns and equine facilities in Northern California and Nevada, with planned expansion throughout the United States and beyond.
About Our Workshops
Therapeutic human-horse interaction helps offset common experiences of isolation and depression that often accompany a dementia diagnosis. Participants report that their experiences with the horses together help them gain clarity, adjust patterns, and release emotions such as fear, grief, and negativity while learning to be fully present in the moment. Humans and horses have been working together for millennia and equine therapies have been demonstrated to be helpful with an array of chronic issues from PTSD to autism. Horses respond to and mirror emotions and participants learn to tune in to non-verbal cues as they observe and interact with the horses.
Program benefits include:
- Greater self-awareness
- Relaxation of rigid roles
- Presence in the moment and stress reduction strategies
- Increased trust and confidence
- Strengthen communication and relationships
Who Can Participate
Anyone who is experiencing memory changes or is affected by dementia along with care partners are welcome. To participate, everyone must be able to safely walk without assistance and engage in a group setting. Workshops are offered free of charge to expand access to these invaluable programs.
For more information about upcoming workshops, please visit our events page or email Judy@connectedhorse.org or call 925-708-0067.
”We are grateful to the horses we work with for their generosity and gentle feedback as people practice collaborating and being in the moment with them. Until there is a cure, programs like ours help people affected by dementia stay engaged and provide opportunities for them to experience new activities.
Paula HertelCo-Founder, Connected Horse
”Participants tell us they feel empowered to do things and that they are going to live. Activating people right after they are diagnosed is the most important thing, so they don't become depressed. We see a difference in their depression, their affect, and their language. We see a difference in their fluency of words after being in the program. They tell us how much better they feel.
Nancy Schier-AnzelmoCo-Founder, Connected Horse
”As my mother’s ability to communicate reduces and as her disease progresses, these lessons help me understand there will always be connection. Verbal interaction is not always necessary for deep, meaningful interactions.
Leticia MetherellCaregiver
”We learned to relax and focus on what is in the moment. I felt more tuned into myself, in a way I hadn’t been for a while, and I also felt more connected with my mother. I could see she was happier after the workshop.
Workshop Participant
