Hearts with Hooves Horse Therapy and Horse Retreats

Now that the 2024-2025 school year has begun, Hearts with Hooves is full of horse sessions, camps, and retreat. They are located in Matthews, MO and provide weekly, overnight, weekend, week long, and monthly retreats and vacations.

Studies have shown that Equine Assisted Learning and Expressive Equine Therapy can help participants increase their nonverbal communication skills as horses cannot talk. Horses can react to mood swings and cues, so participants will have a better understanding of how that affects those around them. Horseback riding helps participants develop balance, increase muscle tone, improve flexibility, coordination, and core strength. The rhythmic experience of horse-riding can soothe participants and relieve them of their frustration.

This program serves children as young as 2 up to adults. Retreats focus on life skills including:

• Self-Worth and Self Esteem: Building up confidence by riding and communication through body language as horses are a mirror into our selves.

• Responsibility: This is a working horse barn with stalls to be cleaned, water to be filled, feeding horses twice a day, mending fences, and working together to accomplish these daily duties.

• Self-Regulation: Horses are in tune with our emotions through our body language and presence.

• Emotional Awareness: The horse helps us develop self-awareness with them which helps us regulate our emotions an feel empathy.

• Healthy Relationships: Horses can help us feel more comfortable socially by providing us with a bonding experience.

Sessions are $50 self-pay, but financial consideration is available. Some Missouri Managed Medicaid Health Plans provide coverage for expressive equine therapies for children who qualify such as those with autism, major depression, Down Syndrome, drug exposure, bipolar, defiance, PTSD, and others. Hearts with Hooves has contracts with State of Missouri Children's Foster Care System, SB40 Boards, Sponsors, and more. Prior authorization is needed.

For more information, contact Hearts with Hooves at 573-703-7974 or visit their website here.