EQUUS Foundation

MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
The mission of Horses For Healing, Inc. is the provision of client-centered, solution- focused, trauma- informed, evidence-based equine psychotherapy and complementary services that support healing from pervasive trauma. To provide services to all who suffer from complex trauma regardless of race, age, gender, culture. To provide a gold standard of care to our clients and our equine partners. And, to actively advocate for and provide a permanent home to elder/vulnerable horses so that they may have a new purpose.

Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization provides community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
Over 90% of our total programs and services are equine-related.
Our organization does not use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Therapeutic Mounted Services
    Therapeutic Unmounted Services
    Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

7: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Horses For Healing

     1. Bethany C. Garcia, LMCH

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Horses For Healing

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Masters in Counseling
LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counseling
Equine Certified, OKCorral
New Mexico Behavioral Health Division, Department of Health, Certified Provider of Equine Therapy

2. Caitlin Erickson,LCSW

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Horses For Healing

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Masters in Social Work
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Equine Certified,OKCorral
New Mexico Behavioral Health Division,Department of Health, Veteran and Family Services, Certified Provider of Equine Therapy

3. Calle Poindexter-Hayes, MA

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Horses For Healing

RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Therapeutic Mounted Services

Therapeutic Unmounted Services

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor
PATH International Certified Mentor.

**Calle Poindexter provides our Ashva Yoga program.

4. Celina Miera, LMSW

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Horses For Healing

RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Masters in Social Work
Licensed Master Level Social Worker
Certified Equine Psychotherapy, OK Corral Equine Psychotherapy Certification
Certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy by Department of Defense/Center for Deployment Psychology to provide CPT to veterans and other military

5. Claire Ann Barr Johnson, MA,LPCC

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Horses For Healing

RELATIONSHIP: Employee

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

Masters Degree in Counseling
LPCC, Licensed Clinical Counselor, Independent License
Equine Certified OKCorral and EAGALA in 2000.
New Mexico Behavioral Health Division, Veteran and Family Services, Certified Provider of Equine Therapy.

6. Karen Seif, LMFT

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Horses For Healing

RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

LMFT- Licensed Marriage and Family therapist
Cognitive Processing Therapy Certification, Dept. of Defense Center for Deployment Psychology
OK Corral Equine Certification

7. Steven Johnson, LPCC

FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

Horses For Healing

RELATIONSHIP: Independent Contractor

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

LPCC- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
CPT-Cognitive Processing Therapy Certification, Department of Defense, Center for Deployment Psychology
OK Corral Equine Therapy Certification

Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     Horses For Healing, Inc., 501c3 provides the following services:
     1.Equine-assisted Psychotherapy. Our equine therapy program is conducted by licensed mental health professionals. Our equine therapy program utilizes our horses for each session. We provide individual, family, group sessions for our clients.
     2. Ashva Yoga is provided for our military veterans/active duty and their families. Ashva Yoga combines mat work + horseback work to help our clients with balance and centering. A PATH Certified Master Level Instructor provides our Ashva Yoga programming.

     Horses For Healing serves the following populations:
     1.Children, adolescents, adults in the civilian population.
     2.Veterans and their family members, active duty and their family members, and National Guard/Reserve and their family members.

     Horses For Healing clients have a trauma history that results in PTSD, anxiety, depression among other mental health issues. Our clients are referred to us by the Veterans Administration, Child Protective Services, State of New Mexico Behavioral Health Family and Veteran Service Division, MilitaryOneSource, other service providers, and physician's.

     Our clinicians and Ashva Yoga instructor are equine certified through EAGALA, OKCorral, and/or PATH.

     As described on our website, we provide clinical equine psychotherapy using horses as our therapy partners as we work on mental health issues with our clients. We utilize obstacle courses, ground work, horse care, and some riding as part of our therapy and yoga.

Community Outreach and/or Public Education:

Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     Horses For Healing participates in community outreach by inviting our stakeholders to our facility. Included in the visits are education and hands on activities that help our visitors understand the horse/human bond.

     Additionally, we participate as vendors in behavioral health conferences where we have information and our staff on hand to discuss our horses and the horse/human bond.

     Finally, we reach out to our referral sources and provide education about our programming and the horse/human bond.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has never made, and would not ever consider making, equines available for research studies or medical training that involves invasive procedures and/or that which may cause pain or suffering to the equine.

Religious Affiliation:
Our organization does not promote religious education, religious purposes, or a specific religious faith or use donations for religious education or religious purposes; require participants to be of a certain faith; require participation in religious, instruction, activities or services; or require participation in prayer, worship, religious instruction or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered.

Auction Donation:
Our organization has never allowed, or would not consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.

Our Programs/Activities that are not equine-related and/or involving animals other than equines:
Horses For Healing provides Mindfulness, Acupuncture, Massage, and Trauma Release to our veterans. These services do not include our horses.

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Lease
    Auction
    Kill pen/Feedlot
    Return
    Surrender
    Seizure
    Abandonment

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares

Not Checked:
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Stallions
    Only Stallions to be castrated

Additional information about our acquisition policies and practices:
Horses For Healing takes a limited number of horses as therapy partners. Our policy is to have horses that have been in unacceptable situations, have been injured and no longer can do their job, are aged or at risk of being sent to slaughter. Our therapy horses come to us via adoption/purchase /donation.
     **However, HFH is committed to horses that we aren't able to utilize at our facility but still fall in the above, risk categories. Specifically, if we are contacted about a horse that someone would like for us to have for our program and we do not have the space to accommodate, we work with our veterinarian, our trusted local horse advocates to place the horse. An example would be: We receive a call about a horse that has a career ending stifle injury and the owner is considering sending to an unsafe place, or slaughter, HFH will reach out to our resources such as our veterinarian, local horse facilities, trainers, other equine-non-profits to support the process of that horse ending up in a safe environment. Similar to a phone tree where information is disseminated and then an action occurs. This is our way to give back to equines.

POLICIES: INTAKE, ASSESSMENT & TRAININING

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization requires the following with respect to the health status of the horse:
    A current Coggins
    Vaccination records that have been administered within the last 12 months
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations

Not Checked:
If health records are not available or are out-of-date, the owner is responsible for having vaccinations administered.
A health certificate signed by a veterinarian and dated no more than seven days prior to arrival is provided to our organization either prior to or upon arrival of the equine or a pre-purchase examination by a veterinarian is conducted attesting to the health status of the equine

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization has the following policies in place:
    The owner of a potential equine is interviewed over the phone or in person prior to seeing the equine
    The equine is evaluated at its place of residence
    The owner completes an application/contract which constitutes the agreement between the owner and our organization
    The owner is financially responsible for the shipping of the equine to and from the organization
    Equines are on trial for 60 or more days
    During the trial period, the organization accepts financial responsibility for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care, up to a fixed amount agreed upon by the organization and the owner
    The trial period may be terminated by either the organization or the owner for any reason

Not Checked:
    Equines are not taken on trial
    Equines are on trial for up to 30 days
    Equines are on trial up to 60 days
    The trial period may be reduced based on the equine's progress
    During the trial period, the organization accepts total financial responsibility for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care
    During the trial period, the owner/donor is financially responsible for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by a veterinarian upon arrival and/or prior to offsite quarantine departure
    A Henneke Body Conditioning Score or other body conditioning score is assigned
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Blood work other than Coggins
    Fecal test
    Vaccinations
    De-worming

Not Checked:
    Physical examination by trained barn staff
    Photographs are taken of each equine upon arrival at the facility and kept with the equine's health records
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Coggins test
    The equine is scanned to check for a microchip
    The equine is microchipped if the scan indicates that there is no microchip

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine at the facility for a prescribed period of time

Not Checked:
The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine off-site for a prescribed period of time
The equine is not quarantined

The typical length of quarantine is:   10 to 20 days

Horses are assessed for following skills and behaviors:
    Retrieval from a pasture/paddock
    Leading with a halter and lead rope
    Temperament, disposition and attitude, such as rated from very calm to very high spirited
    Saddling
    Bridling
    Lunging
    Loading onto and unloading off a trailer
    Mounting and dismounting
    Riding at the walk
    Riding at the trot
    Riding at the canter
    Riding by a beginner and/or unbalanced rider
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc
    Grooming
    Bathing
    Clipping
    Tolerance to multiple handlers at the same time

Not Checked:
Jumping
Driving (Pulling a carriage)

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the ongoing assessment of horses in its care:
    The Henneke Body Condition score or other body conditioning score is updated at least annually
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine chiropractor
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine acupuncturist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine massage therapist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine nutritionist
    Physical examination by a veterinarian at least annually

Not Checked:
    Photographs are taken of each equine monthly and kept with the equine's health records
    Photographs are taken of each equine annually and kept with the equine's health records

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the weight-carrying or workload capabilities of horses/equines that are ridden in our care:
Our organization evaluates at least annually and maintains a written record of the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden

Not Checked:
Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden
No equines are ridden; not applicable

The following variables are considered in determining the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden:
    Equine age, weight, breed, body condition, fitness, balance, health and soundness
    Equine conformation to include the top line, length of back, strength and width of loin, bone density (measured by the circumference of the cannon bone just below the knee)
    Size, shape, condition and angle of the hooves
    Participant weight, height, body proportions, balance, fitness and riding skills as well as behavioral issues and safety concerns
    Weight and proper fit of the saddle and other equipment
    Terrain and footing in the working environment
    Duration and frequency of working sessions, as the frequency with which an equine is subjected to maximum weight carrying and/or workload
    Nature and pace of work, repetitive or varied, radius of turns, degree of incline and regularity of footing when equine is subject to maximum weight-carrying capacity
    Temperature and/or weather conditions
    Seasonal impact on the equines' workload and weight-carrying capabilities and limitations

Not Checked:
Our organization does not evaluate the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden
No equines are ridden; not applicable

Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding): 2-3 times per week

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
Our main facility where our organization conducts its programs does NOT breed equines.

Not Checked:
One or more of the facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, breeds equines
One or more of the facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, are permitted to house stallions

Additional information about our breeding policies and practices:
To confirm, our horses remain at our facility for their natural lifetime.

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization will have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored
    Euthanasia is done on site when possible to decrease trauma from transport
    Disposal of the carcass is handled within 24 hours

Not Checked:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized under any circumstances
    Our organization will have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian if the equine is a threat to itself, other equines, or people
    Euthanasia is done at the veterinarian's facility

The following are authorized to administer the procedure for your organization in accordance with state laws:
Veterinarian

Not Checked:
    A certified euthanasia technician
    Senior staff with appropriate training
    Employee of animal control shelter or humane society with appropriate training
    Veterinary student under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian
    Not applicable. Our organization prohibits euthanasia under any circumstances

Additional information about our euthanasia policies and practices:
To distinguish,if one of our horses is under general anesthesia, and the vet decides said horse requires euthanasia,the second option would be utilized.

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

Re-homing Agreement not applicable.
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer able to contribute to the mission of the organization, and/or are no longer manageable:
The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.

Additional information about our rehoming policies and practices:
We are currently able to accommodate retired horses at our existing facility.

EQUINE CARE & SHELTER/FACILITY INFORMATION

Total facilities at which our organization cares for and shelters horses used in our programs: 1
Our organization does not use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities

Horses For Healing
973 Camino Hermosa Corrales NM 87048
Contact: Claire Ann Johnson
Contact's Phone: 505-803-7459
Contact's Email: claireann@horsesforhealing.net
Currently operational

Does your organization own, lease or use a part of this facility? Lease

Provide the contact information for the individual or organization responsible for investigating abuse in the county where the facility is located, including mailing address, email address, and phone information.
     Corrales Animal Control, 4324 Corrales Road, Corrales, NM 87048; Phone: 505-898-0401; Email: ckeller@corrales-nm.org Also New Mexico Livestock Board, 300 San Mateo Blvd., #1000, Albuquerque, NM 87108; Phone: 505-841-6161

Does your organization conduct Equine Assisted Services (EAS) at this facility in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS)? Yes

Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers AT THIS FACILITY, including instructors, specialists, therapists, counselors, coaches and/or facilitators (full-time, part-time, volunteer, independent contractors, and/or providers accompanying clients) that conduct Equine Assisted Services (EAS) in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS) AT THIS FACILITY: 7

Equine Assisted Service Providers Assigned to this Facility: (see Equine Assisted Service Provider Section below for details)

     1. Bethany C. Garcia, LMCH
     2. Caitlin Erickson,LCSW
     3. Calle Poindexter-Hayes, MA
     4. Celina Miera, LMSW
     5. Claire Ann Barr Johnson, MA,LPCC
     6. Karen Seif, LMFT
     7. Steven Johnson, LPCC

Horses For Healing

Veterinarian Information
Veterinarian: Kevin Dralle, DVM
Clinic Name: Albuquerque Equine
6901 2nd Street NW
Albuquerque NM 87107
Phone: 505-344-1131