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:
1Our 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:
7Equine 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 InformationVeterinarian: Kevin Dralle, DVM
Clinic Name: Albuquerque Equine
6901 2nd Street NW
Albuquerque NM 87107
Phone: 505-344-1131