Not Checked:
    Therapeutic Driving Services
    Therapeutic Vaulting Services
    Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)
    Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology
    Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development


Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     While we are part of the Therapeutic Riding Industry, Dream Catcher Stables Inc works entirely in the recreation, education, sport sector of that industry. We do not have therapists in our program and do NOT write medical goals. What we do is teach people with disabilities to ride and care for horses to the fullest extent of their ability. Individual goals are all of a horsemanship nature. Each family comes and shares with us their needs and hopes.
     
     Because we teach horsemanship the disability categories are clustered in our program:
     Physical includes arthritis, epilepsy, joint abnormalities, multiple sclerosis, paralysis, physical disabilities, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputation, cystic fibrosis, head Trauma/Brain Injury, Muscular dystrophy, orthopedic issues, Spina bifida, and stroke.
     
     Speech includes language impairment and speech impairment.
     
     Autism, Deaf or those with hearing loss, and Visual Impairment stand alone,
     
     Cognitive includes cognitive disabilities, development delay or disability, Down Syndrome, intellectual disability, and learning disabilities.
     
     Behavioral includes ADD, behavioral disabilities, emotional disabilities, mental health disabilities, PDD, and PTSD.
     
     How we teach individual lessons depends on the capabilities of the rider and their attitude and physical situation each day.
     
     Riders prone to seizures have a horse handler and side-walker with them at all times. These volunteers may move a distance away from the horse or may actually be in interactive positions. In addition to maintaining safety and assisting in the teaching process the horse handler is responsible for controlling the horse during a seizure and the side-walker is responsible for creating a safe situation for the rider having the seizure.
     
     Riders with physical disabilities may have special reins, saddles, or if their legs do not function a crop/dressage whip to compensate.
     
     Riders with behavioral challenges are especially prompted to be kind to the horse. Hitting, biting, kicking at volunteers or their horse is not tolerated. Such an offense is met with end of lesson, discussion of good actions, reason the lesson is over, and what to do to come again.
     
     Visually impaired riders may have volunteers strategically positioned to provide specific one word directions or sounds for the rider to succeed independently.
     
     Riders with hearing challenges are paired with a volunteer whose voice they can hear easily. Also stop and go signs, an interpreter, or other adaptations may be made to provide communication.
     
     Riders on the autism spectrum are individuals with quite a varied range of abilities. Some are savants, others aggressive, still others have difficulty with speech, balance, seizures or melt downs, intellectual abilities and more. For the novice, thinking of a kaleidoscope and understanding that a person with autism initially sees the world as though through a kaleidoscope, understanding how they perceive the world becomes more meaningful. The structure of a riding lesson with the ever changing patterns within that lesson helps the person with autism to understand and accept differences and thus the real world.
     
     Teaching classical riding we emphasize:
     1) Position which affects balance, joints, muscle and bone alignment.
     2) Control using the four natural aids – legs, seat, voice, and hands - improving attention, simultaneous multi-functioning, and reasoning.
     3) Consistent movement of the horse which activates the autonomic nervous system creating physical responses in the rider’s body without conscious thinking.
     
     Improvements include but are not limited to the ability to walk, talk, think and balance.
     
     All riders are taught voice, seat, leg and rein commands necessary to control their horse at all times. Horse handlers are prompted to allow the rider to learn by giving the rider the opportunity to fail in order to succeed. Consequently if the instructor says “Susy, walk your horse” -- at a stand still, Suzy will be prompted to say “walk on”, squeeze with both legs, sit tall, look between the horse’s ears at the tall tree, and put your hands forward and down. As soon as the rider makes or attempts any of those commands, the horse handler will prompt the horse to walk on. Thus Suzy will experience the reward for effort. For cognitive students the process of actually completing one or more of the set of commands may take a while. Each and every command is encouraged and when executed properly is rewarded with high fives, kind words, and happy smiles.
     
     
     The first lesson, each individual is assigned two side-walkers and a horse handler. As they exhibit their actual capabilities the side-walkers and horse handler are removed. Often removal of the side-walkers occurs just a few steps into the first lesson. Once the rider demonstrates consistent control of the horse at a walk, the horse handler will remove the lead rope and walk nearby as long as necessary for safety.
     
     The true “heart” of the Dream Catcher Stables program is our Positive Reinforcement piece:
     1)Rider must attend school, except when they are ill or have and excusable appointment.
     2)Rider must try to behave at school.
     3)Rider must try to do their school work.
     4)Rider must take homework home to parent(s)and back to the teacher.
     5)At home rider must try to behave.
     6)At home rider must try to help the family.
     To the extent they try they get to ride. To the extent they do NOT try we have other things for them to do instead of riding the horse. This positive reinforcement piece is extremely successful and parents have learned how to manipulate it for greater success year round.

Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     Once again our program for adjudicated youth to complete their community service hours is open. Youth who get tickets at school and are assigned community service may complete facility chores including picking up trash along our fence line, making repairs supervised by one or more volunteers, and sometimes helping with program by cleaning stalls, grooming horses, or acting as side-walkers for an athlete with poor balance.
     
     Results of our 21-22 pilot program providing pre-vocational/vocational training for a class of 19-22 year old students with disabilities during the school day each week were very successful. Their work included horse behavior, grooming, stall cleaning, haltering and leading, cleaning tack, repairing/constructing fences, horsemanship theory, and a one time riding lesson. Interwoven each week is discussion that includes topics such as available jobs in the horse industry, essential knowledge for those jobs, creating a resume, what recruiters/HR might look for and where, and more. AS a result this program expanded for school year 22-23. Each week students take away real life skills - timeliness, communication, importance of listening and following directions, and so much more while simply grooming and caring for horses.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has made equines available for research studies or medical training.
Please explain where and for what purpose equines are/were provided to use in research or medical training. 
     When a horse can no longer remain in our program due to health issues, we are not in a position economically or physically to euthanize and bury a horse because we do not own our facility. The City of Houston requires that you leave the carcass on the side of the road, covered, until they can get there.
     
     In December of 2016 we had such a situation. Our two horses (age 30 and 29) both with health issues creating pain for the remainder of their lives and eliminating their capability to work in our program, even at a walk with light riders, were donated to Texas A&M for their annual Veterinary Equine workshop which covered such aspects as euthanasia and anatomical review. This workshop provides hands on training for future veterinarians whose own veterinary medical schools do not provide hands on equine classwork. Both horses lived out their remaining days in the comfort of quality climate controlled facilities and their lives humanely ended peacefully surrounded by admirers.
     
     As a result of this experience, until such time as we have our own property where we can properly bury our horses, we may contact Texas A&M so that our horses who help all of us all of the time will have dignity of life until the end unless we are able to conduct the burial privately.
     
     Texas A&M has a stellar reputation for upholding SPCA protocols.

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. 

EQUINE ASSISTED SERVICE PROVIDERS

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Therapeutic Mounted Services
    Therapeutic Unmounted Services
    Equine-Assisted Learning involving Academic Learning

1: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Dream Catcher Stables

     1. Sanna Roling

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Dream Catcher Stables

         RELATIONSHIP: Volunteer

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Therapeutic Mounted Services

         Therapeutic Unmounted Services

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         PATH Intl CTRI, Member PICC
CHA Level 3 English Level 2 Western
Retired Special educator currently certified in the State of Texas.
Special Olympics Coach Level 3 Equestrian and Unified
Life member CHA, AQHA, HLS&R
Certified in First Aid/CPR, and AED through the Red Cross

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

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

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Lease  
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner  
    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 are accepted who are ready to work with youth and adults at the beginner level. In general we prefer horses over the age of 10. All horses must be serviceably sound and require few if any ongoing medications or supplements. We expect good manners when handling by the farrier and veterinarian also. Our horses are currently kept as a single herd.

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
    A health certificate signed by a veterinarian and dated no more than seven days prior to arrival attesting to the health status of the equine is provided to our organization either prior to or upon arrival 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 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
    The trial period may be terminated by either the organization or the owner for any reason

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    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 farrier
    De-worming

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
    The equine is not quarantined

The typical length of quarantine is:   Up to 10 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

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
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

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)
    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


Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   As needed; no set schedule

Additional information about our intake, assessment & training policies and practices:
Equines arrive with the proper health certificate indicating quarantine before shipping. Upon arrival the horse is inspected before off-loading. If deemed unhealthy they are sent on to our veterinarian's facility. If deemed healthy they are stalled. After observation including health, attitude, and socialization, they are released to the herd. This period generally is no more than 14 days. Should full isolation be necessary we have the ability to set up a non-contact stall within hours.
     
     We do not formally document Henneke Body Condition Score. However, every equine that arrives is visually examined checking for visibility of all bones, overall muscular condition. Also we do not accept horses in need of major improvement as a result of neglect. We accept horses ready to work in a beginning riding program. At the annual veterinary inspection our veterinarian comments on the condition of each horse and all horses, since inception of the program, have been given clean bills of health. Beginning with the January 2023 Veterinary inspection we will document body condition scores.

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
    The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, does NOT breed equines.

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization may have a healthy equine euthanized if it is a threat to itself, other equines, or people and euthanasia is recommended by a veterinarian
    Our organization may 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
    Euthanasia is done at the veterinarian's facility
    Disposal of the carcass is handled within 24 hours

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

Additional information about our euthanasia policies and practices:
All euthanasia is done by a veterinarian UNLESS,in time of weather related crisis it is obvious that euthanasia is the only answer. In that case a gunshot to the brain may be necessary.

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

View Re-homing Agreement
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    All potential adopters/purchasers complete a written contract which constitutes the agreement between our organization and the new owner

The uploaded Re-homing agreement includes the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) statements:
    The agreement reflects that any individual or organization in possession of the equine as of the date of the agreement and any time thereafter is bound to not sell the equine at auction for slaughter or allow the equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that will cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter.
    The agreement states that should the adopter decide to re-home the equine, our organization must be notified of the name, address, and telephone number of any individual or organization intending to take possession of the equine for any reason prior to the equine being placed into the possession of such individual or organization.
    The agreement states that the terms of our organization's agreement will be binding on any future individual or organization taking and/or in possession of the equine for any reason.

Our organization requires references from the following:
    Not applicable or no references required.

Transfer of ownership occurs:   Immediately (at the time of adoption/purchase)

The average equine re-homing (adoption/purchase) fee received by your organization:
Not applicable; None received

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer useful, or are no longer manageable:
    Equines may be returned to their owners
    In the case an equine is unmanageable and demonstrates repeated dangerous behaviors, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian
    In the case an equine is unsound and/or unhealthy and cannot be treated to relieve suffering, the equine may be euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian

Additional information about our rehoming policies and practices:
Note, we generally do not re-home horses but, if that were to happen transfer of ownership would be immediate and checking for suitability of ownership would occur prior to transfer.