MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Our strong commitment to the concept of Horses, Hope, and Healing is personified in our Mission Statement: NCEFT is dedicated to helping children, adults, and military Veterans with special needs reach beyond boundaries through equine-assisted therapies, education, and research.

Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization does not provide 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.
99% of our total programs and services are horse-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)
    Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology

6: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

     1. Alexandra Barcelo, LMFT

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

         RELATIONSHIP: Employee

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Alex holds a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from USC. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Redlands where she majored in Sociology, Anthropology and Spanish. She has extensive experience working with children and families, most recently for the County of San Mateo as the lead Bilingual Youth Mental Health Clinician at San Mateo Medical Center. Alex joined NCEFT in September 2021.

     2. Anna Lee, Adaptive Riding Instructor

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

         RELATIONSHIP: Employee

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Therapeutic Mounted Services

         Therapeutic Unmounted Services

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Anna Lee, NCEFT Adaptive Riding Instructor
Anna is a Bay Area native who learned to ride in Portola Valley and first started volunteering in adaptive riding sessions when she was in high school. Anna did her Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) instructor apprenticeship while in grad school in Madison, Wisconsin. Anna returned to the Bay Area, Palo Alto, to start her Ph.D. in environmental science and found her way to NCEFT as a volunteer. She began teaching at NCEFT in 2015 and says she feels so lucky to have found such an amazing center with such talented horses, staff, and volunteers, and such a wonderful group of students and families. Anna enjoys baking, playing the viola, and long-distance trail running.

     3. Briana Carr, PsyD

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

         RELATIONSHIP: Employee

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Counseling (Mental Health)

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Briana holds a PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University. She previously worked as a staff Psychologist in the Dept of Psychiatry at Kaiser Permanente providing psychotherapy to adults, youth, and families. Her love for horses led her to pursue a career at NCEFT where she could connect people to the powerful experience of utilizing horses with mental health services.

     4. Chris Swan, PT & Program Director

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

         RELATIONSHIP: Employee

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Chris Swan, NCEFT Program Director, MSPT, ATC, HPCS
Chris has been with NCEFT since September 2007. Chris graduated with a BS in health education and athletic training before attaining her MS in physical therapy. In 1996, Chris trained with one of the pioneers of the treatment strategy of hippotherapy in the US, Barbara Heine, before going on to volunteer at NCEFT as a side walker and working as a per diem PT in 1998 and 1999. After that, Chris worked in out-patient orthopedic and home health settings before returning to NCEFT in 2007 and attaining her clinical specialist certification in 2010. Chris is mom to three boys, and she enjoys activities such as photography, kickboxing classes, hiking, dancing, jewelry making, and drawing. Chris loves her work at NCEFT because it represents a never-ending puzzle for her to solve and because she loves the interactions with patients who, although they are working hard, enjoy her playful and encouraging approach to their therapy.

     5. Matthew Gridley, Adaptive Riding Instructor

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

         RELATIONSHIP: Employee

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Therapeutic Mounted Services

         Therapeutic Unmounted Services

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Matt has lived in California for about a year. He hails from the East coast where he grew up riding. He worked as a Head Groom, Exercise Rider and Barn Manager for several International Show Jumping barns in North Carolina and Florida. In addition to his equestrian experience, Matt and his brother owned a coffee shop in upstate New York. Matt is currently in the process of receiving his certification from Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.)

     6. Meghan Rabello, OT

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

         RELATIONSHIP: Employee

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Meghan was born and raised in Los Gatos, CA. She earned a B.A. in Marketing from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas in 2008 and a M.S. in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University in 2013. She has enjoyed working with pediatric populations in a variety of settings, and is passionate about incorporating equine movement as a meaningful treatment tool to further function.

Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     Founded in 1971 and located in Woodside, California on the San Francisco Peninsula, NCEFT is internationally recognized as a pioneer and leader of equine-assisted programs. For over 52 years, NCEFT has tapped into the profound rehabilitative power of the human-horse relationship to facilitate healing to thousands of Bay Area children and adults (ages 2-85+) with physical and disabilities, as well as mental health conditions. Typical client diagnoses we treat include, but are not limited to, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Down syndrome, autism, developmental delay, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, paralysis, stroke, genetic disorders, ADHD, and learning or language disabilities, PTSD, anxiety, depression, social isolation, grief, and loss.
     
     Horses are at the heart of NCEFT’s programming. Our programs include:
     
     Physical and Occupational Therapy: Medically prescribed therapy, integrating the use of a horse’s movement as part of the treatment strategy. The horse’s movement creates sensory input that helps the patient improve balance, core strength, sensory integration, as well as functional independence, and confidence. Delivered by licensed physical, occupational, and speech therapists, the results are long-term, deep-impact rehabilitation that profoundly improve health and well-being.
     
     Adaptive Riding: Recreational horseback riding and horsemanship lessons, adapted to meet the ability of each individual.
     
     Horsemanship Academy: A 10-week, ground-based horsemanship skills and education program.
     
     Veterans & First Responders Programs encourage physical and cognitive rehabilitation, providing veterans and first responders a safe environment to reclaim their independence, confidence, and strength. All veterans and first responders are treated free of charge, and all funding for these programs comes from the generosity of donors and grantors.
     
     Mental Health & Resilience Programs bring together teams of licensed mental health professionals, equine specialists, and horses to benefit individuals emotionally, mentally, and behaviorally. Clients use ground-based interactions with horses to improve communication, problem solving skills, build trust and self-confidence, address emotional roadblocks, and overcome fears and PTSD.
     
     Special Education School Programs & Happy Trails Camp provides field-study learning where children with disabilities get to explore the great outdoors, take ATV rides, discover the joys of animals, get creative with arts and crafts, ride on NCEFT’s horses, and more! We serve special education classes of several local school districts as well as independent schools.


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:
 NCEFT hires a local petting zoo for our Happy Trails Camp program, which is held annually in the summer. The petting zoo includes animals such as chickens, goats, rabbits, etc. They are hired for approximately two hours per year for this one event.

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

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

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Auction  
    Kill pen/Feedlot  
    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:
Some breeds that have large size or gaits would preclude them from serving as a good therapy horse - they would be too tall or too fast at a walk to accommodate side walking.

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, the owner is responsible for having vaccinations administered.

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
    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 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

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
    A Henneke Body Conditioning Score or other body conditioning score is assigned
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Vaccinations
    De-worming
    The equine is scanned to check for a 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

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
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)
    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


Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   Daily

Additional information about our intake, assessment & training policies and practices:
We require owner verification that the equine is healthy, vaccinations are up to date, and temperature taken prior to a horse being brought onto our property. Horses are then isolated for 3 days, while temperature is monitored.

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 will never have a healthy equine euthanized under any circumstances
    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
    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:
Re: methods of euthanasia, sedation would be administered prior to an intravenous administration of an overdose of barbiturates.

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
    Our organization conducts a site visit of the adopter/purchaser's facility before the transfer of the equine to the adopter/purchaser's facility
    Adopters/purchasers are NOT required to provide updates

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.

Our organization requires references from the following:
    Veterinarian

Transfer of ownership occurs:   Immediately (at the time of adoption/purchase) or less than one year

The average equine re-homing (adoption/purchase) fee received by your organization:
Over $1,500

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 remain at our organization for their lifetimes
    Equines may be found suitable homes by our organization
    Equines may be returned to their owners