The mission of Baraboo River Equine-Assisted Therapies, Inc. (BREATHE) will be to provide equine-assisted activities and therapies to children and adults with special needs. BREATHE will operate as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. People with a wide spectrum of disabilities, ranging from spinal injuries to autism, have benefited from equine assisted activities and therapy (EAAT). Using EAAT,
therapy patients have improved both physically and psychologically (e.g., demonstrating increased attention, motivation, and communication skills). Equine assisted therapies have gained recognition internationally as an effective treatment strategy for a number of different clinet groups. EAAT offered will include:
-Horsemanship, riding lessons, and hippotherapy.
-Equine-facilitated learning and mental health, which uses the horse as a partner in cognitive and behavioral therapy.
-Ground work and stable management. Individuals unable or unwilling to ride can still benefit from the equine experience.
-PATH International Equine Services for Heroes, which uses a variety of EAAT disciplines specifically to help war veterans and military perseonnel. EAAT helps people from all backgrounds and all walks of life in a variety of ways, including increasing strength and flexibility, improving motor skills, promoting speech and cognitive reasoning, and building relationships and social skills. BREATHE is working hard in 2016 to establish funding, secure equipment, and train staff. If things go as planned, we will begin offering services in Baraboo during the Spring of 2017.
