Children's Farm Home's horseback riding lessons now open to the public
"You're not working on the horse, you're working on yourself." Ray Hunt, 1978. Trillium's Children's Farm Home Therapeutic Horse
Program is pleased to announce that riding lessons and horse therapy/"equine facilitated learning" are now available to the public.
Riding lessons are open to any member of the community. Lessons at the Beginning and Intermediate levels will
be available and both will include training on how to groom, tack, handle and ride horses. The classes will focus on proper Western
and/or English-style horsemanship techniques for riders of all ages.
Also, horse therapy and equine facilitated learning will be offered for children experiencing mental health challenges including autism,
bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, clinical depression, attention deficit disorder and other conditions. In addition to teaching balance
and coordination, horse therapy has proven effective in improving communication skills, patience, concentration, positive thinking, acceptance,
and many other important capabilities. Because the focus is on building life skills, not all lessons are solely about riding. Groundwork
such as grooming allows students the opportunity to build relationship skills. Horsemanship comes as a natural result.
All lessons will last one hour. For more information about fees and schedules, please contact Kezzie Kvidt at (541)758-5979 or kkvidt@trilliumfamily.org.
About Trillium Family Services
Trillium Family Services, a nonprofit organization, provides the highest quality diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioral
health challenges for young people in Oregon. Working collaboratively with young people, their families and their communities, we
support better outcomes for the more than 130,000 young people living with mental and behavioral health challenges each year.
Trillium offers programs and services in three regions - Portland Metro, Mid-Willamette Valley, and Central Oregon. Last year,
Trillium served 7,000 children and families from 30 of Oregon's 36 counties.
