Our PROGRAM
Never Say Never offers children the opportunity to participate in non-riding horse and animal related activities that still incorporate therapeutic human-horse interaction. This practice is most commonly known in the industry as EAA, or Equine Assisted Activities.
The intuitive and accepting nature of the horse motivates participants to achieve physical, emotional, social and educational goals with a special horse and/or the other farm animals. We provide the opportunity for children to safely care for and build a relationship with the horses using natural horsemanship methods. This special relationship with the horses and animals promotes trust, mutual respect, communication, self-confidence, assertiveness, and leadership skills.
What is EAA or Equine Assisted Activity?
Equine assisted activities (EAA) refers to services provided by a non-licensed professional that utilizes the inherent therapeutic benefits of being around horses to enhance non-clinical activities. Never Say Never Foundation employs the practice of using horses and the farm environment and animals as a form of emotional healing and connection for individuals with life challenges.
The EAA Program of Never Say Never Foundation
"Barn Buddies", the EAA program at our farm and stables, employ the use of interaction with horses and animals as a means of finding hope, comfort, inspiration and joy. Equine and Animal Assisted Activities in and around the barn are adapted to the child’s abilities and interests.
We partner children with horses and farm animals providing a unique and emotionally safe space to explore a wide variety of social/emotional skills including empathy, trust, compassion, outward focus and engaging in positive relationships. Equine and Animal Assisted Activities focus on the social, emotional and behavioral needs of clients.
When a child has a challenge with mobility, speech, or confidence, traditional therapy can sometimes be challenging, boring, frustrating, and at times, painful. At NSN we offer opportunities for children to practice vocal skills, motor skills, and confidence while engaging with the animals. Some activities might include brushing goats, leading horses, holding chickens, petting bunnies and barn cats, walking dogs, cradling a gentle duck, as well as performing meaningful chores or projects around the farm and stables. Collecting eggs, making special food or treats for a particular animal, feeding hay, filling water, and cleaning or sweeping an area are all part of building confidence and a developing a sense of self worth, a feeling of being needed and useful to the animals.
Often children find new friends – first in the animal and then in the warm, caring, supporting team of volunteer support staff. They look forward to seeing their special “human” every week just as much as the special animals! For that reason, our volunteers remain consistently and reliably committed to each child they work with.
EAA and EAA/T (Therapy)~ What's the difference?
EAA benefits a wide variety of people, young and old. It can complement existing therapies or stand alone as a valuable therapeutic modality.
EAA/T ("T" indicating therapy) includes the additional component of a licensed psychologist and medical professional team certified in mental and physical therapy. EAA/T may or may not utilize therapeutic riding as part of a clients physical and/or emotional therapy plan. Never Say Never is not an EAA/T therapeutic provider or riding program.
EAA in the stables can include learning parts of the horse, how horses communicate with us, how we can care for horses by feeding and watering them, grooming them and keeping their living areas clean and dry (and teaching why all those things are important!) Children can choose specific activities weekly, including grooming, bathing, braiding, decorating, tacking, leading, basic training exercises, and even playing games with their horse from the ground. Children can enjoy a multitude of activities with the other animals, such as walking the trails with our goats, feeding chickens and collecting their eggs, giving snuggles to our friendly barn cat, and preparing meals and treats for all the animals. This program encourages nurturing, compassion, outward focus, responsibility, empowerment and leadership as well as communication with their horse and their volunteer leader.