Our PROGRAMs
|
Barn Buddies (One-on-One)
A personalized program designed around each participant's unique interests, abilities, and goals. Every visit is individualized. Participants may groom a horse, prepare treats, collect eggs, cuddle the rabbit, feed the sheep, help care for the chickens and ducks, complete simple barn jobs, or simply enjoy quiet companionship with the animals. Every activity is chosen to encourage confidence, independence, and meaningful connection. Stable Skills (Small Groups) Our Stable Skills program introduces participants to the daily routines of caring for horses and other friendly barn animals while developing practical life skills in a welcoming group environment. Activities may include:
|
Agency Partnerships
We proudly partner with schools, community organizations, and agencies serving individuals with diverse abilities.
Programs are customized to meet each group's needs and provide engaging, hands-on barn experiences that promote learning, cooperation, confidence, and meaningful interaction with horses and animals.
Whether visiting once or participating in an ongoing series, every group is welcomed into an authentic working barn where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and belong.
We proudly partner with schools, community organizations, and agencies serving individuals with diverse abilities.
Programs are customized to meet each group's needs and provide engaging, hands-on barn experiences that promote learning, cooperation, confidence, and meaningful interaction with horses and animals.
Whether visiting once or participating in an ongoing series, every group is welcomed into an authentic working barn where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and belong.
what is equine assisted activities (eaa)?
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.
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 from specific lessons weekly, including how to groom, bathe, braid, decorate, tack, lead, do basic training exercises, and even learn how to play games with their horse from the ground. Children can enjoy a multitude of lessons with the other animals, such as learning how to care for and feed the sheep, learning how to feed chickens and collect their eggs, caring for our the barn cats, 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.