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Hooves for Hope Equine Services
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Beginner Horse Riding Lessons
Equine Assisted Coaching
Day Retreats
First Responder P.A.U.S.E. Program
Summer and School Break Events
Events
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Media
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Hooves for Hope Equine Services
Home
About
Beginner Horse Riding Lessons
Equine Assisted Coaching
Day Retreats
First Responder P.A.U.S.E. Program
Summer and School Break Events
Events
Reviews
Media
Contact
Home
About
Folder: Services
Back
Beginner Horse Riding Lessons
Equine Assisted Coaching
Day Retreats
First Responder P.A.U.S.E. Program
Summer and School Break Events
Events
Reviews
Media
Contact

Program Goals

  • Reduce stress and burnout

  • Strengthen emotional regulation

  • Improve communication and teamwork

  • Promote mindfulness and grounding

  • Build resilience through connection with horses

  • Provide a peaceful, judgment-free reset from high-intensity work

Program Structure (Example: 3-Hour Workshop)

1. Welcome & Decompression (20 minutes)

  • Light refreshments

  • Short introduction to horse behavior and safety

  • A quiet moment in the barn to transition out of work-mode

Purpose: Helps responders shift into a calmer headspace

2. Grounding & Mindfulness with Horses (30 minutes)

  • Breathing exercises beside a horse

  • “Heart rate sync” observation (noticing how horses respond to human calm)

  • Gentle grooming or brushing

Why it works: Horses reflect tension; responders see instant feedback as they relax.

3. Stress & Communication Workshop (40 minutes)

Activity: Leading a horse through simple patterns or obstacles using calm, clear cues.

  • Focus on body language

  • Maintaining calm under pressure

  • Adjusting approach when things don’t go as planned

Skill takeaway: Emotional regulation and adaptive communication—the same skills used in emergency scenes, but in a supported, quiet environment.

4. Teamwork Challenge (45 minutes)

Group activity: Two or more participants must guide a horse through a task together—like a maze, poles, or a series of cones—without talking, or with designated communication rules.

Purpose:

  • Builds trust

  • Encourages non-verbal communication

  • Creates camaraderie without job stress

5. Reflection & Reset (25 minutes)

  • Journaling or private reflection

  • Group discussion circle (optional)

  • Time to simply stand with the horses and breathe

Goal: Encourages processing, grounding, and emotional release.

Optional Add-Ons

  • Trail ride or guided walk with horses

  • Resilience workshop (goal setting, coping tools, burnout prevention)

  • Groundwork liberty demonstration

  • Yoga or stretching by the pasture

  • Debrief session with a licensed counselor (if included as therapy)

Why Horses Work Especially Well for First Responders

  • Horses reflect internal stress instantly—making self-awareness easier.

  • Their calm, rhythmic movement naturally lowers tension.

  • Working with a 1,000-pound animal builds confidence and presence.

  • They offer a non-judgmental, peaceful environment—very different from high-adrenaline work settings.

Optional Add-Ons

  • Trail ride or guided walk with horses

  • Resilience workshop (goal setting, coping tools, burnout prevention)

  • Groundwork liberty demonstration

  • Yoga or stretching by the pasture OR sitting by the pond in quiet

  • Debrief session with a licensed counselor (if included as therapy)

Why Horses Work Especially Well for First Responders

  • Horses reflect internal stress instantly—making self-awareness easier.

  • Their calm, rhythmic movement naturally lowers tension.

  • Working with a 1,000-pound animal builds confidence and presence.

  • They offer a non-judgmental, peaceful environment—very different from high-adrenaline work settings.

Hooves for Hope Equine Services

  • Tuesday - Friday 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. CST.

  • Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. CST and 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. CST

  • Sunday - Monday - closed

StrideWell Equine Body Work

  • On call

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Location

690 VZ County Road 2307 Canton, TX 75103

Contact

hoovesforhopeequineservicestx@gmail.com

stridewelleb@gmail.com

682 808 8707