News & Events
HOPE HILL FIRST TO OFFER EQUINE THERAPY
OCTOBER 2006 - HOPE HILL BECOMES FIRST IN KENTUCKY TO OFFER EQUINE THERAPY TO ABUSED AND NEGLECTED GIRLS:
It's been an extremely exciting time this month at Hope Hill as we've unveiled a groundbreaking equine therapy program for our at-risk, abused and neglected girls. The program, which uses Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses, has just begun at Hope Hill's campus and we've already enrolled ten of our girls.
"The benefits for the girls who are participating in the new equine program is immeasurable," said Hope Hill Chief Administrator, Steven Skees. "We've been able through our history to accomplish some incredible things in the lives of these at-risk girls and this new program gives us another innovative tool to continue to make a profound difference in their lives."
For many young women, Hope Hill represents a last chance for a new life after years of transitioning from one out of home placement to another. Many of the girls have suffered a great deal in their lives and the new Equine Therapy Program will allow them to relate, in
an unthreatening way, with an animal that needs care, feeding and attention.
The Hope Hill Equine Therapy Program is the brainchild of counselor and champion rider Alison Chambers (see the accompanying story for more on Alison) who began teaching the girls this week. Smokey and Susie Presseau, employees of Hope Hill, have loaned a couple of their own horses to get the program started. "We've been looking for new opportunities to reach these girls and this will allow them to learn some incredible skills from these beautiful animals," Alison said. "For instance, a girl here who has not bonded with another person and has no strong parental figures or support will find healing from working with the horses in this program."
The Hope Hill Equine Therapy program is using several Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horses, known for their strength and gentle disposition. Many of the girls at Hope Hill have come from urban areas of Kentucky and have never, until now, had the opportunity to touch or care for an animal. The Hope Hill Equine Therapy program provides a unique blend of new behavioral skills for the girls at the campus who choose to participate. The program is initially available to ten girls, recommended by Hope Hill staff therapists. The girls are also learning new mentoring skills, enabling them to lead other residents through the program in subsequent months.
"This program is a one of a kind opportunity for our girls, not offered by other facilities like ours anywhere in the state," said Mr. Skees. "We are extremely enthusiastic about the positive outcomes we believe this program will produce and are looking forward to building on its expected success."
