MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Our mission is to support the growth and overall well-being of all individuals, including those with special needs by providing Equine Assisted Services (EAS) in a safe, caring and professional environment.

Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization provides outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
Over 90% of our total programs and services are equine-related.

Our organization does not CURRENTLY use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities.
Summary of organization's recent accomplishments, goals, strategies to achieve the goals, and capabilities to meet the goals, including its long-term plans to sustain its programs:
Shepard Meadows is entering our third decade of providing equine-assisted services! Over the past few years our programs have grown to include therapeutic/adaptive riding, hippotherapy (physical therapy and speech and language), senior and veterans programs, youth development, equine assisted learning and psychotherapy, equine facilitation and equine Gestalt coaching. In response to community need, our mental health programs have grown alongside our unmounted horsemanship programs.
     
     In 2024, our board of directors adopted a new 3-year strategic plan and revisited our mission, vision and values in concert with the staff. Our new vision is to make a difference in the world, one person at a time through creative, non-traditional, and experiential equine-assisted services (EAS) that are impactful and transformation for the self, family, and larger community. We envision connecting with, challenging and empowering individuals through a holistic lens while bringing mindfulness and joy to all ages. Our values include: compassion, inclusivity, community, innovation, and transformation. We also adopted DEI with the following statement: We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. SMEC is committed to promoting diversity, ensuring equity and fostering inclusion.
     
     Our herd is happy and healthy. We strive to assure that we meet them exactly where they are. Thanks to the variety of our programming, each equine is able to work within their forte and ability. We pride ourselves on celebrating the differences within our herd in the same way that we do our staff and our participants.
     
     We are excited for our future! We have invested heavily in our facility over the past few years to support our programming and it has paid off. Our future is bright and we are dedicated to continuing serving the ever-changing needs of our community.



Please describe what steps your organization takes to ensure that:
1) all interactions between your equines and people are mutually beneficial and conducted in accordance with the Guidelines for Human-Equine Interactions stated below;
2) all equines in the care of our organization and/or equines that participate in the organization's program have access to clean drinking water at all times; nutritious food in sufficient quantity, including natural forage such as pasture grass and/or hay; appropriate veterinary, farrier, and dental care; shelter and protection from the weather; sufficient safe space to move around comfortably on a daily basis; and daily opportunity to freely interact and have contact with other equines:

1) Our horses are valued partners in our equine-assisted services. The comfort and dignity of our horses is paramount and we truly believe they are sentient creatures. We maintain concise and clear records of their activities and assure that their welfare comes first. Our horses are monitored daily by our professional staff to assure their physical and mental health. Our programs are always conducted in a safe and careful manner, with a true respect and protection for their well-being. Under no circumstance would we risk the health and well-being of one of our herd members or that of our participant by not assessing the equine prior to, during and after an activity. The respect and understanding that we provide our horses is critically important to our organization. We are grateful for their service.
     
     2) Our facility is top-notch and our staff is too. Our equine have housing that matches their temperaments and they are monitored daily. Stalls, pastures and run-in sheds are cleaned two times per day. They have appropriate and regular medical, dental and farrier care. Our paddocks, run-in sheds and fencing are walked daily. We have a caretaker on the property for night-checks and times when the main office is closed. We have our own hay fields, pasture grass, automatic waterers and a feed schedule designed for each unique equine. With 26 acres, our horses are comfortable and happy.

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Therapeutic/Adaptive Riding
    Therapeutic/Adaptive Unmounted Horsemanship
    Psychotherapy/Counseling
    Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy/Speech-Language Pathology
    Academic Learning
    Personal Development Learning

7: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Shepard Meadows Equestrian Center