EQUUS Foundation

VIRTUAL AND HANDS-ON LEARNING TIMETABLE
The internship program consists of two components to be conducted within a six-week period and designed to encourage the interns to understand the role horses have played in the history of civilization and to witness the current impact of horses to empower, teach and heal:

1. The virtual learning phase is an online module called THE HORSE: COMMODITY OR PARTNER. The purpose of this online learning experience is to give the interns a deeper understanding of the positive impact of the horse-human bond in the past and present -- and facts for the interns to become effective advocates to protect America's horses now and in the future.

2. The onsite hands-on experiences conducted by the grant recipient will provide the opportunity for the interns to:

1. Gain a basic understanding of horse care, health & wellness

2. Understand the therapeutic role of horses

3. Understand how Equine Assisted Services (EAS) help a wide range of people

4. Observe & experience the Equine Assisted Services (EAS) conducted by the grant recipient in action

Session 1: Onsite: Kick Off & Learning Phase Overview Session

• Welcome by coordinator

• Introduction of interns

• Introduction of personnel who will teach or lead on-site sessions and serve as mentors to the interns

• Explanation of timetable, time commitment and expectations for the internship program, including explanation of the programs/workshops/trainings that will be available for observation and the session that will be available for hands-on participation, concluding with the Virtual and Onsite Wrap-Up Session.

• Demonstration of Virtual Learning Phase

• Tour of the facility

• Hands-on session gaining a basic understanding of horse care, health & wellness to include safety considerations when working with and around horses, general horse care (grooming, feeding, work schedule, turnout) and horse behaviors (how they think and feel as prey animals vs. predators)

• Q & A

Session 2: Onsite: Equine Assisted Services (EAS) Introduction, Observation & Immersion

• Following the completion of the virtual component by the interns:

• Educational session conducted by your Equine Assisted Service Providers (mental health professional, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist, therapeutic horsemanship instructor, etc.) including their role, certifications, and what drew them to their work.

• Hands-on session demonstrating the Equine Assisted Services conducted by the organization in which the interns function as observers and/or volunteers.

• Uniquely designed based on programs offered by your organization.

• Interns participate in role-play as clients and volunteers so that they can experience EAS first-hand.

Session 3: Wrap-Up Activities: Virtual & Onsite

• Conducted onsite with the interns and center personnel who helped or mentored the interns, to include:

• A 30-minute virtual component initiated via Zoom by the EQUUS Foundation, moderated by Dr. Terri Champney, to provide an opportunity for the interns to discuss their thoughts on the role of horses in the history of civilization, how horses enhance the lives of people, and why horses need advocates as well as provide feedback on the internship program.

• An opportunity for your organization to encourage the interns to continue to support your center and to encourage them to recommend others. Feel free to provide each intern with a certificate and your center's literature.

GRANT GUIDELINES

Only EQUUS Foundation Guardian charities that conduct Equine Assisted Services (EAS) are eligible to receive the Leonard I. Gilman Horses & Humans Grant conditional upon their meeting the following guidelines:

1. The organization will be responsible for completing and submitting the online request to be considered as a recipient of the Leonard I. Gilman Horses & Humans Grant. As part of the grant request, your organization will be asked to:

a. Describe in detail how your organization plans to provide immersive, interactive and experiential community service aimed at fostering lifelong advocacy for the vital role of horses now and in the future through onsite education and interactions with horses – to include a description of each session where your interns will be introduced to your herd and learn basic horse care, observe and/or volunteer for the equine assisted services at your organization, either on-site at your center, or off-site such as an outreach program, and actively participate to appreciate the impact of the horse-human bond.

b. Provide the name, title, email, phone, and qualifications of the overall coordinator who will manage the internship.

c. Provide the names, titles, and qualifications of personnel who will teach or lead on-site sessions, serve as mentors to your interns and who may also need to participate in program follow-up, such as your director, professionals from your facilitating or treatment team, program coordinator and equine care manager.

d. Describe the process by which you plan to recruit and select participants.

2. The organization will be responsible for establishing the dates for each of the required sessions and obtaining approval of the EQUUS Foundation before proceeding.

3. The organization will be responsible for recruiting at least five (5) individuals who have not previously volunteered for the organization to participate in the program as interns - the majority of which should be either high school juniors or seniors, or college-aged individuals.

4. The organization will be responsible for providing requested information on each participating intern and center personnel, including the coordinator, to the EQUUS Foundation at least two weeks prior to the Kickoff Session; the EQUUS Foundation will create an online record for each intern and center personnel, including the coordinator, and provide the coordinator with the login instructions.

5. The organization will be responsible for ensuring that the interns complete the virtual learning experience, the on-site educational sessions, the hands-on human-horse interactions, and the wrap-up activities.

6. The organization will be responsible for and required to take photos/videos of the sessions to submit to the EQUUS Foundation as part of the grant report on the use of the funds. The photos/videos are for internal use and will not be made public without the expressed written consent of the organization and the participants.

7. The organization will be responsible for providing a written report to the EQUUS Foundation following the completion of the wrap-up activities on the use of the funds and the impact of the internship program.

DEFINITIONS:
Equine Transition Services (ETS): Services involved with equines in transition, including the rescue of equines at peril, rehabilitation, training, re-homing, and/or the provision of sanctuary and/or retirement of equines.
—Equines in transition: Any equine that is currently in transition from one home, vocation, opportunity or owner to the next. Throughout its lifetime, most horses will have multiple homes and owners. Often, these horses find themselves in transition due to no fault of their own, rather when their owners cannot, or no longer wish to, care for their horses as the result of a change in the owner's circumstances.
—At peril/At risk: An equine that has an increased possibility of experiencing a situation of neglect, abuse, general poor welfare, and/or an inhumane death.

Equine-Assisted Services (EAS): Refers to various services in which professionals incorporate horses and other equines to benefit people. It is consistent with terminology used for animal-assisted services or interventions. Three areas of EAS have been identified: Therapy, Learning and Horsemanship. These services are further defined in the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines for Conducting Equine-Assisted Services.
Special Needs: Any difficulty or difficulties (such as a physical, emotional, behavioral, or cognitive disability or impairment) that causes an individual to require additional or specialized services or accommodations. The difficulty may not be limited to a health issue but may result from the interaction between the individual and the society in which he or she lives arising from an abusive or unhealthy environment or situation and/or a lack of resources, including economic resources, placing them at risk of a future with less than optimal outcomes.
At-Risk: Generally refers to a future with less than optimal outcomes and/or a situation(s) where an individual, family, or group is vulnerable to harm, neglect, or adverse outcomes due to factors like poverty, disabilities, or specific circumstances

Outreach: Public education programs and activities that incorporate equine interactions and/or the equine environment, mounted or unmounted, aimed at educating the public about the horse-human bond and issues impacting the welfare of horses, and allowing the public to experience how horses enhance lives of people; such programs and activities include, but are not limited to, off site visits with horses at hospitals, nursing homes, and schools, on site tours, seminars and clinics, camps, volunteer/community service programs, and mounted and unmounted lessons and/or activities - OTHER THAN Equine Assisted Services (EAS) that require a credentialed service provider.