Jasper Ridge Farm

WellnessBuddiesPartnering with mental health organizations, clinicians and school-based therapists, this programs goal is to improve the mental well-being of youth in our community. Therapists bring their client children to Jasper Ridge Farm to integrate our support animals into their therapy sessions, which significantly improves the effectiveness of those sessions because the animals put the children at ease and encourage them to open up more willingly. This program is especially effective in children for whom English is a second language. This program creates a safe atmosphere, incorporates animal interaction into the therapy sessions to improve mood and reduce anxiety, and teaches the children techniques in mindfulness.Through this program, we also transport our therapy animals to schools to help large groups of students reduce stress and anxiety.Additionally, therapists can participate in T4T (Therapy for Therapists) sessions themselves as a way to reduce their own stress and anxiety, which is inevitable in their work.Total served in 2023: 1345

HorseBuddiesThis is a unique experiential learning program where horses provide the mode of learning for special needs students in our community. The goals of this program are to increase the physical activity, and improve the mental and social well-being of students. Horseback riding and horsemanship activities require increased physical activity and improve level of fitness, balance, coordination and core strength. Learning new skills and overcoming fears improve feelings of self-confidence and self-esteem. Participating in a group of peers is a team-building experience where students encourage, motivate and support each other.Total served in 2023: 509

HorseHeroesThis is an adaptive horseback riding program created to serve Veterans, disabled Veterans and active military, who participate along with a VA staff Recreational Therapist. Veterans benefit physically through horseback riding, which requires balance, coordination and core strength. They benefit emotionally through learning new skills and overcoming challenges, which improves self-confidence and self-esteem, and they benefit socially from participating in a group of their peers, where they encourage, motivate and support each other.Total served in 2023: 191