Our Mission
Willow Ranch promotes hope, healing and wellness using equine assisted counseling for children and adults.
We are certified in both the EAGALA and SPUR models.
SPUR
The Spur Model is an Equine Facilitated Social Intelligence Approach to Relationship Building.
If you could actually learn how to get along better, know yourself a bit more, and end up a better “you” as a result, wouldn’t it be worth exploring the possibilities?
This Social Program Uniquely Relational does just that!
Interactive horse activities, both ground and mounted, are in a game format that are designed to allow the horse and human to partner together in “horseplay” as they learn how to solve interesting puzzle type maneuvers. This experiential model offers inSPURational learning in the moment of the here and now. This is where relationship strengths and challenges are addressed, such as critical life and communication skills, from which all people can benefit. InSPURational rapport is created, as well, through the equine activities that can bring into focus personal issues and character qualities in an efficient and effective manner. Support, caring and compassionate mentorship can be found in this strengths perspective orientation. The belief is that through working with the horse, humans are able to access greater potential and work towards a fuller, healthier, and more nourishing life.
Eagala — a global standard
“The eagala model is so effective because it embraces the science that humans learn best by doing. The model prescribes a hands-on approach where clients are given the space to project and analyze their situations, make connections, and find their own solutions. Since the solutions are personally experienced in conjunction with intellectual understanding, they tend to be deeper, more profound, and longer lasting.”
Learn more information about the eagala model here.
Why horses?
Horses are intelligent prey animals, they have presence, and they are herd animals with distinct personalities.
To evade predators, horses have evolved to be extremely sensitive to their environment. They instinctively analyze and react to our body language and other nonverbal cues providing us with valuable feedback and insights for other areas of our lives.
Approaching horses helps us reflect how we approach our relationships and how we can face other big or overwhelming things in our lives.
Horses are social animals with defined roles within a herd. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. They could be stubborn or they could be playful. In other words, horses are a lot like us.
Information from eagala.org
In Memory of
Jessica Ann Hatcher
3.3.1993—6.21.2011
Horse Lover and EAGALA Equine Specialist
“Count your blessings”
“Praise be to the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4