Shoulder to Shoulder Ranch
Touching Hearts Through Equine Assisted Activities.
“And they will serve Him Shoulder to Shoulder.”
Equine Assisted Learning
Shoulder to Shoulder (S2S) Ranch exists to provide high quality physical and emotional equine assisted learning, utilizing the equine as the instrument of the ministry. We work with all ages of individuals with various physical, cognitive, and emotional needs. Each person that engages at S2S Ranch will experience help and hope as they receive individualized instruction, encouragement, and care as staff members serve them.
We walk directly “shoulder to shoulder” not just with our clients but the families as well, strengthening bonds and empowering our clients to realize their full potential.
Making Riding Accessible To All
Teach
Instructors will teach equine assisted activities to students with varying intellectual, physical, spiritual, and emotional needs.
Train
Staff will train volunteers for all aspects of assisted riding, serving individuals, helping staff with on-going needs of the ministry such as chores, maintenance of the grounds, and other opportunities.
Tie
Through raising awareness of increasing needs of persons with intellectual, physical, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual challenges, a community of individuals, organizations and churches will have an
opportunity to support and encourage the sustainment of S2S Ranch.
Touch
The overall priority of each session or experience is to bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ for encouragement to individuals through various tools such as: modeling positive behavior, certified instruction, and edifying encouragement as staff walks shoulder to shoulder serving God and serving participants in the process.
We help our riders identify perceived limitations and empower them to reach their full potential.
Benefits of Equine Assisted Activities
Participants work on following multi-step instructions, understanding cause and effect relationships, effective task sequencing, and assessing and reducing risk. Directing a horse through specialized sequencing tasks helps support executive functions, planning, attention, focus, cognitive processing, and working memory development for participants.
Increase Balance, Muscle Tone and Core Strength
Increase Cognition, Motor Coordination, Work Readiness and Self-Esteem
Decreased Dissociative Symptoms, Depression, and Negative Affect
Provides Sensory Input, Improve Flexibility, and Communication Skills
Builds Trust, Respect, and Promotes Compassion
Improves Spatial Awareness and Challenges Self Growth