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Thank-you for considering Horse Time as a volunteer or clinical training experience. Horse Time was founded in 1996 by a group of individuals committed to the belief that horse-human interactions can provide the basis for uniquely effective mental health treatment. The program opened August 18, 1997 on the grounds of Falconwood Farm, owned and operated by the Faulkner family, in Covington, Georgia. 501 c (3) nonprofit status was attained in early 1998. Since that time, Horse Time has served hundreds of children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of psychosocial and behavioral challenges in individual and group psychotherapy and in therapeutic horsemanship lessons. Our clients have come to us through residential treatment programs, day treatment programs, mental health centers, pediatrician’s offices, schools, and self-referral throughout the Greater Atlanta area.
Therapeutic horsemanship at Horse Time is simply providing a horsemanship lesson to individuals and groups with special needs while modifying the lesson to accommodate the special need. The lesson may include grooming, horse handling and care, barn management (such as stall or tack cleaning; feeding), learning about horse behavior such as body language and herd behavior, or mounted activities such as riding and vaulting (gymnastics on the back of a horse). Horse Time integrates psychosocial and behavioral goal achievement into the lessons as desired and appropriate (such as self-esteem, body awareness, social skills).
While an equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) session may look just like a therapeutic horsemanship session as far as the physical activities involved, the two are very different. A client participating in EFP is working on the achievement of measurable psychosocial and behavioral goals specified in their treatment plan. The sessions are facilitated by a licensed, credentialed mental health professional and specially trained assistants. Working with the horses is a special tool utilized by these trained therapists to meet the needs of clients desiring and/or needing an experiential treatment approach.
Special needs served at Horse Time have included cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome, Down’s Syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and a variety of other developmental, anxiety, behavioral, mood, psychotic, and substance abuse disorders. Additionally, we have worked with clients with gender identity issues, abuse histories, and eating disorders.
Horse Time is accredited by NARHA, the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.(1-800-369-7433/www.narha.org) Our instructors are certified by NARHA, and our psychotherapists are all licensed and credentialed to independently practice in the state of Georgia. The program is insured through NARHA, and our coverage extends to volunteers and students.
As one of the Southeast’s only
equine-facilitated health centers, Horse Time provides unique training
and internship opportunities for clinical students interested in this
progressive treatment tool. Horse
Time practitioners have trained numerous clinical students from universities
such as Clemson, Emory, Georgia State,The University of Georgia, Argosy University, and the State
University of West Georgia in addition to Oxford College here in Newton County.
We are proud to have hosted trainees from England, Belgium and Australia
as well as from all regions of the USA. Dr.
Patti Owen-Smith of Oxford College presented her research study of Horse Time
clients at the International Congress of Psychology in Stockholm, Sweden.
Additionally, our staff has presented on related topics at conferences
around the country and have published articles in several well-known trade
journals.
Horse Time has enjoyed the support of hundreds of wonderful volunteers and supporters since opening in 1997. Whether you would like to assist weekly with providing services or can just come and help us at a horse show, community event or workshop, we welcome your interest and would love to get to know you and put your talents to work! Hands-on volunteers generally have had past experience either with horses, special needs individuals, or both. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old.
Should you want to volunteer but are not sure where you might fit in, give us a call anyway! We have had many volunteers who have assisted by building needed equipment, helping with facilities maintenance or horse care, or donating services such as art design or accounting services. Our phone number is 770-784-9777 or you may email us if you are interested in volunteering.
Volunteer orientation sessions are held periodically throughout the year as needed. Please call for the next date! Hope to see you at the farm!
Sincerely,
Tammy Lea Siddell Maureen Vidrine, MS, RN, CS
Horse Time Volunteer Coordinator Horse Time Director
Job Title: Clinical assistant
Supervised by: Psychotherapist
Requirements: The clinical assistant has had significant previous experience in a clinically-related field (special education, mental health, social work, etc.) and/or is a student in a clinically-related field. Clinical assistants must be high school graduates and must be able to both commit to consistently helping with a client or class and to participating in clinical supervision with the facilitating psychotherapist. Previous horse experience is preferred but not necessarily required.
General description of duties: The clinical assistant assists the psychotherapist during individual, group, or family therapy by observing and supporting the client and/or horse throughout the session. The clinical assistant provides input in planning, implementing, and evaluating each session and may be asked to assist with documentation of the session.
Job
Title: Hippotherapy
– Clinical Intern
Supervised by: Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant
Requirements: The Clinical Intern is a student either in a Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant program of study. Clinical Interns must be able to commit to consistently helping with treatment sessions and to participating in pre-and/or post-session processing with their clinical Instructor - the P.T. or P.T.A. Previous horse experience is preferred but not necessarily required. An understanding of principles of hippotherapy, pediatrics, gait/kinesiology, therex, sensory integration and neurologic functioning required.
General description of duties: The clinical assistant assists the Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant during individual physical therapy treatment sessions by supporting the Therapist, patient, family and/or horse throughout each session. The clinical assistant provides input regarding observations and assists as requested with planning, implementing, and treatment with each session. The clinical assistant may be asked to assist with documentation of the session.
Job Title: Hippotherapy Horse Handler
Supervised by: Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant
Requirements: Horse handlers must be expert horse people with and extensive background caring for, handling, and/or riding horses. They must be at least 14 years old and large and strong enough to control their assigned horse.
General Description of Duties: The horse handler takes responsibility for all aspects of horse care and handling before, during, after, and between sessions or classes. This includes activities such as: catching, grooming, tacking, cooling out, bathing, leading, long lining and exercising and schooling (as directed). Horse handlers may be asked to assist with a class or session by walking with a horse, obtaining equipment for a horse (like side reins, long lines), or tending to horses' needs (getting them a drink of water or fly spray). Horse handlers for HPOT must be able to stop and square the horse, lead in straight lines, be able to have the horse track up correctly, be able to change the horses’ impulsion and tempo of horses’movement by different leading techniques. Horse handlers who ride or school must do so with clear directions from the Horse Time staff and must adhere to all policies pertaining to such activities.
Job Title: Hippotherapy -Long Lining Horse Handler
Supervised by: Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant
Requirements: Horse handlers must be expert horse people with and extensive background caring for, handling, riding horses with basic understanding of dressage principles. They must be at least 14 years old and large and strong enough to control their assigned horse. They must be proficient in lunging and longlining or ground driving skills and techniques. Must complete horse handler/long lining basic training for the HPOT session with therapist.
General Description of Duties: The horse handler takes responsibility for all aspects of horse care and handling before, during, after, and between sessions or classes. This includes activities such as: catching, grooming, tacking, cooling out, bathing, clipping, leading, and exercising and schooling (as directed). Horse handlers may be asked to assist with a class or session by long lining the horse (with or without side reins), obtaining equipment for a horse (like protective leg boots), or tending to horses' needs (getting them a drink of water or fly spray). Horse handlers who ride or school must do so with clear directions from the Horse Time staff and must adhere to all policies pertaining to such activities.
Job Title: Horse Handler
Supervised by: Therapeutic Horsemanship Instructor, Psychotherapist, Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant
Requirements: Horse handlers must be expert horse people with and extensive background caring for, handling, and/or riding horses. They must be at least 14 years old and large and strong enough to control their assigned horse.
General Description of Duties: The horse handler takes responsibility for all aspects of horse care and handling before, during, after, and between sessions or classes. This includes activities such as: catching, grooming, tacking, cooling out, bathing, clipping, leading, and exercising and schooling (as directed). Horse handlers may be asked to assist with a class or session by walking with a horse (with or without a lead rope), obtaining equipment for a horse (like a crop), or tending to horses' needs (getting them a drink of water or fly spray). Horse handlers who ride or school must do so with clear directions from the Horse Time staff and must adhere to all policies pertaining to such activities.
Supervised by: Therapeutic Horsemanship Instructor, Psychotherapist, Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant
Requirements: Sidewalkers/Spotters must be physically able to assist riders and vaulters. Therefore, they must be at least 14 years of age and tall and strong enough to provide needed assistance (such as leg-ups) to Horse Time clients.
General Description of Duties: Sidewalker/Spotters assist Horse Time clients (as directed/needed) with all activities associated with their participation in the program. This may include: Greeting/escorting clients to and from the parking area to the barn or office, assisting a client to find needed equipment, to fit a helmet, or to choose, groom, and tack their horse. Sidewalkers/Spotters may assist the instructor with mounting/dismounting clients, walking next to the mounted client, and relaying verbal information between instructor and client as needed. The Sidewalker/Spotter may provide structure for vaulters as they await their turn and spot during vaulting moves.
