CHASTAIN HORSE PARK LTD
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Mission Statement
To empower individuals of all abilities through life-changing relationships with horses.
About This Cause
Since 1939, Chastain Horse Park has been actively involved in the Atlanta community. This 14-acre equestrian facility became a not for profit 501(c)(3) in 1998. The vision then, and now, was to implement educational and therapeutic programs for students with mental, cognitive, emotional and physical impairments and outreach programs for children-at-risk; and provide riding lessons and boarding services to the general public. Chastain Horse Park is a PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) Premiere Accredited Center located in Atlanta. We are proud to state that Chastain Horse Park is the only Premiere Accredited Center in metro Atlanta. This designation confirms that our center operates according to the highest industry standards and practices, foremost safety, professionalism, credibility. We currently have six PATH Intl. instructors, as well as occupational therapists and physical therapists for hippotherapy. Of the 6 PATH Intl. Advanced Instructors in the state of Georgia, we have two of them here at Chastain Horse Park. In keeping with our mission to empower riders of all abilities, we also have five traditional instructors. The facility has a capacity for 60 horses for Chastain’s therapeutic horses, school/lesson horses and independently owned boarder horses. Our clubhouse accommodates program offices, a retail space and banquet facilities which generates income to supports the therapeutic program. In its 20-year tenure as a non-profit organization, CHP has served a diverse group of individuals, encompassing all ages and needs regardless of abilities and has made a significant lasting impact towards a fully inclusive, more caring city of Atlanta. On a daily basis, we make a difference in the lives of riders, their families and caregivers, and volunteers and staff that support our programming. Throughout the world, hundreds of thousands of individuals with and without special needs benefits from Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT). A physical, cognitive or emotional special need does not preclude someone from interacting with horses. In fact, such interactions can prove highly rewarding. The movement of the horse at a walk simulates the human gait. A horse’s movement is 3-dimensional, rhythmical, symmetrical and repetitive, as such, it can benefit the rider by improving posture and balance, strengthen and stretch muscles, improve coordination and gross/fine motor planning and skills, provide opportunities for sensory integration and improve proprioceptive and vestibular awareness. Whether it's a five-year-old with cerebral palsy, an 11-year-old with Autism or an adult with multiple sclerosis, research shows that individuals of all ages participating in EAAT can form a unique, empowering relationship with a horse. Increased confidence, patience and self-esteem emerge from EAAT involvement. Working with horses provides a powerful new paradigm for anyone seeking to enhance better leadership, team building and/or communication skills. Under the banner of our Therapeutic Program we provide the following services: • Therapeutic Riding uses equine-assisted activities for the purpose of contributing positively to cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of people with disabilities. Therapeutic riding provides benefits in the areas of health, education, sport and recreation & leisure. Horseback riding rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait and experiencing the motion of the horse. Individuals with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength. • Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes. Equine movement provides multidimensional movement, which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The horse provides a dynamic base of support, making it an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength and control, balance, building overall postural strength and endurance, addressing weight bearing, and motor planning. The effects of equine movement on postural control, sensory systems, and motor planning can be used to facilitate coordination and timing, grading of responses, respiratory control, sensory integration skills and attention skills. Equine movement can be used to facilitate the neurophysiologic systems that support our functional daily living skills. Outreach Groups are designed to improve participants with functional life skills, provide hands-on experiential learning opportunity, non-judgmental environment and chance to be exposed to horses, horsemanship, and all the benefits provided by such experiences. The OG program boosts the participant’s self-confidence and social skills. It allows individuals to interact and communicate not only with each other but with the horses as they give them commands while riding and listen to directions from the instructor. Outreach groups are focused on serving at-risk youth as well as children and adults with disabilities. Partner organizations include but are not limited to Atlanta Public Schools/Carver School, AGAPE, Cumberland Academy, Shepherd Center, Children's Hospital of Atlanta, Skyland Trail and Just People, Inc.