Our Programs
**Programs will launch in phases as rescue capacity and partnerships expand.**
Explore how rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary work together to transform lives—horses and people healing side by side.
“Unbroken and unbridled, we rise together — healed by love, one stride at a time.”
Equine Assisted Learning
At Wild Hearts Refuge, Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is the heart of our work and the foundation of many of our programs. Through intentional, ground-based interactions with rescued horses, participants experience growth, connection, and self-discovery in a way that words alone often cannot offer.
Equine-Assisted Learning is an experiential, education-based approach that supports personal development, emotional awareness, confidence, and life skills. Horses, as highly intuitive and responsive animals, provide immediate, honest feedback that encourages participants to practice presence, communication, boundaries, and trust—without judgment.
All activities are non-riding and facilitated in a safe, structured, and supportive environment. Participants are guided through exercises that promote self-reflection, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and healthy relationship skills, while honoring each individual’s comfort level and personal journey.
Our EAL programming is trauma-informed and strengths-based, serving youth, veterans, foster youth, and adults seeking healing, growth, and connection. The rescued horses at Wild Hearts Refuge are not tools—they are partners in the learning process, offering powerful lessons in resilience, patience, and mutual respect.
At Wild Hearts Refuge, healing and growth happen one step at a time—side by side with horses who know what it means to survive and thrive.
Foster Youth & Family Programs- COMING SOON
Healing, responsibility, and connection — built through relationship with horses.
Wild Hearts Refuge will offer three distinct but connected programs designed to support foster youth and the families who care for them. Each program is trauma-informed, relationship-centered, and developed in collaboration with community partners.
Foster Youth Support
At Wild Hearts Refuge, we honor the strength it takes to grow up in foster care—and we are committed to walking alongside foster youth as they heal, grow, and discover their worth.
Our Foster Youth Program provides a safe, consistent, and nurturing environment for youth who have experienced separation from family, frequent transitions, trauma, or instability within the foster care system. Youth are offered the stability, encouragement, and belonging that are often missing during times of change.
Hands That Help Heal
Foster Youth Involved in Rescue & Rehabilitation
This program invites foster youth to participate in the care and rehabilitation of rescued horses under guided supervision. Youth learn:
*Safe horse handling and groundwork
*Daily care responsibilities
*Grooming, feeding, and barn management basics
*Patience, consistency, and empathy
*The power of showing up for something that depends on you
As horses rebuild trust and stability, youth witness transformation firsthand — often seeing reflections of their own healing journey.
Growth and Confidence
We focus on supporting the whole child—emotionally, socially, and developmentally—while reinforcing positive identity, self-worth, and resilience. By providing consistent support and positive role models, the program helps youth navigate challenges, strengthen coping skills, and build a foundation for long-term success and independence.
At Wild Hearts Refuge, foster youth are more than their circumstances. They are seen, valued, and supported—every step of the way.
Groundwork for Growth
Equine-Assisted Learning for Foster Youth
This program focuses on structured equine-assisted learning sessions (ground-based, no riding) designed to support:
*Emotional regulation
*Communication skills
*Healthy boundaries
*Self-worth and identity development
Through guided activities with horses, youth experience nonjudgmental connection and real-time feedback that helps them practice new relational skills in a safe environment.
Stronger Together
Equine-Assisted Learning for Foster & Adoptive Families
Healing does not happen in isolation. This program brings foster and adoptive families together for equine-assisted sessions that strengthen:
*Attachment and trust
*Communication patterns
*Connection
*Family teamwork
*Healthy boundaries
Horses respond to emotional honesty and consistency, helping families practice connection in a way that feels less confrontational and more experiential.
Steady Ground Youth Initiative- COMING SOON
Accountability, growth, and second chances — built through responsibility and relationship.
Hope and Mentorship through Equine Partners
Wild Hearts Refuge’s At-Risk Youth Program supports youth who have experienced trauma, instability, foster care, abuse, neglect, or other challenging life circumstances. In a calm, nurturing environment, participants are given the space, guidance, and encouragement they need to rebuild trust, confidence, and hope.
Responsibility Through Rescue
Justice-Involved Youth Participation in Horse Rehabilitation
This program provides structured, supervised involvement in the care and rehabilitation of rescued horses. Youth participate in:
*Safe groundwork and handling skills
*Grooming, feeding, and daily care routines
*Barn responsibilities and teamwork
*Consistency and follow-through
*Respect for boundaries and safety protocols
Working with rescued horses requires patience, calm leadership, and accountability. Horses respond immediately to emotional energy and behavior, providing honest, nonjudgmental feedback.
Grounded Choices
Equine-Assisted Learning for Justice-Involved Youth
This program offers facilitated, ground-based equine-assisted learning sessions focused on:
*Emotional regulation
*Impulse control
*Communication skills
*Leadership and problem-solving
*Personal responsibility and decision-making
Through guided experiential activities, youth practice self-awareness and develop healthier relational patterns in a calm, controlled environment.
First Responders Program
At Wild Hearts Refuge, we recognize the weight first responders carry every day. Firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, paramedics, dispatchers, corrections staff, and other emergency personnel often spend their lives showing up for others on some of the hardest days imaginable — while quietly carrying stress, trauma, and emotional exhaustion of their own.
We believe those who serve others deserve a space where they can be supported, too.
Our First Responders Program offers equine-assisted experiences designed to create space for restoration, reflection, and reconnection. In the quiet, grounding presence of horses, participants are invited to slow down, breathe, and step out of survival mode — even if just for a moment.
These sessions are not about performance or pressure. They are about being human.
Horses have a unique ability to meet people exactly where they are. They respond honestly, without judgment, and without expectation. They do not see titles, rank, or roles — only what is real in the moment. This creates a powerful opportunity to build self-awareness, regulate stress, and reconnect with a sense of calm, clarity, and trust.
Our program may support first responders who are experiencing:
- Chronic stress or burnout
- Compassion fatigue
- Anxiety or overwhelm
- Emotional exhaustion
- Difficulty transitioning out of “work mode”
- A desire for deeper connection, reflection, and healing
Sessions may include groundwork, herd observation, mindfulness-based activities, guided reflection, and relationship-building exercises with horses in a safe and supportive environment. No horse experience is required.
At Wild Hearts Refuge, we are honored to hold space for first responders to exhale, to reconnect with themselves, and to remember that they matter too.
Our Hope
Our hope is to offer a place where healing feels accessible, dignity is protected, and strength is not defined by how much someone can carry alone.
Unbroken and unbridled, we rise together — healed by love, one stride at a time.
Veteran Support Program- COMING SOON
Veteran Support
At Wild Hearts Refuge, we believe those who have served our country deserve a place to rest, reconnect, and heal—without judgment and without pressure.
Our Veterans Program offers a supportive, peaceful environment for veterans who are navigating the effects of trauma, transition to civilian life, isolation, or loss of purpose. Through connection, consistency, and shared experience, veterans are given the opportunity to slow down, breathe, and rediscover strength beyond survival.
A central component of this program is ground-based Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL). These structured, facilitated sessions use interaction with rescued horses to support:
*Emotional regulation
*Stress reduction and grounding
*Trust-building and communication
*Leadership and boundary awareness
*Reconnection to purpose and identity
Horses respond honestly and without judgment, offering immediate, nonverbal feedback that encourages presence, calm leadership, and self-awareness. No prior horse experience is required, and all activities are conducted safely on the ground.
Veteran Healing Circle
In addition to equine-assisted learning, veterans participate in mentorship, peer support, and life-enrichment experiences designed to foster camaraderie, resilience, and meaningful connection.
The program emphasizes belonging, personal growth, and strengths-based development while honoring each veteran’s autonomy and lived experience. Wild Hearts Refuge does not replace clinical care but offers a complementary, experiential space for restoration and connection.
At Wild Hearts Refuge, healing happens through connection—between people, animals, and the land. Here, veterans are welcomed not for what they’ve endured, but for who they are.
Healing & Resilience Program- COMING SOON
Trauma Care Programs
At Wild Hearts Refuge, we provide a safe and compassionate space for individuals who have experienced abuse, trauma, or significant life adversity. Our Healing & Resilience Program is designed for survivors seeking restoration, empowerment, and renewed connection — at their own pace and on their own terms.
Healing Partnerships
Through trauma-informed, non-clinical programming, participants engage in supportive mentorship, reflective activities, creative expression, and nature-based experiences.
A core component of this program is ground-based Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL). These structured, facilitated sessions use intentional interaction with rescued horses to support:
*Emotional grounding and regulation
*Trust-building and boundary awareness
*Reconnection to personal strength
*Healthy communication and self-advocacy
*Confidence through safe leadership experiences
Horses respond honestly and without judgment, offering immediate feedback that encourages presence, self-awareness, and calm engagement. No prior horse experience is required, and all activities are conducted safely on the ground.
Equine-Assisted Learning in Practice
Equine-Assisted Learning at Wild Hearts Refuge is experiential and strengths-based. Participants engage in guided groundwork activities designed to foster:
*Self-trust and resilience
*Problem-solving and adaptability
*Empathy and relational awareness
*A sense of agency and choice
Professional staff and trained volunteers guide each session with mindfulness, clear boundaries, and a deep respect for both participant and horse. Programming is personalized within safe, structured parameters to honor individual needs and comfort levels.
Wild Hearts Refuge does not provide clinical therapy services but offers an experiential environment that supports growth and emotional well-being.
The program honors each survivor’s autonomy and lived experience, emphasizing safety, choice, and dignity. Rather than focusing on what has been endured, we center on resilience, self-worth, and the ability to move forward with confidence and hope.
At Wild Hearts Refuge, healing is not about fixing — it’s about reconnecting. We walk alongside survivors as they reclaim their voice, rebuild trust, and rediscover the strength that has always been within them.
Programs Grow With the Herd
At Wild Hearts Refuge, our programs are intentionally designed to grow alongside our rescue capacity. As we welcome horses, build safe facilities, and deepen partnerships, our offerings will expand thoughtfully and responsibly.
In our earliest phases, programs will focus on groundwork-based equine experiences that prioritize safety, connection, and emotional regulation—for both horses and participants. As rescued horses settle, heal, and receive appropriate training, additional opportunities may naturally emerge over time.
Future programming may include more advanced horsemanship, mounted activities, or skill-based learning where appropriate and when it is in the best interest of both horse and human. Any expansion will be guided by the readiness of the horses, the needs of participants, and our commitment to ethical, trauma-informed care.
We believe healing cannot be rushed. By allowing our programs to grow with the herd, we ensure that every step forward honors the well-being of the horses and the people they serve.