Quarter Moon Acres Equine Assisted Therapy Center

QMA is now in its 10th year of "Turning Disabilities Into Abilities".

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating patients, including combat veterans. These issues include PTSD, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorders and other chronic mental illnesses.

With the help of passionate volunteers, well trained and calm equines, Quarter Moon Acres has not only given riders confidence and self-control but has allowed those riders who can't walk without their wheelchair, the ability to walk, unaided with the help of their steadfast mount. It has allowed one young lady on the autism scale to not only come out of her shell when around horses but has given her the confidence to enter school events but went to prom and is now trying for her driver's license. 

Another young lady would not talk to the instructors or volunteers, or touch the horse, nor wanted to ride it. But after coaching, her horse is now the bright spot in her week. She not only looks the instructors in the eye now, but waves and shouts continuously while one the back of her favorite palomino. 

Quarter Moon Acres has grown from just a few clients in the summer of 2014 with 9 volunteers to approximately 18 clients with over 30 volunteers in the past few summers. 

Quarter Moon Acres is a Christ-centered facility that connects people with horses in a therapeutic environment empowering individuals to turn disabilities into abilities.

Benefits

A physical and tactile understanding, beyond intellectual awareness

An opportunity to identify patterns and re-examine their usefulness.

A non-threatening environment to try out new behaviors and receive instant response.

According to CRC Health, horseback riding or equine therapy has been successful in helping patients show marked improvements in the following areas:

• Emotional awareness
• Empathy
• Stress tolerance
• Flexibility
• Impulse control
• Problem-solving skills
• Self-actualization
• Independence
• Self-regard
• Social responsibility
• Interpersonal relationships
  
  “Equine therapy has had a very positive impact on our boys! It has given them a sense of belonging, of community, of responsibility, and pride in themselves and their horses, and a sense of accomplishment. They love going to equine therapy They are accepted for who they are, and yet encouraged to become more than they thought they could. Horse therapy has taught them to care for themselves and others. The environment is very accepting and encouraging. Horse therapy helped calm them down and gave them confidence. Finally, it has helped build their core strength and endurance.” - K.C. Parent
  
    “My daughter grew in so many areas with Candy, her therapy horse. Her physical therapist noted improvements in balance, coordination, bilateral movements and proprioception. Her sensory needs were meet and her ordinarily anxious personality calmed. She became more independent with the little bit of distance from her parents, especially walking in the woods. Her understanding of animals as living creatures capable of love grew as she greeted the dogs and put a hand on the belly of her horse. She even began to drink more water as she watched the dogs, other riders and volunteers drinking – an unexpected bonus!”    - R.S. Parent            
  
     "Our son, Keith, came to QMA rather fearful. He had a previous riding experience that did not go well. He was embarrassed and disappointed with himself. Because of his love for animals, he wanted to try again sometime, but was afraid. He agreed to give QMA a try. The watchful eye and encouraging words of the staff and volunteers quickly put Keith at ease. He looked forward to each week of lessons and gained confidence. That confidence has spilled over into other areas of his life as he enjoyed time on “his” horse. It was hard for Keith not to be able to ride this past summer because of COVID. That became quite evident at Amery’s Fall Festival parade when he stepped out of the spectator area when the QMA horses passed by and he saw “his” horse Nix. He is hoping to get back in the saddle again to ride Nix."   - P. B. 
                                                                                                                                                                                        "I appreciate the warm, friendly greetings each week, the kind caring helpers, the attention to detail in matching riders with horse and tack each time. I was appreciative of a safe, sanitized and well-fitting helmet. The volunteers are so kind and patient. Stables and horses are clean and well-cared for. I would highly recommend QMA to anyone." M.C.    
  
                                                                                                                                                                                                  We are looking for volunteers, if interested please contact us.