Quarter Moon Acres Equine Assisted Therapy Center

Quarter Moon Acres is a Christ-centered, equine assisted psychotherapy facility that connects people with horses in a therapeutic environment empowering individuals to turn 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. 

We are proud to say we are heading into our tenth year of "Turning Disabilities into Abilities".

With the help of passionate volunteers, well-trained and calm horses, Quarter Moon Acres helps to equip riders with confidence, conquer their anxieties and fears, and helped them self-control. We've even seen some riders who can't walk without their wheelchair found the ability to walk, with the help of a steadfast horse beside them. We've grown from just a few clients in the summer of 2014 with 9 volunteers to now 18 clients and over 30 volunteers and growing each year.

Our stories are endless including one young lady on the autism spectrum who found confidence around horses which helped provide her the confidence to enter school events including prom and even trying for her driver's license. Another client who was too timid to speak or even touch the horse when she started with us would now tell you, her riding time is now the highlight of her week. She not only looks the instructors in the eye now, but waves and talks continuously while one the back of her favorite palomino. 

Benefits of Equine Therapy

Equine therapy offers clients multiple benefits including a physical and tactile understanding of their environment, beyond intellectual awareness. It provides them with an opportunity to identify patterns in their own lives and work to re-examine their usefulness while providing a non-threatening environment to try out new behaviors and receive instant response.

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

• Emotional awareness including empathy, stress tolerance, and impulse control
• Problem-solving skills including adaptability and social responsibility
• Independence and interpersonal relationship skills

Client Testimonials

“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 always on the lookout for great volunteers! 
If interested, please contact us at qtrmoonacres@yahoo.com