Olive's Branch Healing Inc

The first step to applying for services with Olive's Branch Healing, Inc is to come out for a tour (please note that completed liability paperwork will be required before the tour can begin and any contact is made with the horses). During this time you will take a brief tour of our facility, meet our horses and talk about our programming. We will discuss programs that would be a good fit for you or the person(s) who the services are intended for. The applicants will apply for the specific services they are interested in. After the application package has been submitted the Equine Specialist (Destani Langford) will schedule an assessment to determine the suitability of the potential participant with our services. Assessments are required for riding lessons, Equine-Assisted Learning, Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Consulting. Experience Olive applicants do not have an assessment however all application paperwork (including any additional documents if needed) will be required before the start of any services. After the Equine Specialist reviews the complete application and has verified that there are no contraindications or precautions that might interfere with safe services the applicant will be eligible to participate in an Olive's Branch Healing service(s).

Destani: I've been a member of the equestrian community for nearly 27 years. I started taking riding lessons when I was 5 years old. I have taken Equine-Facilitated Therapeutic (now know as Adaptive or Therapeutic Riding) courses at Wilson College and spent time under their riding program. I was able to experience working with riders living with disabilities through the equine facilitated therapeutics club. In 2021 I received my Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) through PATH International. This equipped me to offer Equine-Assisted Learning (an experiential learning approach which promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional and personal goals through equine assisted activities) sessions at Olive's Branch Healing and open for partnerships with licensed therapists (Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy), counselors, educators and more. In addition, I became a Horse Powered Reading Facilitator in 2021. The official Horse Powered Reading® website states that this program, "integrates social-emotional learning with academics; thus allowing students see and experience reading with their entire mind, body and emotions by creating metaphors for the skills involved in reading.". As a result, this and taking the Horse Powered Reading® Book Club course has equipped Olive's Branch Healing to launch their very own, Horse Powered Book Club which is catered towards 1st-3rd grade readers. As for work history I have worked at several barns as a stable hand or barn assistant. I was the barn manager, a riding instructor and the volunteer coordinator during my time at Leg Up Farm. I spent time teaching recreational and therapeutic riders and subbed in as the Equine-Specialist in Mental Health and Learning for the Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy program. Since then I have been instructing recreational riding and facilitating Equine-Assisted Learning sessions consistently under Olive's Branch Healing, Inc since Jan 2023. Our program is continuing to grow so we are bringing on an additional riding instructor, Abby. Abby:

Individual lessons are $45 each and groups (spots limited) are $40 per person. We offer 15% off a 12 lesson package or 10% off of a 6 lesson package for individuals or groups. (Please note that the first lesson (and next if necessary) will be unmounted and serve as an assessment.)

Equine-Assisted Learning sessions are $60 for individuals and $50 per person for groups. We offer 15% off a 12 session package and 10% off a 8 session package (highly recommended). (Please note that an assessment will be scheduled first to determine eligibility for services at Olive's Branch Healing, Inc. The non-refundable assessment cost for Equine-Assisted Learning is $75 per participant.) Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy sessions are $70 for individuals and $60 per person for groups. We offer 15% off a 12 session package and 10% off a 8 session package (highly recommended). At this time we do not have a licensed therapist on staff. This means that any potential participants interested in this service will need to inquire with their specialist about the possibility of partnership. (Please note that an assessment will be scheduled first to determine eligibility for services at Olive's Branch Healing, Inc. The non-refundable assessment cost for Equine-Assisted Learning is $85 per participant.) Experience Olive (One-Time Visits or Events) is $45 per person for individuals or groups. Consulting has a non-refundable assessment cost of $65 and an hourly rate of $45.

See education/training question.

We work with participants ages 4 and up and average age is roughly 18 years old. We work with a variety of participants. Many are living with life challenges that need our services to help them move forward or that are in a place of self-discovery. At Olive's Branch Healing, Inc it's more than just riding lessons.

Destani: Watching a 1 1/2 year old touch a horse for the very first time. The smile told me everything I needed to know. To connect with a horse is to experience joy. Abby:

Define what your goals are. What do you need? What do you/don't you want? How do you like to learn something from someone? How do you like them to instruct you or guide you? What environment or type of place do you like to learn in? Does the instructor, their teaching style and their environment/location match your needs/wants? If yes, give it a go!

Define your goals. Start asking questions like, "What is stopping me from reaching this goal(s)?" or "What do I need help with?" or "What do I want?".