MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
We exist to provide a hands-on, experience-based learning environment for people in difficult situations, including children, families, and military personnel. The powerful connection between people and horses is transformational. Through horsemanship, we develop character, learn ethics and responsibility, grow physically and emotionally, and discover ourselves. Our own lives improve as we improve those of our horses.

Our organization provides programs involved with equine retirement
Our organization conducts Equine Assisted Services in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS).
Our organization provides community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
100% of our total programs and services are horse-related.
Our organization does not use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities

Horse Rescue, Rehabilitation, Retraining & Re-homing:
Overview of our programs involved with rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, re-homing and/or retirement:
     At Gleneayre, we use the powerful connection between horses and people to teach, learn, grow, and heal. Our own lives improve as we improve those of our horses, and so we provide a safe haven for our program horses to live with dignity, peace, and veterinary care for the remainder of their lives.
     
     Some of our program horses were rescued directly from abusive situations, like Rosie who was abandoned in Philadelphia, and Snowflake who was used as pit-bull bait. Also, by accepting donated horses that are no longer able to compete at a professional level, we are taking a proactive approach to ensure that they never end up in a situation where they are mistreated.
     
     All the horses are carefully selected for their temperaments and abilities to enter our Working Student riding program. Then, when the horses are no longer suitable for the riding program (often because of age), they move into our unmounted equine-facilitated group programs. We provide our horses with a new sense of purpose outside of the show ring, when they are no longer able to participate in our programs, they are able to enjoy a long and happy retirement of leisure and love.

Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
Our organization provides the following Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
    Equine-Assisted Learning involving Academic Learning
    Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

2: Total number of Equine Assisted Service Providers at Gleneayre Farm

     1. Alison Johnson

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Gleneayre Farm

         RELATIONSHIP: Employee

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Academic Learning

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Managing Director and Trainer, Alison Johnson, is certified by EAGALA and Strides to Success and has been with the Program since 2001. She also has a degree in psychology and equine science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Alison conducts Equine-Assisted Personal and/or Professional Development sessions. Her role in providing Equine-Assisted Learning involves working with Brookfield's Lead Therapist to establish the curriculum and overseeing the sessions in which students are accompanied by assistant teachers, social workers, and one on one aides.

Alison has served as barn manager for Frank Chapot (former Olympian and Chef d'équipe of the US Equestrian Team) and spent 15 years as a riding instructor. She is a member of the USEF, USDF, USHJA, and ECRDA.

     2. Brookfield Schools/Jessica Ramsden

         FACILITY PARTICIPATION:

         Gleneayre Farm

         RELATIONSHIP: Other

         SERVICES PROVIDED:

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Academic Learning

         Equine-Assisted Learning involving Personal and/or Professional Development

         DEGREES, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

         Jessica Ramsden, MA,LPC,NBCC, is the Lead Therapist at Brookfield Schools and earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and her Master's degree at La Salle University. She is a licensed professional counselor and a National Board Certified Counselor. Jessica Ramsden work with Alison Johnson to coordinate the EAS curriculum with the school syllabus. Assistant teachers, social workers, and one-on-one aides from Brookfield accompany their students to the EAS classes. The skills learned during EAS are then incorporated into the academic lessons being taught at Brookfield School.

Overview of our programs involved with providing EAS to individuals with special needs:
     Gleneayre Equestrian Program focuses on horses and people poorly served by more mainstream resources and programs.
     
     We are committed to children facing challenges at school and home, families struggling with the unique demands of military life, and service members in need of support.
     
     In particular, we know that all children have the potential to become healthy, active, and productive young adults, and our horses help us get through to those who are otherwise hard to reach.
     
     We house a diverse group of horses for our program that are safe for interaction with children. We provide a caring, happy home for horses whose show careers are over, but who have lots of life left in them.
     
     Horses that come to our farm are provided sanctuary and are treated with dignity and respect for the remainder of their lives. We offer a safe option for owners looking to re-home their horses.
     
     The Equine Facilitated Learning Program is a curriculum-based, non-riding equine program for people experiencing difficulties, including academic, family, financial, and challenges associated with military families.
     
     Through the EFL program, children can learn life skills that help to promote positive behaviors and foster healthy person-to-person contact. Horses are utilized as facilitators in the lessons to meet the student's emotional, social, and educational needs. This EFL program is an alternative for students who do not thrive in a traditional classroom. Our EFL Program has the transforming power of working with horses, who, as prey animals, are highly intuitive. As sentient animals who respond with clear body responses to pleasant, frightening, or frustrating experiences, horses offer humans an opportunity to develop give-and-take relationships that are not based on verbal exchange.
     
     Our Equine Facilitated Learning Program is particularly well-suited for children, families, and corporate group training. Our staff can customize an experience that fits any needs and time constraints. Key outcomes include positive psychological (reduced aggression and anxiety), physiological (lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones), and personal (sense of calm and self-awareness) improvement. GEP has partnered with Brookfield Schools. (https://brookfieldschools.org/). "Brookfield is a private school serving students needing intensive behavioral/therapeutic intervention."
     
     Alison Johnson, Gleneayre Managing Director, and equine-assisted service provider, meets with Brookfield's Lead Therapist, Jessica Ramsden, to coordinate the EAS curriculum with the school syllabus. Assistant teachers, social workers, and one-on-one aides from Brookfield accompany their students to the EAS classes. The skills learned during EAS are then incorporated into the academic lessons taught at Brookfield School.
     
     We are also constantly seeking new opportunities and partnerships with organizations in the local community.
     
     Gleneayre Equestrian Program Website description of EFL:
     Learn skills with and through horses in our curriculum-based, non-riding program.
     Research has demonstrated the benefits of human-animal contact for learning and well-being. Our Equine Facilitated Learning Program provides a unique alternative to a traditional educational setting.
     Located on a beautiful 73-acre campus with a covered ring and an inviting classroom, we employ teaching strategies designed to reach people who might have difficulty in traditional classroom settings.
     Our Equine Facilitated Learning Program is particularly well-suited for children, families, corporate and group training. Our staff can customize an experience that fits your needs and time constraints. Key outcomes include positive psychological (reduced aggression and anxiety), physiological (lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones), and personal (sense of calm and self-awareness) improvement.

Overview of our programs involved with providing community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses:
     The Working Student Program offers instruction in English riding, horsemanship, and farm and barn management skills in a structured and academically supportive environment designed for youth facing challenges. Participants fulfill a weekly work commitment and are assigned a horse to ride, care for, and compete with on a local circuit. Students ages 10 through 18 can apply and riding experience is not necessary. We look for applicants who love horses and who are driven to learn about riding and caring for them. Students must supply their own ASTM/SEI-approved riding helmet. We provide all other equipment and tack.
     
     We pair students with their own horse and teach them all aspects of horsemanship. We instruct, monitor, and supervise our students closely. They are responsible for their horses, including grooming and exercising, cleaning stalls and tack, barn management, and limited aspects of supervised veterinary care.
     
     The hallmark of Gleneayre’s programs is attention to each participant. The Working Student program offers youth guidance and stability they do not find at home or in school. Capitalizing on the students’ love of horses and desire to accomplish riding goals, the program serves as motivation to develop the participants’ openness to learning of all kinds. The program offers oversight by knowledgeable adults who encourage positive character development and good collaboration skills.
     
     Our students work with their horses four days a week, one weekend day, and three days after school. Each student keeps a log of his or her horse’s care. The Working Student Program provides a safe space for our students to learn, develop, and grow. Key outcomes include relationship-building skills, personal responsibility, self-confidence, and healthy stress relief.
     
      The Gleneayre Equestrian Program also offers presentations to local Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, allowing them to learn about the horse-human connection while earning merit badges.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has never made, and would not ever consider making, equines available for research studies or medical training that involves invasive procedures and/or that which may cause pain or suffering to the equine. 

Religious Affiliation:
Our organization does not promote religious education, religious purposes, or a specific religious faith or use donations for religious education or religious purposes; require participants to be of a certain faith; require participation in religious, instruction, activities or services; or require participation in prayer, worship, religious instruction or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered. 

Auction Donation:
Our organization has never allowed, or would not consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter. 

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation  
    Lease  
    Purchase/Adoption from Owner  
    Kill pen/Feedlot  
    Return  

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Auction  
    Surrender  
    Seizure  
    Abandonment  

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares
    Only Stallions to be castrated

Not Checked:
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Stallions

POLICIES: INTAKE, ASSESSMENT & TRAININING

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization requires the following with respect to the health status of the horse:
    A current Coggins
    Vaccination records that have been administered within the last 12 months
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, the owner is responsible for having vaccinations administered.
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization has the following policies in place:
    The owner of a potential equine is interviewed over the phone or in person prior to seeing the equine
    The equine is evaluated at its place of residence
    The owner completes an application/contract which constitutes the agreement between the owner and our organization
    The owner is financially responsible for the shipping of the equine to and from the organization
    Equines are on trial for up to 30 days
    The trial period may be reduced based on the equine's progress
    During the trial period, the organization accepts total financial responsibility for the care of the equine, including board, feed, shoeing and any necessary veterinary care
    The trial period may be terminated by either the organization or the owner for any reason

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by trained barn staff
    Photographs are taken of each equine upon arrival at the facility and kept with the equine's health records
    A Henneke Body Conditioning Score or other body conditioning score is assigned
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Physical examination by a dentist
    Coggins test
    Blood work other than Coggins
    Fecal test
    Vaccinations
    De-worming
    The equine is scanned to check for a microchip

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
    The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine at the facility for a prescribed period of time

The typical length of quarantine is:   20 to 30 days

Horses are assessed for following skills and behaviors:
    Retrieval from a pasture/paddock
    Leading with a halter and lead rope
    Temperament, disposition and attitude, such as rated from very calm to very high spirited
    Saddling
    Bridling
    Lunging
    Loading onto and unloading off a trailer
    Mounting and dismounting
    Riding at the walk
    Riding at the trot
    Riding at the canter
    Riding by a beginner and/or unbalanced rider
    Jumping
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc
    Grooming
    Bathing
    Clipping
    Tolerance to multiple handlers at the same time

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the ongoing assessment of horses in its care:
    The Henneke Body Condition score or other body conditioning score is updated at least annually
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine chiropractor
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine acupuncturist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine massage therapist
    Equines at our facility may be treated by an equine nutritionist
    Physical examination by a veterinarian at least annually
Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the weight-carrying or workload capabilities of horses/equines that are ridden in our care:
    Our organization evaluates at least annually and maintains a written record of the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden

The following variables are considered in determining the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden:
    Equine age, weight, breed, body condition, fitness, balance, health and soundness
    Equine conformation to include the top line, length of back, strength and width of loin, bone density (measured by the circumference of the cannon bone just below the knee)
    Size, shape, condition and angle of the hooves
    Participant weight, height, body proportions, balance, fitness and riding skills as well as behavioral issues and safety concerns
    Weight and proper fit of the saddle and other equipment
    Terrain and footing in the working environment
    Duration and frequency of working sessions, as the frequency with which an equine is subjected to maximum weight carrying and/or workload
    Nature and pace of work, repetitive or varied, radius of turns, degree of incline and regularity of footing when equine is subject to maximum weight-carrying capacity
    Temperature and/or weather conditions
    Seasonal impact on the equines' workload and weight-carrying capabilities and limitations


Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   Daily

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
    The facility or facilities where our organization conducts its programs, including foster facilities, does NOT breed equines.

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization will never have a healthy equine euthanized under any circumstances
    Our organization may have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored
    Euthanasia is done on site when possible to decrease trauma from transport
    Euthanasia is done at the veterinarian's facility
    Disposal of the carcass is handled within 24 hours

The following are authorized to administer the procedure for your organization in accordance with state laws:
    Veterinarian

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

Re-homing Agreement not applicable.
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer useful, or are no longer manageable:
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.