The Role of Horses in Therapy Horses offer powerful therapeutic benefits through their sensitivity, presence, and ability to form authentic connections with people. Their size, movement, and responsiveness make them uniquely effective partners in emotional and physical healing.
Emotional Regulation Horses are highly attuned to human emotions. They respond to body language, energy, and intent, providing real-time feedback that helps individuals recognize and regulate their feelings.
Relationship & Trust Building Working with a horse—through grooming, leading, or simply sharing space—encourages trust, patience, and clear communication. Horses’ nonjudgmental nature can help individuals feel seen and safe.
Mindfulness & Confidence Horses require presence and calm, naturally guiding participants into mindful engagement. Successfully interacting with such a large and powerful animal builds confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of mastery.
Trauma & Stress Reduction The rhythmic movement of horses, along with their steady breathing and grounding presence, can help reduce anxiety, support trauma processing, and promote emotional balance.
Physical Benefits When Riding Equine-assisted activities can improve core strength, balance, coordination, and motor planning. The horse’s gait closely mimics the human walking pattern, providing therapeutic movement.
Connection With Nature Time spent with horses in an outdoor setting fosters peace, connection, and a break from overstimulation—offering a holistic boost to mental wellness.
Prince
HAFLINGER GELDING
Prince is a playful, mischievous draft pony who excels in teaching confidence and assertiveness. He is well loved for his teddy bear-like appearance and his mellow personality. Prince not only rides, he used to be a cart pony and enjoys teaching students ground driving.
Poppy
Thoroughbred Mare
Poppy is a sweet, sensitive Thoroughbred mare. She has big, floaty gaits and challenges her riders to be as sweet and soft as she is. She is our tallest herd member at over 16hh. Poppy's bigger movement helps her students learn core control and strength, and her sensitivity teaches them to tune in and focus.
Chip
QUARTER HORSE GELDING
Chip is an athletic and well-trained Quarter Horse Gelding. He is sweet and enjoys following participants around, even without a halter on. He enjoys both beginner and more advanced riders, and will be whatever energy his rider needs and asks for. Chip is a Western Pleasure bred horse and has smooth gaits and a mellow disposition.
Ranger
Quarter Horse Gelding
Ranger is a kind, sensitive quarter horse Gelding who came to us from a rescue situation. He is a former trail horse who loves his riders to have kind hands and soft hearts. He loves connecting with even the littlest of riders.
Opal
Appaloosa Mare
Opal is an Appaloosa Mare who is learning about being a lesson horse and therapeutic riding horse. She is kind and sweet, and enjoys "smiling" for the camera for a treat. Opal came from a rescue situation in Southwestern CO, where she was abandoned in the wilderness with a few other horses. She was trained by Meg in the Right Horse Program and Meg loved her personality so much she adopted her. Opal does have a condition called Uvietis and often uses a special fly mask that acts as "horse sunglasses" for her more sensitive eyes.
Drizzle
Miniature Molly Mule
Drizzle is a female mule, which is called a "Molly". She is a cross between a miniature donkey sire and a miniature horse dam. Her full adult size is very small, and therefore she is appealing to littler students. She's smart, sassy, mischievous, and kind. She especially enjoys teaching kids about the joys of riding for the first time, and her fuzzy, frizzy fur is so soft to snuggle. Drizzle is considered a "three bell mule", meaning she rides, drives in cart, and packs. According to US Calvary tradition, her tail hair has three bells to signify her accomplishments.
Sweetie
Quarter Horse Mare
Sweetie is a sensitive horse who prefers more advanced, relaxed riders who can handle her with finesse. She lives up to her name and is very sweet, connected, and kind. Sweetie originally was a lesson horse and was also shown in Western Pleasure. When she came to Colorado she took a break and was semi-retired for a couple of years before becoming a lesson horse at LBF.
Turtle
Turtle- Quarter Horse Gelding Turtle is an ex barrel racer who sports a highly ironic name! Turtle is the opposite of a turtle. While he is gentle and slow in the walk, any higher gaits can have quite a bit of speed. Turtle loves people and enjoys grooming, groundwork, and calm, relaxed riders with good balance and posture. While not a beginner lesson horse yet, Turtle is learning about all aspects of our programs, and is being integrated into our Adaptive Classes with our more advanced participants.
Monty
Belgian/Thoroughbred Cross Gelding Monty is a kind, slow, mellow draft Cross Gelding who is in his late twenties. He is on lease from Friends of Lackota Animal Sanctuary Nonprofit. Monty has an interesting backstory- he was originally a lesson horse at another therapeutic center, and instructor Rachel worked with him for a long time in his younger years. He was sold and worked cattle in Wyoming for a while, but when his owner passed away, he went into rescue, missing the sale barn (and the kill buyers) by a hair. When FOLAS agreed to lease him to LBF, he was recognized by his former owner Kathi, and Rachel confirmed that the horse who had arrived as "Dallas" was actually Monty, just older! Monty certainly has led a lucky life, partially due to his sweet, endearing personality. and even temperament.
Ladybug
Appendix Mare Ladybug is our "grandmother" of our herd- she's the eldest equine on the property, and has worked in all of our programs for many years. She loves small children, being groomed, and connecting with humans in a meaningful way.
