In rural areas where access to mental health services can be limited, some organizations are turning to alternative approaches. One of them is GAIT Equine Assisted Services, a nonprofit based in Milford, Pennsylvania, that incorporates horses into therapeutic work with children and adults.
The organization, which recently marked its 30th year, provides equine-assisted activities and therapy aimed at improving quality of life for individuals with special needs. In recent years, it has expanded its programming to include equine-facilitated psychotherapy, a model that focuses on guided interactions with horses as part of the therapeutic process.
Executive Director Eva Warner said the approach differs from traditional clinical settings, relying instead on how participants engage with horses and their surroundings.
“Horses are incredibly intuitive,” Warner said. “They respond honestly to emotion without judgment or expectations.”
According to Warner, those interactions can be particularly relevant for individuals who have experienced trauma. Rather than focusing solely on verbal communication, participants take part in activities such as grooming or walking with a horse, which can surface emotional responses in a different way.
The physical setting is also a factor. GAIT is located along a rural stretch outside Milford, where participants travel a winding road before arriving at the facility. Warner said that environment can contribute to how people experience the program.
“There’s a sense of calm when people arrive,” she said, noting that participants often begin to relax before engaging in any formal activity.
The organization has also partnered with the Victims Intervention Program of Wayne County, which provides services to survivors of domestic and interpersonal violence. Warner described the collaboration as a way to offer an additional setting for support outside of more traditional office-based services.
“We share similar goals around helping people feel safe and move forward,” she said.
Warner pointed to logistical challenges in rural communities as one reason alternative models are being explored. Access to transportation and the distance between services can make it difficult for some individuals to seek care.
“In some cases, even getting to the next town over can be a barrier,” she said.
GAIT works with a range of participants, including children involved in the foster care system. Warner said she has observed changes in how some participants engage over time, particularly among younger clients.
“You might see kids come in withdrawn,” she said. “Over time, they become more comfortable being here and interacting.”
Warner, who joined the organization two years ago without prior experience working with horses, also described her own adjustment to the role, saying the environment helped her develop confidence and trust in her abilities.