Stable Connections Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies

Who We Are

Stable Connections, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit charitable organization located in Guildhall, VT and is the only certified facility utilizing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning in northern Vermont and New Hampshire.

Programs include: Corporate Team Building for organizations and schools, Military Veterans Workshops, Horses Helping Seniors, Therapeutic Horsemanship, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Equine Assisted Learning and English or Western Riding/Horsemanship lessons.

"Northeast Kingdom Nonprofit Helping Veterans Find Stable Connections"

WCAX Channel 3 Feature on Stable Connections (2020)

ARENA & MEETING CENTER PROJECT

Architectural rendering of the new Arena & Meeting Center.

Modalities of Treatment

Stable Connections is certified by EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning). It is a collaborative approach, incorporating a licensed Mental Health Professional, a Certified Equine Specialist and horses working together with clients as equal partners in an experiential process that empowers life-changing outcomes. This mental health treatment model utilizes horses who are highly attuned in a stigma free environment. This approach focuses on the science that humans learn best through their own experiences.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is not riding or horsemanship skills. The focus is on experiential learning, utilizing a person or a group's interactions and experiences with the horses as a metaphor for the emotions and/or behaviors. Horses are uniquely qualified to provide this form of treatment as they are intelligent prey animals, extremely aware of their surroundings with heightened senses allowing them to pick up on non-verbal cues and give instant feedback to the participants.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), has been extensively studied and is considered evidenced based practice primarily for post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma related disorders. It is a proven modality for other diagnoses, such as anxiety, substance abuse disorders, and depression. EMDR is an eight-phase approach that allows participants to reprocess negative experiences and thoughts without having to talk at length about their experience. EMDR therapy at Stable Connections is provided by a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker certified through EMDRIA (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association).