Step Up Into T.L.C.

Step Up Into T.L.C.Inc.
Equine Assisted Therapy in a Big Way

Images by Lori Faith Merritt/www.PhotographyByFaith.com
To see more images by Lori Faith Merritt, click HERE

Our Horses Have a Mission
Our mission at Step Up Into T.L.C. focuses on bringing smiles, fostering therapeutic healing, both emotionally and physically and building self-confidence and social skills through people interaction with our horses.Our program provides this opportunity to children and adults with special needs, at risk youth, elderly/senior groups and the terminally ill.

Visits will be to the following places, but are not limited to:
Local Hospitals, Children Clinics, Children and Adult Group Homes, Children Rehabilitation Clinics, Retirement Communities, Nursing Homes, residential homes of the terminal ill. Local Schools and Churches.

Step Up into T.L.C. is committed to providing the community with a safe and quality service. Our service brings our saddled pony to various facilities. Children will be introduced, educated about the pony, asked to pet and they are offered a ride. Most children with special needs are working with a Therapist and this interaction provides many opportunities for both the child and Therapist to utilize. The children that are in the hospitals are encouraged to come out into the outdoors to meet, ride and pet the pony. This is such a good opportunity to help with movement and circulation and it gets them outside for a change of venue, fresh air and sunshine. The hospital Staff is encouraged to participate.

Our service will provide a horse-drawn cart ride for Retirement communities’ and Nursing homes. A ride in our three-seated cart fosters the elderly to recall their long lost memories of when they were young and around horses. Residents will be encouraged to pet the horse and socialize. With safety foremost in mind and one or two other trained volunteers plus the facilities staff we provide a healing and memorable experience.

Our objective is to enrich the lives of those who are in need through healthy interactions with our horses. The power of our horses is amazing. Providing an unconditional love. Just being present and not judging says volumes and provided a nurturing safe place.

They have the power to transport a lonely or weary heart back in time to recapture the feelings of vibrant life, to rekindle connection with a sacred source of being that may have languished under hardships. The old remember; I was somebody.. I Am somebody. They offer friendly reprieve from the unknown and uncertain sterile environment facing young children in the hospital. A connection to possibilities and new beginnings. For hospice patients the horses wrap and weave a precious memory thread of comfort into the tapestry of the final story that makes it a little warmer for those left behind to wrap around their shoulders and remember when. (Step Up Into Therapeutic Loving Caballos (horse) by Susan Marshall)

Step Up Into T.L.C. Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit enterprise. Donations are very welcome.
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