The Gleneayre Equestrian Program is proud to introduce our first pilot program designed to serve veterans and/or their families who might benefit from community engagement, hands-on experience with horses, and the benefits that they both can bring. Participants meet at Gleneayre Farm (573 Eayrestown Rd, Lumberton, NJ 08048) for one hour once a week for coffee, donuts, and guided, hands-on interactions with horses at no cost.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Meet once weekly with fellow veterans in the local community to share coffee, donuts, and conversation and build valuable relationships alongside your new equine companions.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE: Learn about equine safety and behaviors from one of our many experienced staff members and have the chance to feed, groom, and interact with horses under expert supervision.
EMOTIONAL CONNECTION: As you care for your horse each week you will have the opportunity to develop an emotional connection with them. Human-animal contact is shown to improve our overall well-being.
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Disclaimer: Participation in our programs can bring about various positive “therapeutic effects,” including enhanced well-being, stress reduction, relaxation, and relationship building. However, it’s important to note that our Weekly Horsemanship Programs do not provide formal therapy. We do not have Mental Health Professionals on our staff, and our facility is not a therapy clinic in any capacity. The programs aim to support participants in reintegrating into civilian and family life by fostering a strong horse-human bond and helping them overcome personal obstacles in the natural environment of a horse farm, with its earthy, natural, and straightforward learning opportunities.
We welcome qualified students starting at age 10 through their first postsecondary year to apply to our Working Student Program. We look for applicants who may be at risk and love horses and 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.
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. We also encourage our students to participate in 4-H, USEF- and USDF-sanctioned events, clinics, workshops, horse shows, academic competitions, and community service.
Our 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.
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.
