Horse-Powered Programs  (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

Horses have an innate ability to pick up on human energy and emotions which means they can play a powerful role in growth, healing and skills development, helping people break through barriers that are preventing them from living their best lives. Through facilitator-led work with horses clients learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses, and then processing (or discussing) thoughts, beliefs, behaviours and patterns. Outcomes can include increased self awareness/mindfulness, building trust and self esteem, improving emotional regulation, resiliency and resourcefulness, building healthier relationships, learning to set goals, work as a team and improve communication, and so much more.

HORSE-POWERED PROGRAMS 4 YOUTH


Horse-Powered Happiness introduces resiliency and life skills to help young people learn how to cope during hard times, recover from prolonged stress and thrive in times of change. Facilitator-guided activities with horses, help participants build confidence, practice self awareness and emotional regulation, learn how to problem solve, form healthier relationships, and set goals for a brighter future. 

“My daughter is 9 and has generalized anxiety and PTSD and struggles with social and emotional regulation. I’ve seen her self-confidence boosted week-over-week with these horse sessions. She tries new things in her everyday life that before, she would not. I have seen as much improvement in her mindset in just weeks, as I have seen with one year of therapy. I can’t recommend it enough.”

- S.K. 



Horse-Powered Leadership empowers participants to become better leaders. Facilitator-guided activities with horses help participants understand the core values of leadership as well as different leadership styles; develop problem solving skills; set goals; improve communication; work with teams and better handle difficult emotions and challenging times.

"Honestly one of the best experiences for leadership and personal development. The horses really help you to understand your own personal leadership style, become a better communicator and understand different personality types, which is so beneficial when working with others. Amazing!" 
- K.L. 
 

Horse-Powered Literacy is an exciting new field using the magic of horses. When fundamental reading skills are combined with the increased excitement, motivation, confidence and determination that comes from work with horses, exponential growth and learning begins to happen!

"I never thought I'd see my son excited about reading, but he can't wait to get to the farm to see what the next activity it is, or who his reading 'partner' will be. Very creative and effective way to make learning fun!" 
- C.R. 

TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAMS

Horse-Powered Skills for Success is a powerful, hands-on experiential program with horses that helps empower teens and adults who are trying to break through the barriers that are preventing them from living their best life. Facilitator-guided activities with horses, introduce participants to a variety of life skills that help them to make healthy, informed choices that can contribute to a brighter future.
This program can be tailored to your timelines and your desired outcomes! So, whether you are looking for weekly individual sessions or a one-time group workshop – or anything in between, we can meet your needs. Some examples might be:

TRAUMA
Trauma is a risk factor for nearly all behavioral, mental health and substance use disorders. For this reason, the need to address trauma is increasingly seen as an important part of effective behavioral health care and an integral part of the healing and recovery process.

Common Benefits:

SOCIAL PROGRAMS

SENIORS
Aging adults often experience the repercussions of feeling isolated. This affects their overall health and well being. Storybook’s miniature horses create joy and motivation to socially connect with others.
We offer both ON SITE farm sessions as well as MOBILE visits to senior care facilities.
During this experience residents will have the opportunity to pet, brush, lead (if appropriate), dress up the horses, and engage in conversations about horses. Most of all, visits from the miniature horses light up the room and bring smiles to faces who don’t often do so!

Common Benefits:
DEMENTIA
Over 55 million people have dementia worldwide. As of January 1, 2025, there were approximately three-quarters of a million people in Canada living with dementia. Every day, more than 400 people in Canada develop dementia and by 2030, nearly 1 million people in Canada could live with dementia. Every year, there are nearly 10 million new global cases.
Additionally, people are being diagnosed earlier in the process. Living with and providing care for someone affected by early-stage dementia is becoming more of a global reality.
Therapeutic human-horse interaction helps offset common experiences of isolation and depression that often accompany a dementia diagnosis. We offer ON-SITE FARM sessions for anyone experiencing memory changes or is affected by dementia, along with care partners (participants must be able to safely walk without assistance and engage in a group setting) as well as MOBILE mini horse visits to local facilities.

Common Benefits: CORPORATE PROGRAMS

LEADERSHIP
Horses serve as honest, non-judgmental mirrors, providing leaders with real-time feedback on their leadership style, communication, emotional intelligence, presence and non-verbal cues.
This helps develop essential skills like authenticity, self-awareness, emotional regulation and the ability to build trust within a team. Through hands-on, ground-based activities, participants learn to influence and motivate others effectively by understanding the horse's intuitive responses to their own behavior. 

Why Horses Are Effective Leadership Coaches:

​​​​​Honest and Direct Feedback: Horses don't filter or judge; they respond directly to a person's authentic presence, behavior, and emotional state, providing immediate and honest feedback. 

• Non-Verbal Communication: Horses are masters of non-verbal cues, teaching leaders to become more attuned to subtle signals in their own body language and to align their verbal and non-verbal messages. 

• Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Interacting with horses helps leaders understand how their own emotions affect their actions and how to manage them effectively under pressure, leading to better self-management and empathy. 

• Authenticity and Trust: Horses are highly intuitive and can sense a lack of authenticity. This experience helps leaders develop genuine connections and build trust by being present and truthful about their feelings. 

• Presence and Awareness: Leaders learn the importance of being grounded, calm, and present, which influences the horse's behavior and fosters a sense of calm and confidence. 

• Adaptability and Resilience: The unpredictable nature of working with horses requires leaders to be flexible, adapt quickly to changing situations, and remain calm under stress.

Benefits:
- Recognizing leadership styles
- Building trust and respect
- Clear communication
- Resilience and adaptability
- Empathy and social skills
- Teamwork and collaboration

TEAM BUILDING
Horses provide unique feedback on a team's dynamics, revealing communication issues, leadership gaps and areas for improved trust and collaboration. 
Because horses are sensitive to nonverbal cues and emotions, interacting with them allows team members to gain self-awareness and practice clear, confident communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. 
These experiences create tangible, lasting improvements in teamwork by offering real-time, unfiltered feedback on how the team functions and fosters stronger working relationships

Why Horses Are Effective Team Building Tools:

Honest & Immediate Feedback: Horses don't respond to titles or politics, but instead, to authentic energy and nonverbal cues, offering unfiltered insights into a team's communication and dynamics. 

• Mirror for Behavior: Horses act as a living mirror, reflecting a team's strengths, areas for growth, and how members collaborate, providing a safe space for learning and self-awareness. 

• Focus on Presence: Working with horses requires participants to be present and aware, fostering mindfulness and deeper connections with their teammates. 

• Natural Parallels to Human Teams: Just as horses form a herd with a clear leader, human teams need trust, clear leadership, and effective communication to function well, making the parallels to work insightful.

Benefits:
- Improved Communication
- Enhanced Trust & Rapport
- Strengthened Leadership Skills
- Increased Emotional Intelligence
- Better Collaboration & Teamwork

Riding High Program

The tactile and rhythmic nature of horse riding has therapeutic effects on the brain. It helps release endorphins, improving mood and self-esteem, and lowers cortisol levels, reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety and promoting relaxation.

In addition, the challenge that comes with learning to ride and work with horses, builds confidence, empathy, patience, respect, trust, emotional regulation, communication, perseverence, resilience and a sense of pride and accomplishment. Add in the physical benefits of increased muscle tone and strength, improved posture, core strength and coordination, along with time in nature, and work with horses offers an effective recipe for improved health and well-being. 

Our Riding High Program features one-on-one private sessions, that include horse riding lessons and activities, as well as unmounted exercises, tailored to desired outcomes. 

MOBILE MINI UNIT