At Groundwork Ranch, our programs help people by inviting them to interact with our horses in order to practice emotional regulation, clear communication, boundary setting, and effective leadership. People participating in our programs consistently tell us they gain valuable new understanding about their own capabilities and leave the ranch feeling more relaxed, energized, and empowered.
Leader of the Herd
Workshops for foster and adoptive parents of traumatized children
As prey animals, horses are a lot like traumatized children; their survival depends on heightened awareness and knowing who to trust. That’s why working with horses offers a great opportunity for practicing parenting skills that are critical to developing a sense of safety and creating a healthy, healing home environment for foster and adoptive children who have survived trauma. Parents learn and practice essential skills for managing challenging, trauma-based behaviors.
We’re grateful to partner with Foster Source for the majority of our Leader of the Herd programs!
Horse Power
Multi-week program for at-risk adolescents
Teens with social skill deficits and/or histories that include exposure to, or experience of, traumatic events are often identified as “at risk.” Many of these teens are placed in residential care or attend day treatment programs to provide intensive psychological and behavioral support. The Horse Power program, based on the principles of Positive Youth Development, uses engaging equine-assisted learning activities and experiences designed to help at-risk adolescents begin or continue the process of recovery from trauma, acquire the skills to fulfill psychosocial needs in constructive ways, establish and maintain satisfying interpersonal relationships, and interact more successfully with society.
Horse Power is currently offered in partnership with the adolescent day treatment program at Community Reach Center in Adams County and other day treatment programs in the Denver area.
Taking the Reins (this program is not currently being offered)
Workshops for family care partners of people with dementia
Working with horses helps family care partners of people with dementia learn and practice new ways of responding to caregiving demands while protecting their own physical and emotional well-being. Care partners have an opportunity to share their fears, frustrations, and challenges with others who are caring for loved ones. The workshop, led by two psychotherapists and experienced facilitators of equine-assisted activities, provides a safe, relaxed environment in which care partners feel supported and validated. They leave feeling relaxed, connected, and reenergized.
Other programs
We also offer equine-assisted group workshops and programs to help the following people:
Case workers, counselors, teachers, and medical professionals
Corporate/organizational teams
Horse Power for Teens in Foster Care (this program is not currently being offered)
A four-day equine-assisted learning program for teens in foster care
Groundwork Ranch created the Horse Power program in collaboration with foster care professionals, parents, and teens. The program is led by licensed mental health professionals and meets two hours a day for four days. During that time, teens learn about themselves, practice developing and nurturing relationships, and work as part of a team to tackle meaningful challenges. We’re grateful to partner with Cobbled Streets for this program.