With over 40 years of horse-related experience under her belt, Andrea Baldwin put her knowledge to use when she founded the Connections Equine Therapy Program in 2000.
In an attempt to benefit the members of her community, Baldwin reached out to various organizations and services across the Verde Valley, such as Child Protective Services, Verde Valley Guidance and the Yavapai Juvenile Court, to help start off her nonprofit program.
With a variety of programs, the sessions offered can be personalized to each client’s needs, no matter what age they are or what condition they are in.
“We’ve had clients who have had to be wheelchaired up the ramp to mount the horse. Usually, they will leave better than when they started. One client was able to walk again after only three months of sessions,” Baldwin said. “For most, it’s more long-term. It’s not just a one-time deal.”
With the help of her daughter, Jordan Baldwin, Andrea Baldwin has directed the organization for about 25 years and designs each individual program. Programs at Connections Equine Therapy include Therapeutic Riding for physical therapy purposes, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Corporate Team Bonding and Downrange, a program for veterans and their families.
During the summer, the sessions are altered to minimize the amount of time spent in the heat for the safety of both the clients and horses.
“When it gets too hot during the day, we move our sessions to an earlier time in the morning or try to keep the activities inside the barn. These are not just pony rides, we also want to teach our riders proper horsemanship,” Andrea Baldwin said. “Our riders are our No. 1 priority, next comes the horses and then our volunteers and staff members.”
Depending on the capabilities of the individual, a typical hour-long session could range anywhere from a trainer-assisted horse ride around the arena to an interactive lesson on horse grooming in the barn. The programs not only benefit the physical body and muscle strength, but also require the exercising of choice-making and problem-solving skills when clients are interacting with the horses.
Even though the Connections Equine Therapy Program gets a steady influx of volunteers, they are always looking for more people to help out around the barn and during each session.
“Over 8,000 volunteer hours and 120 feeding slots are needed during each month. We have four categories of volunteers here. There is the barn crew, which we call the ‘entre-manures,’ who clean the stables and feed the horses each day. The only requirement for that is to be physically fit; no experience is necessary. We also need side-walkers and leaders to help alongside our trainers in the arena. Also, we could always use more administrative volunteers who could work in the office and with clients,” Baldwin said.
For further information on the organization’s programs or volunteering opportunities, reach Joanne Agostinelli, Connections Equine Therapy Secretary, at 639-0791 or connections@commspeed.net.
