Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Wyo Hoofbeats, Equine Assisted Learning
Legal Name (if Different): Wyo Hoofbeats EAL
Also Known As: Wyo Hoofbeats
Mailing Address: PO Box 2871
City: Cody
State: WY
Postal Code: 82414
Main Phone: 307-899-1748
Main Fax: n/a
Organization Website: www.wyohoofbeats.com
Employer ID Number: 83-2629660
Organization Tax Status: Good

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3-13-2024
Requested Amount: $2,250

Project Title: Equine Program for Alternative High School Students
Project Description:

Once the alternative high school students saw the mini horses, they smiled, had a few giggles, and started talking, no longer hiding behind hoodies or long hair. Minutes earlier, they had resisted participating in the mental health session, knowing the topic was grief. However, after learning about the therapy horses and being asked to consider how people work through grief, the students analyzed available props, worked together, and created an obstacle course for the horses. While they led the horses through the course, they opened up to staff, each other, and the animals to talk about grief, exploring the topic, gaining insight from each other, and actively problem-solving how to work through it.

Wyo Hoofbeats in Park County, Wyoming offers a unique therapeutic modality called Equine Assisted Learning; we facilitate learning experiences where clients develop life skills through hands-on activities with therapy horses. As with the example above with students from Heart Mountain Academy, an alternative high school in Cody, Wyoming, equine assisted learning can reach people when there is resistance to more traditional “talk” therapy.

Our mission is to provide equine assisted learning by connecting people with horses to create an experience that enriches an individual’s mind, body, and spirit. To accomplish it, we focus on three main goals: 1) decrease barriers to people receiving counseling services; 2) provide opportunities for clients to develop new skills; and 3) offer connection, socialization, and hands-on activities with therapy animals that all promote mental health without participants knowing they are doing therapy.

We ask for your support of $2,250 to help us convert our annual visit to Heart Mountain Academy to a monthly visit, where we work more often with at-risk teens at an alternative high school in 2025, offering nine sessions with them.

Total Project Budget: $3,250

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Cody Regional Health Foundation (potential); NextGen Park County (potential); fundraising funds (potential)

Project Duration: 1 year; sessions in Spring and Fall in 2025
Geographical Area Served: Cody, Wyoming (Park County)
Age Group To Be Served: 14 to 19

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Heather
Contact Last Name: Bales
Contact Title: President
Contact Phone: 307-899-1748
Contact Email: wyohoofbeats@gmail.com