“There is much someone can learn from a
friend who happens to be a horse.”
What is Equitherapy?
Equine-assisted therapy (Equitherapy) uses the unique qualities of the horse to meet the unique needs of individuals with physical and mental challenges.
Equine-assisted therapy (Equitherapy) uses the unique qualities of the horse to meet the unique needs of individuals with physical and mental challenges.
For 25 years, Triple H has been a premier therapeutic riding center accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH, Intl.). Accreditation must be renewed every five years and attests to the fact that Triple H meets the highest industry standards for professionalism, safety and programming.
Horses Have Healing Power
Horses have been used for centuries to provide therapy in various ways. Equine-assisted therapy offers many distinctive experiences that traditional therapy does not. Through the powerful human-horse bond, clients can experience healing on many levels--physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
Horses have been used for centuries to provide therapy in various ways. Equine-assisted therapy offers many distinctive experiences that traditional therapy does not. Through the powerful human-horse bond, clients can experience healing on many levels--physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
Since 1995, people with disabilities have found Hope, Healing, and Happiness at Triple H Equitherapy in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas. Our mission is to improve the lives of children, teens, adults, seniors and veterans with disabilities through nationally accredited equine-assisted activities and therapies.
Offering many distinctive experiences that traditional therapy does not, equitherapy uses the unique qualities of our specially selected and trained horses to meet the unique needs of individuals with physical, mental, emotional and behavioral challenges.
Horse-powered programs at Triple H include experiential learning for mentally, emotionally and physically disabled students, equine-assisted psychotherapy, and programs for veterans of all eras and their families, horsemanship and social programs for seniors, and a variety of therapeutic horsemanship and riding.
Offering many distinctive experiences that traditional therapy does not, equitherapy uses the unique qualities of our specially selected and trained horses to meet the unique needs of individuals with physical, mental, emotional and behavioral challenges.
Horse-powered programs at Triple H include experiential learning for mentally, emotionally and physically disabled students, equine-assisted psychotherapy, and programs for veterans of all eras and their families, horsemanship and social programs for seniors, and a variety of therapeutic horsemanship and riding.
The Triple H Way
Our Horse Therapists are treated almost as if they are "employees" of our organization rather than "animals" that we "take care of." We make it clear to clients, employees and volunteers that when we go into our stalls, we are going into their space.
We call the following the "Triple H Way" not because it is the right way or the only way or even the best way. That is for the reader to decide. But it is the Triple H Way, simply because it is the way we respect and treat out horses. It is what they have become used to and are familiar with and it is what works for us. Hopefully it will work for you.
-We create an environment where we are part of the herd, therefore we need to make sure that we are a partner and a trusted leader.
-We ask our horses to do things; we do not tell them.
-Before we ask, we set them up for success.
-If they don't achieve what we're asking them for, we ensure we are making sense to the horse, and then encourage them until they do it.
-Praise, praise, praise for anything the horse does that is good like cleaning a hoof, dropping the head, licking and chewing, audible sighs, etc.
-We make doing it right easier than doing it wrong.
-If a horse doesn't cooperate, one of the following might be a reason why:
1. The horse doesn't understand what you're saying.
2. The horse has never been trained to do what you're asking for.
3. The horse can't do it physically, perhaps because of discomfort or pain.
4. The horse can't do it mentally, perhaps because of fear, lack of trust or frustration.
5. The horse is deliberately being disobedient.
-We redirect our horses before considering correction.
Always remembering releasing pressure trains the horse while constant pressure sours the horse.
Our Horse Therapists are treated almost as if they are "employees" of our organization rather than "animals" that we "take care of." We make it clear to clients, employees and volunteers that when we go into our stalls, we are going into their space.
We call the following the "Triple H Way" not because it is the right way or the only way or even the best way. That is for the reader to decide. But it is the Triple H Way, simply because it is the way we respect and treat out horses. It is what they have become used to and are familiar with and it is what works for us. Hopefully it will work for you.
-We create an environment where we are part of the herd, therefore we need to make sure that we are a partner and a trusted leader.
-We ask our horses to do things; we do not tell them.
-Before we ask, we set them up for success.
-If they don't achieve what we're asking them for, we ensure we are making sense to the horse, and then encourage them until they do it.
-Praise, praise, praise for anything the horse does that is good like cleaning a hoof, dropping the head, licking and chewing, audible sighs, etc.
-We make doing it right easier than doing it wrong.
-If a horse doesn't cooperate, one of the following might be a reason why:
1. The horse doesn't understand what you're saying.
2. The horse has never been trained to do what you're asking for.
3. The horse can't do it physically, perhaps because of discomfort or pain.
4. The horse can't do it mentally, perhaps because of fear, lack of trust or frustration.
5. The horse is deliberately being disobedient.
-We redirect our horses before considering correction.
Always remembering releasing pressure trains the horse while constant pressure sours the horse.
| Triple H Brochure 2019 |
Benefits
Physical
- Three-dimensional movement
- Constant balancing
- Flexibility and stretching
- Warmth and rhythm
- Always alert and curious
- Activates all five senses
- Constant feedback
- Excellent memory
- Non-judgmental and accepting
- Highly perceptive
- Intuitively judges intentions
- Empathetic and affectionate
Social
- Trusting and respectful
- Communicates constantly
- Accepts authority
- Naturally gregarious and gentle
- Unconditional love
- Wisdom
- Joy
- Peace
History
Historically, there were only institutionalized therapeutic services for people with disabilities in Bexar and adjacent Hill Country counties. In 1995, Kent and Kathy Harbaugh moved to Texas from Alabama where they had founded the Montgomery Area Nontraditional Equestrians (MANE) therapy center. At MANE, they demonstrated how the human-horse bond can open the door to new possibilities for those living with a physical or mental disability. Kent (a retired USAF Colonel) and his wife finally found a little piece of “horse heaven” in the Texas Hill Country about 20 miles Northwest of San Antonio.
The couple envisioned building a therapeutic horsemanship center at which children, adults, and even horses with special needs could thrive. The Harbaugh’s vision became a reality when they established Horses Helping the Handicapped, Inc., in 1995. Doing business as Triple H Equitherapy, it received nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS in 1996.
Starting with just two horses and two stalls, the center now is home to over 20 therapy horses and serves hundreds of clients a year from ages 4 to 94.
The couple envisioned building a therapeutic horsemanship center at which children, adults, and even horses with special needs could thrive. The Harbaugh’s vision became a reality when they established Horses Helping the Handicapped, Inc., in 1995. Doing business as Triple H Equitherapy, it received nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS in 1996.
Starting with just two horses and two stalls, the center now is home to over 20 therapy horses and serves hundreds of clients a year from ages 4 to 94.
FACTS
Horses Helping the Handicapped, Inc. (d.b.a. Triple H Equitherapy Center) provides a wide range of equine-assisted activities and therapy for children, youth, and adults who face physical, mental, emotional, or social challenges. Equine centered physical and psychological therapy programs, experiential learning curricula, and opportunities to nurture acceptable social behaviors are offered year-round. Service-to-community experiences and life skills training situations are presented for at-risk youth from residential facilities, juvenile probation offices, and local community programs. A variety of programs serve disabled veterans.
Since 1995, a growing number of people with special needs have found healing with the help of specially trained equines in our beautiful Texas Hill Country setting. A professional staff, assisted by trained volunteers, serves clients primarily from Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Kendall, Kerr, and Medina counties.
Mission
To improve the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through nationally accredited equine-assisted activities and therapy in a safe Hill Country environment.
Vision
Triple H becomes a recognized world-class organization creating and conducting innovative equine-assisted programs that promote healing and wholeness through the magic of horses.
Values
Triple H emphasizes the following values to provide a safe, peaceful environment in which healing can take place through the interaction of humans and horses:
Integrity: Honesty and transparency in all that we do.
Service: Love and compassion for clients, volunteers, horses, and each other.
Excellence: Professional performance, respect, and behavior.
Teamwork: Meet the needs of others in a spirit of cooperation and concern.
Philosophy
Core values are the basis of the Triple H philosophy and form the way Triple H views the world and conducts its business.
Since 1995, a growing number of people with special needs have found healing with the help of specially trained equines in our beautiful Texas Hill Country setting. A professional staff, assisted by trained volunteers, serves clients primarily from Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Kendall, Kerr, and Medina counties.
Mission
To improve the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through nationally accredited equine-assisted activities and therapy in a safe Hill Country environment.
Vision
Triple H becomes a recognized world-class organization creating and conducting innovative equine-assisted programs that promote healing and wholeness through the magic of horses.
Values
Triple H emphasizes the following values to provide a safe, peaceful environment in which healing can take place through the interaction of humans and horses:
Integrity: Honesty and transparency in all that we do.
Service: Love and compassion for clients, volunteers, horses, and each other.
Excellence: Professional performance, respect, and behavior.
Teamwork: Meet the needs of others in a spirit of cooperation and concern.
Philosophy
Core values are the basis of the Triple H philosophy and form the way Triple H views the world and conducts its business.
- Our View of the World of Equitherapy: Traditional therapy centers bring the horse into the clinic setting as one of their many procedures. In contrast, Triple H brings the client into the world of the horse as a partner in a process that becomes, in fact, a human-assisted therapy.
- Our View of Our Clients: Historically, equitherapy centers were established by physical or occupational therapists whose purpose was to rehabilitate specific lost or non-existing functions. In comparison, Triple H focuses on abilities rather than disabilities with the goal of helping every client reach their full potential.
- Our View of Our Horses: Many conventional therapy centers consider the horse as a “modality," another therapeutic tool to be used along with many others. Triple H, however, considers the horse as the central partner in a set of complex relationships which we simply facilitate.
- Our View of Business: Non-profit agencies, of necessity, focus on the “top line – income” to serve a select group by attracting revenue because the services provided create costs but little or no income. Triple H focuses on the unmet needs of others, develops equine-assisted activities meeting those needs, and then seeks the resources in the belief that by doing the right thing, for the right reasons, resources will follow.
Privacy Policy
Triple H Equitherapy maintains the highest level of privacy concerning our donor’s personal information. Personal and contact information is used for internal purposes only. Donor names are routinely published in Triple H communication material and media; however, a donor may request at any time to be excluded from recognition. Triple H does not sell, trade or share its donor information with any organization.
Our ACCREDITATIONS
Triple H Equitherapy exceeds industry standards for safety and professionalism. Since 1996, Triple H has been the only nonprofit premier therapeutic riding and driving center in the San Antonio and Hill Country areas that is fully accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH, Int'l).
