Empowering people and horses to become who God created them to be and to do His work
At Grace Therapeutic Ranch, we are
Enriching Lives through Equine-Assisted Service
Grace Therapeutic Riding gives meaningful work to the Vermeer family’s horses. Our desire is to serve individuals and families who will benefit physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally from Equine-Assisted Services. We collaborate with physical or occupational therapy providers, mental health providers, or other professionals for specific services needed.
Allison, daughter of Bob and Lois Vermeer, is Director of Grace Therapeutic Riding, and a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Int’l). The equine-assisted therapies and training center is located at the Vermeer Ranch, just west of Pella.
Our Expertise
Equine-Assisted Services
Hippotherapy
Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or speech therapy utilizing the horse as a therapy tool. We collaborate with Kinetic Edge on development and implementation of the hippotherapy programs offered. The therapist is specialized in hippotherapy and has been specially trained to use the movement of the horse to facilitate improvements in their participant’s goals. Some of the goals for our participants is to improve balance, coordination, posture, fine motor control, sensory processing, and increasing cognitive skills with the equine assistance. Cadenced equine movement offers the therapist a tool to address goals.
Therapeutic Horsemanship or Adaptive Riding
An equine assisted activity for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social wellbeing of individuals with various therapeutic goals. The individual or group will work toward whatever level of horsemanship they are able to achieve. Therapeutic horsemanship participants are learning to work with the horse using such skills as communication, steering, observing the response of the horse, and much more. All therapeutic riding lessons are conducted by a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International certified instructor.
Equine-Assisted Learning and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
EAL in education, organizations, and personal development. Some examples of program goals include life skills, horse knowledge, and relationship building.
EAP, a form of psychotherapy or mental health work that involves equines with the participant. Horses, as prey animals, do an amazing job of mirroring our own emotions as we work with them. We collaborate with Heartland Christian Counseling on development and implementation of the EAP programs offered.
Kind Words
Testimonials from Clients
There aren’t enough wonderful things to say about Grace and their volunteers. From the moment you step in the front door until the time you leave, Grace makes the rider (and family) feel like they’re loved and valued beyond measure. The volunteers truly care about the rider and what his/her needs are and work with Allison to create a riding plan specific to those needs. I can’t recommend Grace enough.
Brittany H. Jan, 2023
