Golden Hearts Program for Seniors

Partnering with A Golden Heart Carriage Services and Vanners, FHTRC has gone mobile to provide Equine Assisted Services to clients at Telespond Senior Services, On-Site Adult Day Care Center and Mid-Valley Health Care Center.  Two Gypsy Vanner horses are trailered to the centers and clients have the opportunity to personally interact with them. The following statement on research done by the Institute of HeartMath supports benefits of this service:

“In fact, research shows that people experience many physiological benefits while interacting with horses, including lowered blood pressure and heart rate; increased levels of beta-endorphins (neurotransmitters that serve as pain suppressors); decreased stress levels; reduced feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety; improved social functioning; and increased feelings of empowerment, trust patience and self-efficacy” (Habitat for Horses, Measuring the Emotional Bond between Horses and Humans, 2014).