serving our community for over 20 years
About us
Since 1999
Our story
In 1996, Bill and Kathy’s daughter, Ali, was born with Down syndrome. They realized that with some help, their beautiful child could develop to her full potential. A lifelong horsewoman, Kathy began to explore the idea of a Hippotherapy program and traveled to different centers around Colorado to learn all she could.
Believing that Hippotherapy would benefit others besides Ali, the Hamm’s bought 36 acres west of Olathe, Colorado. Dream Catcher Therapy Center was founded there in 1999, starting with two personal horses and an arena. Seeing all these wonderful horses could offer to people that are hurting, the Hamm’s decided to ;give back’ to the horses by opening End of the Trail Horse Rescue in 2006. Both organizations are 501(c)3 Non – Profit organizations.
Healing Through Horses is Our Passion
Our Mission
What We do
What Is Equine Therapy?
Equine therapy, also called equine assisted therapy (EAT), equine-facilitated therapy, horse therapy, equestrian therapy, or horse-riding therapy, is a therapeutic modality that utilizes horses to help people deal with physical and psychological challenges.
Similar to therapy dogs, horses are sensitive to non-verbal communication and remain mentally and physically prepared to respond to their environment in the present moment. Their overall surroundings dictate their behavior, which directly, or indirectly, alters the therapeutic narrative throughout an EAT session. Client, horse and trained horse specialists are able to work together on specific treatment plans using the horse in a number of different ways.
Several approaches to equine therapy include:
- Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP): This utilizes a mental health professional, an equine specialist, and horses all working together.
- Equine Assisted Learning (EAL): This is an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills through equine assisted activities including grooming, feeding, and ground exercises.
- Hippotherapy: Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input. 1 This involves an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist, or a speech and language therapist working with a client and a horse.2
- Therapeutic Horseback Riding: This is a unique horse therapy approach that includes horseback riding and addresses the physical needs of the client. This style uses a therapeutic team, usually including a certified therapeutic riding instructor, two or more volunteers, and a horse, to help an individual ride a horse and work with the horse on the ground.
