FROM: Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc., EAGALA Certified Program
CONTACT: Hayley Sumner, Hayley@BerkshireHorseWorks.com, (413) 698-3700
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BERKSHIRE HORSEWORKS™ SECURES 501(C)3 NONPROFIT STATUS ON ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY, BRINGING TRANSFORMATIVE MODALITY TO MORE OF THOSE IN NEED, REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL ABILITY
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Highly Effective in Treatment of Those with Mental and Behavioral Challenges Ranging From ADHD, Autism, Addiction, Depression, and Trauma to Resiliency, Effective Communication, and Reintegration
Richmond, MA , 2014 –In an effort to provide EAGALA Model Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) to a greater number of those in need in Berkshire County and neighboring cities, Berkshire HorseWorks™ (BHW) secured its nonprofit 501(C)3 designation. Hayley Sumner, Founder and Executive Director, first launched the organization in 2013 as a for profit entity. Since its inception, BHW has been treating at-risk youth, veterans, families, individuals, and couples with a broad range of challenges including anxiety, PTSD, bullying, and eating disorders. BHW, in sessions with clients, uses rescue horses that are either retired from racing, injured, traumatized, or otherwise handicapped. In addition, BHW partners with local and national organizations to strengthen their workforces through team building and personal wellness initiatives. Clients have included Hillcrest Educational Center, Pittsfield Juvenile Resource Center, The John Dewey Academy, Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office, Darrow School, Berkshire Functional Fitness, ARK Media, and Fox Sports Network, among others.
The statistics are compelling;
“I am a cancer survivor and horse lover. I have witnessed the pervasiveness and potentially life threatening impact of drug use, depression, and PTSD in this community. This is what drove me to start this venture. While financially challenging, I felt I had no choice. We work with disconnected families, traumatized adolescents, and brave soldiers as they reintegrate into family life, the workplace and the community when they return from deployment. Their ability to pay for these services is irrelevant,” reports Sumner.
Army Sgt. Robert Shove, a veteran of Iraq/Afghanistan stated, “This program has made me whole, like there is hope. I have been through many types of therapy, as I suffer from TBI and PTSD. This was the first time out of any other therapy that it seemed to work. I recommend it for any veteran or military person who has gone through combat or who is suffering from trauma. The connection that I got with the other vets and the horses in the program saved me.”
Sessions take place on the ground (no riding), are facilitated by both a Licensed Mental Health Professional and a qualified Equine Specialist, are solution-focused and follow a stringent code of ethics. BHW has been practicing this model in the Berkshires for over a year, and with its newly designated nonprofit status, has gained the ability to reach a broader demographic through fundraising and grant initiatives, including tax-deductible donations.
According to Robert Goodman, a father whose family of five engaged in a team building session, “The kids have not stopped talking about it; BHW made us feel very close to each other. My wife, a psychologist, is convinced that EAGALA is such a helpful tool.”
The utilization of rescue horses, some of which are “cribbers” who get high from chewing wood, is highly effective in metaphorical learning with clients who have eating disorders, addiction, PTSD, and more.
BHW is located in a bucolic 27 acre compound in Richmond, MA comprising the Berkshire Equestrian Center, hiking trails, outdoor paddocks, historic barns, state of the art jumping facilities, the Inn at Richmond, and a wellness center. The facility has the flexibility to provide corporate retreats for businesses that invest in their employees through programs focused on teamwork, problem-solving, cultural diversity, empathy, and productivity. Berkshire HorseWorks™ team building sessions take participants out of their offices and into the arena with equines. By incorporating horses into team building workshops, employees are afforded the opportunity to engage in innovative thinking and gain insight into the dynamics of their group.
Dom Sacco, EAGALA certified Mental Health Professional and lead adjustment counselor at Monument Mountain Middle School states, “The facility offers a high degree of flexibility, making it conducive for clients to explore their management styles while at the same time, creating an intimate setting for individual work.”
Despite the high costs of the team approach mandated by The Model, lease fees (for the facility), and general costs of horse ownership, BHW has always offered services on a sliding scale to those most in need. With the newly designated nonprofit status, funds raised by the 501(C)3 could soften that impact.
| Monthly | Annually | |
| Hay & Grain | $150 | $1,800 |
| Foot care with Shoes | $90 (every six weeks) | $780 |
| Foot care without shoes | $40 (every 6 weeks) | $350 |
| Boarding | $850 | $10,200 |
| Vaccinations | N/A | $200 |
| Dental | N/A | $200 |
| Total: | $13,530 per horse |
Visit our Support Us page to learn about other opportunities including volunteering, internships and more.
Berkshire HorseWorks™, a 501(C)3 nonprofit corporation, is part of the international EAGALA network of 4,500 certified professionals in 50 countries providing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) to at-risk youth, veterans, active duty, their families and corporations. Experiential, highly effective, and rooted in evidence-based practices, EAP treats a broad array of mental and behavioral challenges. EAL incorporates Equine Assisted Team building by partnering with school districts, local businesses, and international corporations to enhance personal development and reinforce group dynamics in the workplace. Services are offered seven days a week during individual sessions, workshops and wellness retreats. Through the power of horses, Berkshire HorseWorks™ provides the tools to cope, challenge, communicate, heal, lead, empathize and thrive in today’s competitive world.
For more information, please visit www.berkshirehorseworks.com or call Hayley Sumner at (413) 698-3700.
