EAL & EAPD Testimonials

Adil Ghandi

on August 10, 2019

“I attended a Healing with Horses workshop and it was the best experience so far! It’s amazing to have learnt and experienced everything at the Farm and a special thanks to Trish for looking after us and teaching us tonnes about horses through this.”

Ali visiting from India added:
“It was a unique first time experience for me. I highly recommend it.Thank you very much for making me, my sister and brother feel special. Wishing you share this experience with more and more people so that it can help them have deeper understanding about relationships.”

Bev H.

on December 15, 2018

The Equine Assisted Learning Program at Story Book Meadows has truly been a positive life changing experience for my adult son who has struggled with life long autistic challenges as well as high medical needs since childhood. Hesitant about participating in EAL sessions from the very start it took a lot of encouraging for him to take the first step due to his heightened sensitivities and anxieties about going to new places, meeting new people and doing new things.

The great news is that it has been 5 years now since he had the courage to go to his first EAL session and he has been enjoying his weekly sessions ever since. I am so happy and amazed with the progress he has made in personal growth development. His self confidence, acceptance of new responsibilities, willingness to learn new things, independence, time management and social skills have all tremendously improved. The gradual transformation over time has been unbelievable and very exciting to see but what is equally as thrilling is that he loves to go and looks forward to being at the farm each week.

Trish is the owner and loving guardian to her 7 magnificent horses, 2 donkeys and one mini horse who each have their own adventurous stories. There are also many lovely free roaming laying hens and these ladies are always clucking about all the farm news whenever visitors arrive. Together they are an incredible team of teachers and healers. Trish’s vast knowledge and expertise in her equine experience and life coaching and her genuine enthusiasm and desire to ensure my son’s EAL sessions are an enriching experience is also enhanced by modifying his farm activities and his interactions with her furry and feathered assistants in a way that accommodates his special needs, comfort level, interests and readiness to explore new things. The easy going nature and patience of my son’s EAL teachers and flexibility of his sessions continues to be instrumental in guiding him on a powerful, in the moment journey of self discovery and self awareness.

I am so thankful to have discovered this beautiful, peaceful and friendly farm environment and am eternally appreciative and grateful to Trish and her teaching companions for offering a very unique learning approach to processing and resolving individual challenges.

Kathryn Pepper

on September 25, 2014

My preteen granddaughter attended the leadership camp this summer for a week and absolutely loved it!!!!! She struggles with ADHD as well as anger issues which makes it a challenge for her to deal with some things. Trish and her team were awesome. They helped her see some aspects about herself that she’s never looked at before. The draw to work with the horses is very powerful for kids so it pushes them to persevere in the area of self-awareness. Trish’s team very skillfully lets kids discover things while working with the horses and then applies it to their lives often with wonderful effects. Thanks! It has made a difference for this young lady.

The Vines Hospital

on May 24th, 2011

Dear Story Book Meadows:

On behalf of myself, our Recreational Therapist, Ms. Kari Mier-Y-Teran, and the Vines Hospital, I would like to thank you, for assisting us in providing an enjoyable outing for several of our young patients on Thursday May 19. The children had a great time and Trish and Caroline were simply fantastic to them. We look forward to visiting again soon. Thank you for helping us make this a successful event.

Michael S. McDonald, Jr.
Chief Executive Office

Kingsbury Academy

on June 7th, 2011

Dear Trish,

Thank you so much for the opportunity Kingsbury students had to participate in the Equine Learning program at Story Book Meadows. The students who participated in the program have not stopped talking about their experiences. You, BJ and your team certainly made an impression on the students. They learned a lot about themselves through the use of the horses and it was very interesting to watch the horses respond to their issues. I am sure this experience will be something they will all put in their “bag of tricks” for use later in their lives.

We shared the pictures with the students so they all have a copy for their personal scrapbook. There is no doubt that you may be hearing from some of them personally.

Again, thank you for your time, sharing your horses, the ranch, and all the extra activities you and your team planned for the students. You may never know how valuable the experience was.

Sincerely,

Beth Nelson, MSW
Executive Director/Principal

Silver River Mentoring & Instruction (SRMI)

on November 11, 2011

Story Book Meadows Inc.

Dear Trish:

As we discuss moving forward with our partnership in the future, I thought a brief synopsis of students’ change in behavior would be appropriate at this time. I will not be able to use full names for confidentiality reasons.
TYLER: change in positive interaction with peers, more trusting of adults as he works with us. Really worried he will regress without “horse day”… MYRON: huge jump in self-confidence from succeeding at something not familiar with, more self-awareness… TJ: more self-confidence, self-esteem also seems to have increased… LEXUS: definite increase in self-awareness, independence, making choices by herself for a better change… HALEY: improved self awareness, relationship with animal animal important to her… RICHARD: self esteem has improved, relationship with animal a positive in his life

These are just some of the highlights of the group. I look forward to seeing how these students keep progressing now that they are done with the program. I believe all of the students have gained from the experience and definitely want to work so future groups have a chance to benefit from your unique and effective program.