Animal Assisted Therapy Programs
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal oriented, planned, structured and documented therapeutic intervention directed by health and human service providers. AAT programs are designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, or cognitive function. Animal-assisted therapy sessions can be done in variety of settings by canines and horses who are required to be registered and certified, and they must be supervised by a licensed medical professional. The most popular AAT types are canine therapy and equine therapy (for people with mental and physical health challenges).
Healing Hooves: Changing Lives Through Therapy Animals
Since 2016, Hearts and Hooves Therapy has partnered with 1 FUR 1 to bring the life-changing power of animal-assisted therapy to communities across Southern California. Their mini horses and farm animals, trained and certified through Pet Partners and METSA, provide comfort and encouragement to individuals facing challenges. This past year marked incredible growth—expanding to 15 therapy mini horses, nearly doubling the number of facilities visited, and onboarding five new therapy teams. Their programs help medical students, children with Autism, and hospital patients, offering healing interactions with therapy mini horses—and even a mini pig!
With a mission rooted in hope, resilience, and emotional well-being, Hearts and Hooves Therapy has impacted over 7,900 hospital patients, children with Autism and countless others with diverse abilities. As they continue to grow, their commitment to fostering meaningful connections remains strong—proving that the bond between humans and animals can change lives for the better. (Book Here)
Driven by Impact
Helping others is at the core of what we do. Last year, Jocelyn was diagnosed with leukemia at Rady’s Children Hospital in San Diego. She was at her worst time when she met AJ, the youngest #HealingHooves member. During her 20+ day hospital stay, AJ was able to help her forget, just for a bit, how sick she was feeling, the pain, the future uncertainty her family faced. Their connection was undeniable. They met again this year during 5K walk for charity. Jocelyn is now is remission and wanted to give back. So she did a lemonade stand and requested a visit from AJ. Well, we were thrilled to reunite them and see the spark between them once again. Her selfless act of kindness inspire us to continue moving our mission forward.
Get social with us! Follow our impact and inspirational animal stories with hashtags #1fur1impact, #NewfieTherapy, #HealingHooves and #1fur1impact.
TESTIMONIALS:
“My son Ezra is 6 years old and lives with autism. He has been able to attend weekly sessions at hearts and hooves over the past year because of 1 fur 1’s sponsoring. Having these sessions sponsored have been a great help since paying for Ezra’s many therapies has been a large burden on our family. Without 1FUR1’s helping us Ezra would not be able to attend these weekly sessions which he enjoys very much . Ezra started kindergarten this year and it has been very hard on him and our family but every week he’s able to finish on a good note because he finishes his Friday at heart and hooves. Ezra has grown in so many ways because of heart and hooves he now speaks more and is able to focus and follow directions all things that were challenges for him . We are very grateful for 1 fur 1’s help in keeping Ezra in a positive and helping environment and also by helping alleviate the burden of trying to balance medical bills and keeping Ezra in therapeutic activities.” — Joann Fouquette, family
