Roaring Fork nonprofit offering animal-assisted therapy at Snowmass Rodeo grounds

Horses, mini-horses, mini-donkeys, bunnies, dogs, and goats will be making regular visits to the Snowmass Rodeo grounds.

According to Smiling Goat Ranch, a Roaring Fork Valley nonprofit helping individuals heal through interaction with animals, it plans to host open houses and private sessions for interested families on Tuesdays.

The animals will be on hand each week for the offered therapy sessions, which run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. starting June 24 until the grounds close in August.  

“The healing powers of the horse calms the sensory system in anybody who has stress,” Founder and executive director Sheryl Barto said in a news release.

Horses have been incorporated into various human health and wellness services for many years, according to the release. Involving horses within the context of mental health, however, is relatively new. Horses, in partnership with psychotherapy or personal growth and well-being, can make a big difference for the mental health challenges so many people face and help them heal in a safe and powerful way. 

Smiling Goat ranch focuses on helping those suffering with neuropsychiatric conditions including autism, anxiety, depression, addiction, recovery and PTSD. The organization helps more than 400 individuals a year since it was founded 10 years ago in 2015.

With more than 20 animals involved in animal-assisted therapy, the organization employs a number of different programs to help those with neuropsychiatric conditions, most notably the “Horse Boy Method.” The method takes individuals through a series of mental exercises while on horseback, using certain cadences of the horse to foster communication and learning.

Individuals can also participate in “long-lining,” part of the “Horse Boy Method” for older kids, teens, and adults. A staff member directs a horse while the individual sits atop the horse, allowing them to experience independent riding with no experience.

All sessions at Smiling Goat Ranch are customized — therapy plans are created for each individual on a case-by-case basis, with each session costing $150. All programs are accessible to all regardless of income, and no one is turned away for financial reasons. 

“We are deeply grateful for the continued support shown by our impassioned community over the last 10 years,” Barto said in the release. “As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we express our heartfelt thanks for supporting us from our humble beginnings! In our first year we focused on autism and served 40 people with all volunteers and working students.”