Horse Power Healing Center Inc

About the Program

Therapeutic riding and groundwork lessons are taught in small groups of no more than three students, and individual sessions are also offered. Seniors ride in small groups, and the Riding in the Moment program is designed for people with early-stage dementia or Alzheimer's.

Through Horses for Hope, the center works with people who have a terminal illness. When a participant cannot come to the farm, the horses visit nursing homes and hospices. Other offerings include wellness workshops such as a healing circle with horses, story hour sessions with author Ellen Feld, and farm tours where visitors meet horses, donkeys and other farm animals.

Horses for Heroes

The veterans program offers group riding lessons for veterans of all experience levels, in English and Western styles. Sessions also include groundwork, with veterans leading horses through obstacles, and drill team maneuvers ridden as a group. Lessons run on Friday evenings from June through October, weather permitting, and registration is through an online form on the center's Veterans page.

The Horses and Staff

Co-founder Wendy Konichek is the executive director and a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Instructor Cecelia Conway is also PATH Intl. certified. Linda Konichek is the center's other co-founder.

The center also runs a Healing for Horses effort that rehabilitates neglected or abused horses.

History and Volunteering

Wendy Konichek returned to Eagle in 2009 to start the center, and it became a nonprofit in 2010.

Volunteers serve as horse leaders, side walkers, barn assistants, facilities helpers, event volunteers and committee members. Side walker and barn roles need no horse experience, and the center provides training. A volunteer application form is posted on its website.

Location

Horse Power Healing Center is at S101 W34628 County Road LO, Eagle, WI 53119, on an 80-acre family-owned farm.