Location: Gypsum, Colorado, United States
Hooves for the Heart is an equine-assisted services program that serves high-risk children and youth in Colorado’s Roaring Fork, Eagle, and Gore Valley regions. Its mission focuses on creating therapeutic experiences with horses and other animals that encourage, enrich, and empower participants in an uplifting, nurturing setting.
The program offers therapeutic riding lessons year round along with equine-facilitated mental health and learning, equine-assisted activities and learning, bovine-assisted activities and learning, and camelid-assisted activities and learning. Its work is designed to support children and youth experiencing emotional problems, mental trauma, and related challenges.
Hooves for the Heart is led by founder Terena Thomas, a Certified Equine Interaction Professional who has used horse-based intervention with emotionally disturbed children since the late 1980s. The program operates from Colorado River Road in Gypsum.
Key Details:
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Services: Therapeutic riding, equine-facilitated mental health and learning, equine-assisted activities and learning, bovine-assisted activities and learning, and camelid-assisted activities and learning
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Who they serve: High-risk children and youth, including those experiencing emotional problems and mental trauma
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Notable programs: Year-round therapeutic riding lessons and animal-assisted learning programs
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Facility or setting: Equine-assisted services program on Colorado River Road in Gypsum, Colorado
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Certifications or credentials: Led by a Certified Equine Interaction Professional with certification through NARHA and the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association
Last Verified: March 12, 2026.