Location: Watkinsville, Georgia, United States
Butterfly Dreams Farm Equine Therapy (BDFET) is a nonprofit equine therapy organization in Watkinsville, Georgia, founded in 2005 by speech pathologist, foster mother, and lifelong equestrian Cat Thompson and co-founder Tracy Mosher.
The program was born from a profoundly personal experience: Cat’s daughter Alli, who had special needs, gained the strength to walk and the ability to communicate through horseback riding. The program is named in Alli’s memory, and her story continues to shape everything the farm does — including its commitment to never turning away a child who needs support due to financial hardship.
About This Program
Butterfly Dreams Farm offers two distinct equine therapy modalities: hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. Hippotherapy can begin as early as age two and uses the natural movement of the horse — its three-dimensional gait — as a therapy tool administered by licensed clinicians. Therapeutic riding is recreational therapy taught by PATH-certified instructors, targeting physical, cognitive, and emotional development through adapted riding instruction.
Sessions are led by a certified speech pathologist and two PATH-certified therapeutic riding instructors, supported by over 40 volunteers. Many of those volunteers are University of Georgia students majoring in physical, occupational, or speech therapy, creating a meaningful pipeline of emerging healthcare professionals who gain hands-on equine therapy experience alongside the program’s riders.
Approximately 75% of families receive reduced-cost or free services, funded through donations, fundraising events, and scholarship support. The program’s annual Butterfly Dreams 5K and Lap of Love is its primary fundraiser, with the Lap of Love giving riders the opportunity to participate alongside community members in a visible, celebratory way.
Services Offered
- Hippotherapy (licensed clinician-led, from age 2)
- Therapeutic riding (PATH-certified instructor-led)
- Speech therapy via equine interaction
- Scholarship and reduced-fee support for qualifying families
- Volunteer program (flexible scheduling)
- Annual 5K fundraiser and Lap of Love community event
Who They Serve
Butterfly Dreams Farm may be a good fit for:
- Children from age 2 and adults with diverse needs
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder
- Individuals with cerebral palsy
- Individuals with Down syndrome
- Individuals with developmental delays or disabilities
- Individuals with ADD or other hyperactivity disorders
- Individuals with learning disabilities
- Individuals with speech impairment
- Individuals with head trauma or brain injury
- Individuals with genetic conditions or disorders
- Individuals with hearing impairment
- Individuals with multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy
- Individuals with spina bifida
- Individuals with PTSD
- Amputees
- At-risk youth
- Families with financial barriers to accessing therapy
Facility and Setting
Butterfly Dreams Farm is located at 2981 Hog Mountain Road in Watkinsville, Georgia, in Oconee County. The farm was originally established on a 9-acre property and has grown over two decades. The herd — horses with names like Pickle, Lilly, and Kisses — are sourced from equine professionals and owners throughout north Georgia and receive priority veterinary and farrier care. The facility is supported by volunteers from the local community and the University of Georgia.
- Watkinsville, Georgia location (Oconee County)
- 2981 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville, GA
- PATH International member center
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- UGA student volunteer partnerships
What Makes Them Unique
Butterfly Dreams Farm carries a founding story that is unusually specific and moving. The program exists because horseback riding changed one child’s life in ways that clinical settings could not — and its founders chose to build a program so that other families could experience the same. That origin shapes the organization’s most distinctive policy: a commitment to never turn away a child due to inability to pay, backed by a robust scholarship program that serves 75% of families at reduced or no cost.
The integration of a licensed speech pathologist directly into equine therapy sessions is also an uncommon feature, reflecting a clinical depth that goes beyond what most therapeutic riding programs can offer.
For families in the Athens and Oconee County area of northeast Georgia seeking equine therapy with strong clinical credentials, genuine financial accessibility, and a program built on deeply personal conviction, Butterfly Dreams Farm is an exceptional resource.