Location: Brewster, New York, United States
Green Chimneys Farm is a nationally recognized animal-assisted education and therapeutic program based in Brewster, New York. It is part of the larger Green Chimneys organization, a long-established nonprofit that integrates education, clinical support, and nature-based therapies for children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral, developmental, and learning challenges. The equine program is a core component of its animal-assisted services, using horses and other farm animals to support structured therapeutic and educational growth.
Founded in 1947, Green Chimneys has become a leader in animal-assisted interventions, operating as a PATH International–affiliated program and maintaining accredited standards in equine-assisted education and therapy. The farm setting is deeply integrated into the daily school experience, allowing students to learn through direct interaction with animals and nature.
About This Program
Green Chimneys Farm provides equine-assisted education and therapeutic experiences as part of a broader special education and residential treatment model. The equine program includes both mounted and unmounted activities, focusing on horsemanship, animal care, and relationship-based learning.
Students engage with horses as part of their academic and therapeutic routines, using structured interactions to build emotional regulation, responsibility, communication skills, and confidence. The program emphasizes experiential learning, where horses are active partners in personal development.
Equine activities include grooming, leading, groundwork, observation of horse behavior, and supported riding experiences depending on individual needs and goals.
Services Offered
- Equine-assisted learning (EAL)
- Equine-facilitated learning (EFL)
- Therapeutic horseback riding (as part of school programming)
- Horse care and stable management training
- Groundwork and unmounted horsemanship activities
- Animal-assisted education integrated into academics
- Nature-based therapeutic programming
- Structured special education with therapeutic supports
Who They Serve
Green Chimneys Farm may be good for:
- Children
- Teens
- Students with emotional and behavioral challenges
- Individuals with learning disabilities
- Youth with developmental differences
- Students benefiting from structured therapeutic environments
- Individuals who respond well to animal-assisted learning
- Children in residential or day treatment educational settings
Facility and Setting
Green Chimneys Farm is located on a large rural campus in Brewster, New York, spanning hundreds of acres of farmland, gardens, trails, barns, and wildlife habitats. The equine facilities include stables, riding rings, and outdoor learning areas designed to support both therapeutic and educational programming.
The environment is highly immersive, with animals integrated throughout the campus. Horses live alongside a wide range of farm and wildlife species, creating a dynamic setting where students interact with nature daily as part of their therapeutic and academic routines.
What Makes Them Unique
Green Chimneys Farm is one of the most established and widely recognized animal-assisted education programs in the United States, with a history dating back to 1947. Its long-term integration of horses and other animals into a full academic and clinical model sets it apart from many standalone equine therapy centers.
Its scale is also distinctive—serving students through a full special education school, residential programs, and therapeutic services all on one campus. The program’s deep commitment to the human-animal bond and its longstanding PATH International affiliation contribute to its reputation as a leader in the field of equine-assisted services.