HOPE (Horses Offering People Enrichment)

HOPE's Mission: Partnering with the horse to enrich the lives of children with special needs & promoting awareness of the healing properties of the horse. HOPE's vision: To be an exemplary service provider, educator, and leader of therapeutic horsemanship by encouraging Chinese citizens to serve individuals with special needs. HOPE is a non-profit organization entirely devoted to charitable work. It offers equine assisted activities and therapies (EAAT), including therapeutic horsemanship (TH). HOPE serves children with disabilities in Beijing, China, including, but not limited to, residents of Bethel Foster Home, a home for orphans who are blind or visually impaired and who ma... read more HOPE's Mission: Partnering with the horse to enrich the lives of children with special needs & promoting awareness of the healing properties of the horse. HOPE's vision: To be an exemplary service provider, educator, and leader of therapeutic horsemanship by encouraging Chinese citizens to serve individuals with special needs. HOPE is a non-profit organization entirely devoted to charitable work. It offers equine assisted activities and therapies (EAAT), including therapeutic horsemanship (TH). HOPE serves children with disabilities in Beijing, China, including, but not limited to, residents of Bethel Foster Home, a home for orphans who are blind or visually impaired and who may have other disabilities. HOPE works with Chinese children and children living as expatriates in Beijing - all with special needs. HOPE helps improve the lives of children who have autism and/or physical, social-emotional, and visual disabilities. HOPE also works to foster regional awareness in East Asia on the benefits of TH by training interested, qualified individuals in the benefits and techniques of TH. Studies have demonstrated that TH can be a powerful therapy tool. At HOPE, we have witnessed children say their very first words while riding the horse for the very first time. When riding, the horse's movement provides a rich sensory experience, which can facilitate sitting, walking, and other motor skills. Also, interacting with and riding a horse can help individuals with disabilities to heal, grow, learn, and experience a recreational sport. Additionally, participants often develop a special relationship with the horse, which can foster communication and social-emotional skills. HOPE team members are determined to fulfill the vision statement. Doing so will require HOPE to serve more individuals - children as well as adults. HOPE's CEO and staff are also committed to fulfilling a much-needed role of educator and leader, which will require providing training on TH. HOPE's training will focus on safe and effective teaching methods that will also maintain the highest industry standards. In 2016 HOPE entered into a partnership with the Beijing Turf and Equestrian Association (BTEA). Currently, plans are for Dr. Priscilla Lightsey, DPT (Founder/CEO) and Ms. Luna Sun (Program Director) to conduct a training course on TH, following the PATH standards and the practices of ROCK (a PATH Int'l Premier Accredited Center) in the summer of 2017.