Above & Beyond Program: Helping Human Heroes with Horses
Donation protected
Why Support the Above & Beyond Program:
Heroes are Human Too
Although public safety personnel are in many ways "heroes", they are also deeply human, and deserve opportunities to recalibrate and recharge. Horse Sense North provides a protected space to effectively address trauma, and prioritize mental and emotional wellness through supportive and effective tools. This is delivered and explored with some of the best teachers of all: horses.
The cost of inadequate or ineffective mental health support is all too high. The job-related complex stressors and cumulative trauma deeply impact the individual public safety personnel, their family and peer relationships, as well as each person that they serve. Too often, mental health support is lacking or ineffective, which leads to detrimental outcomes.
Public safety personnel deserve transformative healing opportunities that work for them as hard as they work for others. Above & Beyond is a comprehensive program that addresses all aspects of these challenges, and creates lasting, impactful changes from the inside out.
Learn more about the program here :
Who We Are:
Helping People Feel More Alive and Whole with Horses
Horse Sense North has been passionate about serving those who serve others for the past 9 years. Over the past 5 years, we have developed a program specifically for first responders, military, veterans and other public safety personnel called Above & Beyond. We have run 6 programs to date, and there is now a waitlist of over 30 people. We work hard to ensure this program is fully funded for participants so that it is NOT an out-of-pocket expense.
Learn more about Horse Sense North as a whole here :
Why Trust Us:
A Social Enterprise with Heart
As a social enterprise, we are dedicated to making a positive impact in our community. While we are not a registered charity and therefore cannot issue tax receipts for donations, we are committed to transparency and accountability in all our operations. Here’s why you can trust us:
1. Proven Impact: Our programs have made a significant difference in the lives of many public safety personnel. In addition to testimonials that highlight the impact of work, we also see the results through anonymous pre- and post-program surveys that show just how effective this program has been.
2. Experience: Not only do we have years of experience working with hundreds of individuals, teams and organizations, founder and director, Carmen Theobald, has experience working with thousands of horses. This is incredibly important to ensure this kind of horse supported healing is safe and mutually respectful for horses and humans alike.
3. Collaboration and support: We partner with multiple mental health professionals and therapists to provide these services. They can professionally validate the transformational effects of the work we do.
Therapist Testimonials:
The equine facilitated wellness sessions at Horse Sense North, as well as the Above & Beyond Program, have aided my clients in their recovery process in ways that often require years of individual therapy.
By supporting this program, you will contribute uniquely and profoundly to the well-being of veterans, first responders, and others who have experienced traumatic stress. You will aid in the fostering of their resilience and their journey towards recovery.
- Jennifer Heintzman, M.Ed., Ph.D., R.P. (she/her)
The programs offered at Horse Sense North are accessible for those experiencing a wide array of mental wellness. Carmen’s careful – trauma informed approach to information gathering as well as program delivery stands alone in the way that it therapeutically reaches individuals. I have had the opportunity to witness the unique healing aspects of equine supported wellness that traditional talk therapy cannot reproduce.
- Lee Merkley, RP (Qualifying), RSSW, Clinical Manager at GreeneStone Recovery Centre (they/them)
Why We Need Your Help:
Coming Together as a Community
Although this program is evidence based, effective and efficient, there are many barriers to accessing funding, and the process is very slow. We will continue to seek financial support from other sources that should be supporting this program, but we don’t want the public safety personnel waiting for this program to wait any longer. We want to support our waitlist of over 30 people as soon as possible. This is why we’re reaching out to you.
When you contribute to this crowdfunding campaign:
- You make it possible for us to serve those who serve our communities.
- You make it possible for public safety personnel to get the support they need and deserve.
- You make it possible for those who serve others to access a lifesaving program in the time that is right. And that time is NOW.
How Funds Will Be Used:
Where Your Donations Will Go
• Each 5-day program costs $3,000 per person, and we have a very small group format with a maximum of 5 people. This means that each program will cost $15,000 to run.
• With over 30 people on our waitlist, our goal is to secure funding for the next 6 programs, which will serve 30 people. 6 programs will cost $90,000.
• As we reach each milestone of $15,000 (enough to run one program), we will immediately begin to use those funds to support the waitlist and run another program. We look forward to updating you as this happens!
Here is a list of where those program funds go:
- Therapist fees
- Facilitator fees
- Horse care and feed
- Chef prepared delicious & nutritious farm-to-table meals
- Infrastructure and facility rentals and maintenance
- Professional fees
- Workshop supplies
How You Can Help:
Join us in helping public safety personnel access the support they need and deserve NOW!
1. Donate to this crowdfunding campaign. No amount is too small, and every dollar makes a difference!
2. Share this with others in your community who also know that NOW is the right time to support public safety personnel. Together, we can make a difference.
Have questions and want to contact us directly?
Want to learn more about Horse Sense North?
Here are 3 more videos:
Welcome to Horse Sense North
What is Horse Sense North?
Includes veteran testimonial about personal and family impacts.
Above & Beyond Program
Includes Carmen's personal story of why serving those who serve others is so important to her.
UPDATES:
We look forward to keeping you updated!
Organizer
Carmen Theobald
Organizer
Burk's Falls, ON