PROGRAM MISSION
Our programs serve children, adolescents, and adults of the central coast. We prioritize serving youth from our neighboring communities who face significant barriers and lack accessibility to horses and to equine-guided learning opportunities due to historic and systemic inequities. We strive to create transformational experiences for those in our community healing from chronic health conditions, grief, and physical or mental disabilities, as well as military veterans, first responders, and their families.
To inquire about participation in our programs or to partner with Sea Star Horse Sanctuary’s equine-guided learning program, please contact Sea Star Programs.
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EQUINE-GUIDED LEARNING FOR YOUTH
We successfully launched our pilot program offering small groups of local students equine-guided learning opportunities at the sanctuary in the summer of 2023. For our first program, we collaborated with the Community Partnership for Youth in Seaside as part of their six week summer camp.
Throughout our program, students focused on connecting to nature and to our herd through “disguised” educational lessons about horses including herd structure, horse communication and senses, and basic anatomy. We introduced them to the basics of horse care through grooming, nutrition, holistic care modalities such as zoopharmacognosy. Each session ended with a reflection and journaling component. Equine-Guided Learning is a powerful and effective approach to experiential learning that includes one or more horses, and that is designed to have a positive impact on individuals of all ages. Learning-based activities with horses can encourage the development of skills and values that can be applied to all domains of life. Connecting with horses in this way fosters the development of empathy, confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness in addition to learning the presented concepts and skills at hand.
We are currently in the process of expanding this successful summer program with Community Partnership for Youth to extend throughout the school year in order to share the benefits of connecting with horses in this way to as many of their 400+ students as possible. We are actively seeking partnership to offer this unique program to additional youth organizations in our community in addition to creating our own in-house program. Equine-guided learning programs require a synergy of trained facilitators and can be adapted to meet the age range and needs of the group. Please reach out to our programs coordinator to learn more!
Mindfulness
Our community mindfulness program, Anchor In at the Sanctuary, creates a space for members of the public to visit the sanctuary and find sanctuary for themselves. We focus on connecting to nature, to one self and to the horses through meditation, Reiki, ecotherapy and somatic practices. No previous experience with meditation or mindfulness practices is required to attend! Our gatherings are typically held twice a month on select Saturday mornings from 10:30am-12pm. Please visit our event signup page at the following link to join the next gathering!
Focused Visits
Focused visits are no-cost, private visits reserved for those who may especially benefit from one-on-one time with the herd due to extenuating circumstances in their life. We offer these special visits to those in the community who have health conditions such as autism, anxiety and PTSD or those who may need additional assistance due to physical movement limitations. These visits are also available to individuals and families who are grieving the loss of a loved one or are going through challenging transitions in their life. These visits can be specially designed to meet the needs of our guests.
Support for Military, First Responders and Health Care Professionals
We acknowledge the stressful environments and lifestyles lived by our military service members, first responders and health care professionals and their families. We are honored so many consider the sanctuary a place of peace and relaxation; a sanctuary from the busy world in which we live and work. We offer no-cost visits to these indiviudals and their families as a small token of gratitude for their service.
Hosted Learning Opportunities at the Sanctuary
We are proud to be a site for other organizations to host their programs or practice holistic care modalities. Our beautiful location and serene herd makes Sea Star Horse Sanctuary a memorable place to teach art, photography, Healing Touch, Reiki, nature education programs and more!
Healing Touch for Animals regularly holds their large animals class at Sea Star Horse Sanctuary. Please visit HTA’s website to register for their next course. Healing Touch practitioners from the local area visit the sanctuary every Thursday to offer treatments to our herd.