Horses, Hope, and Healing, by Bonnie Denoyer and Scott Lohmann

National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

Nestled in the hills of Woodside California, the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) is a 12-acre farm that taps into the powerful human-horse connection. Founded in 1971, its mission is dedicated to helping children, adults, and military Veterans with disabilities and mental health challenges enrich their lives and reach beyond their boundaries through equine-assisted therapies.

NCEFT has 14 full-time employees, 8 part-time employees, 18 equines including 2 mini horses, and 2 donkeys. Every day, members of this amazing team work together to make a difference in people’s lives. They see firsthand the transformative power of equine-assisted interventions, and the combination of special horses and special skills from therapists, horse handlers, adaptive riding instructors, and volunteers ─ all working together to provide a safe and nurturing environment for healing, growth, and connections.

Aidan’s Story

Aidan is a huge fan of NCEFT. Born prematurely with hydrocephalus at 28 weeks, he and his twin spent their first 3 months in an incubator. By the time Aidan was able to go home, it was clear his optic nerves had been damaged and his vision was very poor. He was also diagnosed with ataxic cerebral palsy. No one was sure if he would be able to walk or talk, but fast forward to today and he has language, he can walk with assistance, and he can communicate with those around him.

“Because California has a great early intervention program, they connected us with social workers right away,” Aidan’s mother Bonnie says. “Both kids had OT and PT, a speech therapist, even a psychologist. The specialists told us to find things that make your child happy, and that’s what we did.”

Aidan Joins the NCEFT Family

When Aidan was about 7 or 8 years old, his physical therapist told us he would be an ideal candidate for NCEFT “because there was really nothing else like it.” And as soon as we

arrived, everything changed.

Even though Aidan couldn’t see well because of his vision, he could hear everything that was going on ─ the horses, the donkeys, the hay being scraped across the ground ─ and this created a whole new sensory experience for him. We saw his excitement right away, and after that, NCEFT became his magical place.

It’s also an important social outlet for him. He knows the horse handlers and they know him. He knows the names and personalities of all the horses. And he’s making friends with other young people who come to the Center for summer camps as well.

Aidan Meets Woody

It’s difficult for Aidan to walk on his own and we knew that coordination and balance were a challenge. We had done equine facilitated therapy at NCEFT for a couple of years when he was in kindergarten but then had to pause for a while. In 2021, we decided to start up again because Aidan loves horses so much.

On our first re-visit, Aidan asked for his old horse Jazzy, but Jazzy was no longer there. Instead, the handlers brought out a giant horse named Woody. Because Woody moves in a big and exaggerated way, we had heard that many of NCEFT’s other clients had backed away saying, “Whoa … I’m not going on him,” but Aidan couldn’t wait. He knew right away that Woody was the one, and they have been bonded ever since. As soon as we get in the car and start up 280 from San Jose, he’s overflowing with excitement and can’t wait to see “his horse.”

Getting Stronger and More Confident, One Ride at a Time

At NCEFT, it takes a team to make the magic happen. Aidan has a physical therapist, Erin Colahan, and Woody is the tool the therapist uses to exercise his body and his brain. The horses are calm and gentle giants, patient and comfortable with everything going on around them. Also part of the team are the horse handler, who directs the horse, and two side walkers who hold Aidan’s hips, thighs, ankles or feet depending on the movements he and Woody are doing.

Then there’s the physical therapist who orchestrates each session ─ are you centered, can you reach over and put a ring on that cone, now we’re going to do a sit to stand, or do a change in velocity, or turn you backwards on the horse. 

While waiting their turn, the clients can watch the horses being prepared with the appropriate tack for each physical therapy session and have their bridles put on. “The team does a really good job of helping them understand the entire process,” Bonnie says. Aidan knows the names of all the other horses, he even knows their particular whinnies and personalities. NCEFT has become his happy place.

Exploring What’s Possible

Aidan and I take a walk every day. Using his walker, a mile takes about an hour, but his gait is much improved because of his equine facilitated therapy. He used to need a halter to safely move from place to place but now we can lightly touch his shoulders and he can walk on his own. He gets out of the car, puts on his helmet and dark glasses, and we walk toward the treatment area together. When it’s his turn, the therapist takes him up some steps and he gets to mount his horse. The team is right there to support and assist, letting him do everything he can while keeping him safe.

“I can highly recommend NCEFT and all the amazing and caring people there,” Bonnie says. “They have made a huge difference in my son’s life, he's found a passion we didn’t know he had, and when people ask him if he has a favorite hobby, he proudly says horseback riding.”

“Even though Aidan is now 21 years old, I still call him my forever baby. Cognitively around 5-7 years old, he is full of joy and enriches our lives every single day.”

Aidan walking steps with his dad.