Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does the program cost?
Precious Helpers is completely cost free! There are no hidden fees! We will never charge you to
utilize our services. God always provides for us!
2. What are the age limits?
We do not have age requirements for participants. The youngest that has participated in the
program was a month old. We have also had people over age 65 participate.
3. What kind of special needs do you accept into your program?
All are welcome! You do not need to meet specific requirements for need or age. We find that
everyone has a special need of some kind whether it be a death in the family, marital problems,
addictions, CP, visually impaired, suicidal, MS, Autism, Sensory and Anxiety disorders, Hemophilia,
Juvenile Arthritis, PDD-NOS, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Panic Attacks, depression, etc. The special
needs are endless and so is our love and acceptance.
4. What can I expect on my first visit?
On your first visit, we allow the animals to chose you! Yes! You read that correctly. They will
actually choose you. Our program does not focus on riding or even grooming. Once the animal has
chosen you, we work with each individual (or family) to develop that bond with that animal. It is a
place to belong. All animals (cats, dogs, horses, and sometimes frogs) are utilized equally in the
program. And, we do hope to have more animals in the future!
5. Are you a hippotherapy program?
No, Precious Helpers is a farm that has welcomed its doors to people with special needs. We do not
have an OT or PT that actually does a therapy session on horseback. However, we do have an OT
that will consult with us if needed. Precious Helpers allows an opportunity for that amazing bond
between animal and person to develop. That bond is an excellent example of the unconditional love
the FATHER has for us.
6. Do I need to find a babysitter for my other children?
No! We strongly encourage the entire family to come out. We even have many aunts, uncles, and
grandparents that come. We find that sometimes the animals help a family member more than the
person for which the family came. :-)
7. Can we take things slow until my son/daughter becomes comfortable?
We never force anyone to do anything, especially ride. We do strongly encourage the setting of
goals and achieving them; however, we will never force you to do anything. When someone is forced,
the experience no longer is a happy one. Our desire is for participants to work at their own pace
setting goals along the way. It is okay with us if we feed carrots and not groom, or to check out our
dump truck, dogs, cats, and frogs. We are looking to build a relationship, not gallop off into the
sunset. Our goals are to teach you about, how to take care of, and how to bond with the animals at
the farm. And, we do teach that there are responsibilities before riding. We do keep in mind the
special needs of each individual.
8. Will I ride on the first visit?
We meet each person where they are with his/her own special needs. However, the general answer is
no on the first visit.
Imagine this:
You are sitting out in the grass in your backyard enjoying a beautiful day. Out of the blue someone
jumps on your back and starts kicking you in the side. What would you do?
Precious Helpers is not completely about the experience of riding; although we do teach how to ride.
What we do is encourage the bond. One can receive deep pressure from grooming. A person can
wear a smile on your face from leading the horse and feeding carrots. One can work on coordination
and balance while grooming too! We want the participant and horse to be comfortable before riding.
This approach is much safer than throwing demands at both our rider and horse. The horse can sense
nervousness, fear, etc. If we throw a nervous person on a horse that senses that fear, we have a
dangerous situation. Therefore, no one gets on the horse before the participant and horse are ready.
9. Do you accept donated horses?
Yes, we do. But, we do not have our entire land enclosed yet. Though we recently rescued a horse
from a dire situation, we are not accepting horses until we are settled into our home and finish the
fencing for the horse's new home.
10. When do you plan to be on your land?
We are currently on our land! We just moved into our home the last part of June.
11. When are you open?
PH is open anytime you would like to call and schedule an appointment. However, our primary days
are on Saturdays from the first of April to the last of October. Feel free to contact us to schedule
an appointment to come out to the farm at any time during the year. Just dress appropriately if it is
cold! :-)
12. Are groups allowed to visit the farm?
Yes, any group of any age can contact us! These are scheduled during the week, and we allow the
whole day for the group.
13. Are your volunteers trained?
Yes. We train all volunteers on safety. Additionally, there are different training levels from
grooms to side walkers each requiring a specific training. The training depends on what the volunteer
would like to do. For more information on volunteering, please contact us.
14. Is Precious Helpers associated with the NARHA?
No, PH is not NARHA certified. We do not plan on pursuing this in the future.
Precious Helpers is completely cost free! There are no hidden fees! We will never charge you to
utilize our services. God always provides for us!
2. What are the age limits?
We do not have age requirements for participants. The youngest that has participated in the
program was a month old. We have also had people over age 65 participate.
3. What kind of special needs do you accept into your program?
All are welcome! You do not need to meet specific requirements for need or age. We find that
everyone has a special need of some kind whether it be a death in the family, marital problems,
addictions, CP, visually impaired, suicidal, MS, Autism, Sensory and Anxiety disorders, Hemophilia,
Juvenile Arthritis, PDD-NOS, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Panic Attacks, depression, etc. The special
needs are endless and so is our love and acceptance.
4. What can I expect on my first visit?
On your first visit, we allow the animals to chose you! Yes! You read that correctly. They will
actually choose you. Our program does not focus on riding or even grooming. Once the animal has
chosen you, we work with each individual (or family) to develop that bond with that animal. It is a
place to belong. All animals (cats, dogs, horses, and sometimes frogs) are utilized equally in the
program. And, we do hope to have more animals in the future!
5. Are you a hippotherapy program?
No, Precious Helpers is a farm that has welcomed its doors to people with special needs. We do not
have an OT or PT that actually does a therapy session on horseback. However, we do have an OT
that will consult with us if needed. Precious Helpers allows an opportunity for that amazing bond
between animal and person to develop. That bond is an excellent example of the unconditional love
the FATHER has for us.
6. Do I need to find a babysitter for my other children?
No! We strongly encourage the entire family to come out. We even have many aunts, uncles, and
grandparents that come. We find that sometimes the animals help a family member more than the
person for which the family came. :-)
7. Can we take things slow until my son/daughter becomes comfortable?
We never force anyone to do anything, especially ride. We do strongly encourage the setting of
goals and achieving them; however, we will never force you to do anything. When someone is forced,
the experience no longer is a happy one. Our desire is for participants to work at their own pace
setting goals along the way. It is okay with us if we feed carrots and not groom, or to check out our
dump truck, dogs, cats, and frogs. We are looking to build a relationship, not gallop off into the
sunset. Our goals are to teach you about, how to take care of, and how to bond with the animals at
the farm. And, we do teach that there are responsibilities before riding. We do keep in mind the
special needs of each individual.
8. Will I ride on the first visit?
We meet each person where they are with his/her own special needs. However, the general answer is
no on the first visit.
Imagine this:
You are sitting out in the grass in your backyard enjoying a beautiful day. Out of the blue someone
jumps on your back and starts kicking you in the side. What would you do?
Precious Helpers is not completely about the experience of riding; although we do teach how to ride.
What we do is encourage the bond. One can receive deep pressure from grooming. A person can
wear a smile on your face from leading the horse and feeding carrots. One can work on coordination
and balance while grooming too! We want the participant and horse to be comfortable before riding.
This approach is much safer than throwing demands at both our rider and horse. The horse can sense
nervousness, fear, etc. If we throw a nervous person on a horse that senses that fear, we have a
dangerous situation. Therefore, no one gets on the horse before the participant and horse are ready.
9. Do you accept donated horses?
Yes, we do. But, we do not have our entire land enclosed yet. Though we recently rescued a horse
from a dire situation, we are not accepting horses until we are settled into our home and finish the
fencing for the horse's new home.
10. When do you plan to be on your land?
We are currently on our land! We just moved into our home the last part of June.
11. When are you open?
PH is open anytime you would like to call and schedule an appointment. However, our primary days
are on Saturdays from the first of April to the last of October. Feel free to contact us to schedule
an appointment to come out to the farm at any time during the year. Just dress appropriately if it is
cold! :-)
12. Are groups allowed to visit the farm?
Yes, any group of any age can contact us! These are scheduled during the week, and we allow the
whole day for the group.
13. Are your volunteers trained?
Yes. We train all volunteers on safety. Additionally, there are different training levels from
grooms to side walkers each requiring a specific training. The training depends on what the volunteer
would like to do. For more information on volunteering, please contact us.
14. Is Precious Helpers associated with the NARHA?
No, PH is not NARHA certified. We do not plan on pursuing this in the future.