TERMS
Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) provide opportunities for motivational, educational and/or recreational benefits to enhance a person’s quality of life. AAA are delivered by professionals, para-professionals or volunteers who demonstrate knowledge about animals and the human populations with which they interact. As an example of AAA, an individual brings his or her dog to a long-term care facility to visit the residents. Although the staff is involved in the visits, no treatment goals have been set for the visit and, aside from signing in and out, no records are kept.

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal is incorporated as an integral part of the clinical health-care treatment process. AAT is delivered or directed by a professional health or human service provider who demonstrates skill and expertise regarding the clinical applications of human-animal interactions.

Medical Doctors and Psychologists can contact Dream Horse for an established contract relationship and for facilitated animal activities.

BENEFITS OF AAA and AAT
Animal-Assisted Activities and Animal-Assisted Therapy provide motivational, educational and recreational interactions that enhance people’s quality of life. Literacy programs help children improve their reading skills by reading to a therapy animal. Now well accepted and appreciated, trained volunteers bring their dogs to a long-term care facility to provide residents with mental stimulation, physiological benefits and unconditional acceptance. Further, the animal interaction motivates rehabilitation patients to walk again, teaches children in special-education classrooms important life skills, and facilitates counseling sessions in mental health centers.

Add-ons at Dream Horse Guesthouse (B&B) include masso-therapy, trail riding, and story-telling to Dream Horses. Though on-line booking is available, add-ons require a phone reservation. Groups or other parties may partake by reservation. Rates vary. (Ask about Dream Dogs or Dream Cats)

Dream Horse Haflinger filly My Natascha (8 mos old) enjoys and listens to a young visitor's conversation...

Dream Reading

Talking to horses began with a need to share time with them effectively. Guests wanted to see horses at the B&B Boarding Barn, but often pictures were snapped and the experience of visiting with horses totally missed. Storybooks were then read to the horses, with wonderful results. Now, dreams, stories, jokes, songs, secrets, poetry, practice readings, and speeches (wholesome material only) are conveyed to the equines. Dream Horses may seem to be and act as therapists or dream interpreters, but they have yet to acquire a license (so feel free to call them entertainers!). A main feature is the horses don’t spread personal information. At Dream Horse Guesthouse, guests benefit while Dream Horses benefit. Dream Horse Innkeeper/Facilitators are inspired to see intrigued guests reading and interacting with their Dream Horses. Reading material is provided.

PRECAUTIONS
With the increased public awareness that animals can be used effectively as an alternative to traditional treatment methods -- and with a growing interest in people wanting to visit schools, nursing homes and hospitals with their pets -- there is a greater urgency to ensure that high standards and safe, humane practices that protect these therapy animals are reinforced. Tremendous potential exists for animals to help people, but with that comes tremendous responsibility to continually improve how animal-assisted therapy services are delivered.

Dream Horse Mae happily gets exercise after having a foal. Later, she did get her trim shape back!