Nurturing and bonding with horses fill in the missing pieces of a child's heart. This non-verbal therapy aligns the mis-directed lives of young people onto a path of recovery. Learning to take responsibility for another living creature helps young people develop the skills necessary to care for themselves and others selflessly.
"Children in foster care are three to six times more likely
than children not in care to have emotional, behavioral
and developmental
problems,including; conduct disorders,
depression, difficulties in
school and impaired social relationships."
Experiential Learning Program: The purpose of this program is to
provide academic tutoring, mentoring and equine assisted learning to foster/at risk
children of the greater Metropolitan Denver area. This program began in
January, 2010 and runs two days a week for different age groups: 7-12 years and
13-19 years. The goal of the program is to assist in identity development,
increase coping skills and self efficacy and foster long lasting relationships
with mentors and horses. Behaviors addressed include truancy, tantrums,
disrespect toward peers and adults, improved academic performance, aggression
and property destruction, as well as any concerns of the foster or biological
parents, case managers or other service providers.
Wellness with Horses: This is a group experiential learning
program for families and children currently experiencing transitions such as
divorce, separation or death of a loved one.Traumatic involvement in the foster care
system, adoption related issues, and other difficult family transitions can also benefit from our
Wellness with Horses.
Behavioral Consultation: The purpose of this program is to provide
behavioral support to foster families and families in transition by increasing
appropriate behaviors and decreasing inappropriate behaviors. This service is
offered to families involved in the Equine Assisted Learning
and Riding Program, Experiential Learning Program and Wellness with Horses. The
goal of the program is to create an environment which better supports
appropriate behaviors and decreases inappropriate behaviors by changing
antecedents and consequences of various behaviors. In addition, children
involved in this program who are not involved in other Zuma’s programs are able
to work with the rescue horses, receive academic tutoring and mentoring.
Mentoring Program: Research has shown that having a positive
adult role model in a child’s life is a resiliency factor for children who have
had involvement in the foster care system. The mentoring program will match up
a foster or adopted child with a mentor with whom they can build a long-term
relationship. This relationship would last through.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy- We currently have
therapists available for child and or family therapy, marriage
counseling, team building clinics, communications clinics, the list is
endless for how horses can help heal the broken human spirit and
mind.Studies have proven equine therapy to be more effective in less
time costing less money. Call today and begin your healing journey.
Contact for Appointments:
jodi@zumasrescueranch.com
or call 303-346-7493
info@zumasrescueranch.com
Our Experiential Learning Team
Gina Shuster, LSW- Gina is a Licensed Social Worker. She graduated for the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work with her Master's of Social Work degree in 2008. She has been in the social work field since 2005, and has several years of experience working with children and families. She has experience working in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, adolescent anger management, school bullying, grief and loss, and children with disabilities. Through her graduate studies at the University of Denver, she received an Animal Assisted Social Work Certificate from the Graduate School of Social Work’s Institute for Human Animal Connection. She also received a Trauma Response and Recovery Certificate from the Graduate School of Social Work. Gina is relatively new to the "equine world", but has a huge heart for working with children and families. Her passion lies in utilizing horses as partners who help to unlock healing and restore hope to children and families. Gina is a firm believer in the power of the human-animal bond. Gina joined Zuma’s team as the Program Director in January 2011.
Katie Dixon- Katie has her Bachelors of Social Work from Murray State University. In addition to her BSW Katie has received her EAGALA certified equine specialist equine assisted learning certificate. In the past Katie has worked for group homes as support staff to the counselors and therapists. Along with assisting in the programs in the Experiential Learning programs Katie is a very effective rider and trainer in our Riding Academy at Zuma's.
Dana Schultz- Denver University Masters of Social Work Candidate in the Graduate School of Social Work.Dana is an experienced horsewoman serving the 2010-2011 academic years as an intern in Zuma's Equine Experiential Learning Center. Dana will focus on the client side of social work within Zuma's Equine Experiential Learning Cents as well as case managing for our private clients.
Erin Bowen-Denver University Masters of Social Work Candidate in the Graduate School of Social Work. Erin will be working dual roles in both Zuma's Equine Experiential Learning Center as well as assisting with the community connections side of the operation. Erin will be assisting with grant research and grant writing along with her participation in the Equine Experiential Learning Center.
Horse Rescue- We adopt, retrain, rehabilitate and eventually re-home horses headed to slaughter. We have some of the latest technologies to rehabilitate
injured horses, making them ready for those new homes. Pulsed Signal Therapy (PST), Hydro Therapy, Bio-Pulse Magnetic Therapy, Chiropractic Care, and Acupuncture make that rehabilitation possible.
Call Jodi 720-635-2331
Call to Schedule Appointments- 303-346-7493