A photo gallery from tthe event is also available at the end of this article.
Welcome to the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of The Marsh Foundation‘s new Equine Center, located at 1229 Lincoln Highway, Van Wert, OH 45891.
Guests are invited to explore their new Equine Center, tour the facility and learn more about how their equine program is helping them inspire hope, teach, and care for children and families.
The new state-of-the-art facility includes an indoor arena, 30 horse stalls, viewing areas, conference space, and offices. This facility will allow The Marsh Foundation to serve a larger number of youth, offering not only equine therapy but also job skills training, fostering community partnerships, and supporting the youth in their care as they develop the skills needed for independence.
The Equine Program at The Marsh Foundation integrates horses into a therapeutic setting, where youth can experience hands-on learning and emotional growth. The program is designed to help youth develop key skills such as: self-regulation, communication, confidence, self-esteem, teamwork and leadership.
Their therapeutic sessions, led by licensed equine-assisted therapists and trained professionals, are customized to meet the individual needs of each participant. The program is especially beneficial for youth dealing with trauma, behavioral challenges, or emotional difficulties.
For more than 25 years, The Marsh Foundation’s equine program was a summer-only offering, where they leased horses from the University of Findlay to provide riding lessons and horse care skills to youth in their group homes and the community. The summer program allowed students to experience the joy and responsibility of caring for horses, culminating in an annual horse show where they showcased their riding skills before returning to school. They saw significant positive change in the youth who participated, noting improved behaviors and faster progress in their treatment.
Recognizing the impact that these experiences had on the youth, they decided to explore the possibility of expanding the program into a year-round initiative. They trained case managers and program supervisors and piloted an Equine-Assisted Learning and Psychotherapy (EAL/EAP) program over two summers. The results were clear: youth involved in the program showed faster progress in treatment, developed strong problem-solving and communication skills, built emotional connections, and healed attachment issues.
LOCATION: 1229 Lincoln Highway, Van Wert, OH 45891
PHONE: (419) 238-1695
WEB: https://www.marshfoundation.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MarshFoundation
