Equine Assisted Programs
HopeWellness Therapy Services
Occupational Therapy • Adaptive Riding • Family Wellbeing • Community
Hopewell, Kentucky • 501(c)(3) Nonprofit • Opening Summer 2027
Remarkable Things Happen Here.
At HopeWellness, the horse and human connection allows something remarkable to happen.
We provide traditional occupational therapy services incorporating the horse’s movement and interaction when appropriate as well as adaptive riding for children, adolescents, and adults living with disabilities, unique needs, or life challenges. Our therapy horses are partners in the process, and their movement, warmth, and presence engage the whole person in ways beyond clinic walls. We believe that when one person grows, the whole family grows with them. Everyone who walks onto the property matters here.
OUR PROGRAMS
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
WITH HORSES
Our Clinical Foundation
A licensed occupational therapist leads every session. The horse when appropriate is the therapy partner, contributing rhythmic movement that engages the neuromuscular system in a way no clinic table, mat, or machine can replicate.
What this addresses:
- Postural control, core strength & balance
- Sensory processing & self-regulation
- Motor planning & coordination
- Functional independence & daily living skills
- Communication & cognitive engagement
Who we serve:
Children, adolescents, and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, sensory processing disorders, acquired brain injury, stroke, MS, and more.
ADAPTIVE RIDING & HORSEMANSHIP
Where Confidence Grows at Every Age
Guided by a certified therapeutic riding instructor, adaptive riding sessions are recreational horseback riding lessons adapted for each client’s ability and goals
What this builds:
• Confidence, self-esteem & sense of agency
• Body awareness & physical coordination
• Focus, attention & emotional regulation
• Social connection & communication
• Independence & self-advocacy
Who we serve:
Children, teens, and adults with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, intellectual or learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral challenges, physical disabilities, PTSD, and more.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE
FAMILY & CAREGIVER WELLBEING
At HopeWellness, the people who show up alongside those we serve (parents, caregivers, spouses and siblings) are welcomed not as bystanders, but as people who matter here too.
Our facility is a place to breathe, connect with people who understand, and find moments of genuine rest while meaningful work happens on horseback.
When one person grows, the whole family grows.
FARM & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
For the whole community
Community garden & cutting garden; family-based wellness programs in a natural environment.
Beyond the arena, HopeWellness offers equine-centered activities, nature-based programming, and community events for siblings, caregivers, and the broader community, because growth and connection happen in many forms.
The horse is not a tool. The horse is a partner.
Horses read the whole person’s body language, emotional state, breath, and muscle tension, and they respond in real time, without judgment. In therapy, this means a client receives honest biofeedback from a living being that doesn’t see a diagnosis label. The horse’s response becomes the therapist’s most powerful data point, and the client’s most motivating moment.
HopeWellness Therapy
CORE VALUES
HOPE
We meet each person where they are and focus on what is possible. Progress may look different for every client, but every step matters.
PARTNERSHIP
Our horses are not equipment. They are collaborators. Every session is a conversation between the therapist or instructor, the participant, and the horse.
WELLNESS
We support each person’s ability to feel safe, connected, and engaged in daily life. Through horses and nature, we encourage movement, confidence, and moments of peace for clients, families, and caregivers.
PROFESSIONALISM
We support clinically led evidence-based practice and are pursuing PATH Intl. Center accreditation. We are accountable to every person and family who trusts us with their care.
Our Mission
To support the growth, wellbeing, and potential of individuals with disabilities or unique differences and their families through equine-assisted services.
Our Vision
A welcoming community where individuals and families find not only services but a place to connect with horses and nature and where hope is always growing.
About Our Founder
Debbie Stengel, OTR/L, CPHQ
A lifelong equestrian and occupational therapist with more than 25 years of clinical experience, Debbie founded HopeWellness to combine her clinical occupational therapy expertise, her personal caregiving experience, and her belief in the transformative power of the horse-human connection. At the heart of HopeWellness is the belief that hope can emerge when people are given opportunities to discover what is possible. Her background in quality assurance and compliance ensures HopeWellness is built not just on passion but also on professional integrity, aligning with PATH International guidelines and standards.
GET IN TOUCH
Contact HopeWellness
We would love to hear from you. Whether you are interested in any of our programs or just want to say hello… fill out the form and we will be back in touch with you shortly!
(502) 905-2540
info@hopewellnesstherapy.com
Hopewell, Kentucky
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