Horses Help Southwest Iowa | Adaptive Riding & Healing with Horses

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall visits Horses Help Southwest Iowa, a unique equine-assisted services center that is helping individuals across the region through adaptive riding, equine-assisted learning, and community programming. Located on a peaceful 20 acre property, Horses Help provides programs designed for individuals with physical, cognitive, emotional, or social challenges. Participants include people with special needs, veterans coping with PTSD, youth groups, and even seniors experiencing dementia. During this visit, we meet Executive Director Corey Nelson and Lead Instructor Andrea Dunn, who share how the program works and why horses are such powerful partners in healing and personal development.Programs at Horses Help include:• Adaptive riding for individuals with special needs• Equine assisted learning and life skills development• Ground based horsemanship programs• Cart driving for participants who cannot mount a horse• Programs for veterans and trauma survivors• Visits with miniature horses for schools, community groups, and care facilitiesThe center was founded by Linda Hightoff Borman, inspired by her experience growing up with siblings who had Down syndrome and seeing firsthand how powerful equine interaction can be for individuals with disabilities. Today, Horses Help continues to expand its programs to meet the needs of the community while providing a peaceful outdoor environment where people can reconnect with nature, build confidence, and develop life skills.If you are interested in volunteering, participating in a program, or supporting their mission, be sure to learn more about Horses Help Southwest Iowa.Mills County Routes is part of Local Stream Media, highlighting the people, organizations, and stories that make Southwest Iowa such a special place to live.Subscribe for more local stories, community spotlights, and conversations from across Mills County and Southwest Iowa.