We specialize in facilitating life-changing horse experiences for children, teens, adults and seniors who have physical disabilities, cognitive challenges or who need mental health support, to enhance their quality of life and enrich their emotional wellness.
BEAMING offers equine programs to serve the diverse needs of our community members in six primary categories: diverse abilities support (for children and adults with physical disabilities, cognitive challenges and/or mental health needs), dementia support, teen support, veterans’ support, trauma support and women’s support.
The BEAMING Barn is a welcoming, uplifting space focused on inclusion, learning, and growing through equine-assisted services. Our no-cost or low-cost programs serve clients regardless of socio-economic status, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or ability. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about our programs, please reach out to us!
> NEW RIDERS: WATCH OUR NEW RIDER OVERVIEW VIDEO FOR KIDS & PARENTS HERE
> VIEW PROGRAM DATES AND TIMES ON OUR CALENDAR HERE
> TO SIGN UP FOR A PROGRAM, SEE INFORMATION AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
Our Partners in Riding program is a collaborative effort with local school districts to provide adaptive physical education and equine-assisted services to children with diverse abilities including physical, cognitive and/or emotional challenges. We collaborate with special education personnel at Fox Cities elementary and middle schools to identify students who will most benefit. The students we serve typically have autism, ADD, ADHD, hemiplegia, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, degenerative central nervous system disorders, and/or cognitive, visual or developmental impairments.
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Through our Saddle Up for Success program, we facilitate life-changing horse experiences for children and adults with cognitive, emotional and/or physical disabilities. These sessions are offered for individuals or groups of up to five participants of similar age and ability. Participants learn to groom, walk and ride horses over the course of many weeks. This program helps participants grow in their self-discovery and confidence through building relationships with our equine partners, while also offering many physical benefits, such as improved posture, balance, and fine and gross motor skills.
> WATCH BLAKE’S VIDEO TESTIMONIAL HERE
> SEE HOW RIDING HAS BENEFITTED DANIEL’S LIFE HERE
Our Dragons in Flight horseback riding program is for children and adults with diverse abilities who havedemonstrated they can learn to groom, care for, saddle and ride more independently. We integrate equine-assisted learning (EAL) on a wide range of topics from anatomy to showmanship.
> WATCH MARIANA’S VIDEO TESTIMONIAL HERE
> WATCH AMANDA’S VIDEO TESTIMONIAL HERE
> WATCH ELI’S VIDEO TESTIMONIAL HERE
The physical benefitsof horseback riding are undeniable for children with autism. Different sensory receptors are stimulated, and children learn to move in new and exciting ways. Together with the emotional and cognitive benefits of equine-assisted therapies, riding provides benefits to the wholeindividual, including body, mind and spirit. Two sessions of Autism Camp are held every summer.
> WATCH OUR AUTISM CAMP VIDEO
> WATCH THE EHNERD TRIPLETS’ TESTIMONIAL VIDEO
> VIEW THE 2024 AUTISM CAMPS FLYER (PDF)
Pony Power Academy is an Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) Program that offers a unique approachto helping children ages 4-12 with learning disabilities or who have struggled learning to readand write. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 4 million children younger than 18 have learning disabilities in the U.S.; they account for 47% of children receiving special education. These kids have a 31% greater chance of being bullied, and over 18% of them drop out of school.
Our certified instructors guide children through learning activities and adventures that make reading fun, using curriculum that was developed based on Wisconsin Literacy Standards. These skills help children build their confidence and enhance their learning aptitude, which will help them excel on their academic journey.
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BEAMING is the second in the nation to offer Riding in the Moment™ (RIM). Developed in conjunction with UW-Madison, RIM is an evidence-based program that improves the quality of life for seniors living with early- to moderate-onset dementia, Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory loss.
Participants groom, walk and may ride horses, listen to horses’ heartbeats, make and feed horse treats, watch horse demonstrations and have other opportunities to bond with our equine partners. In addition to giving seniors the opportunity to interact with horses, we also provide educational activities, mind-body emotions exercises and hands-on projects, such as planting flowers, making crafts, or creating artwork. BEAMING staff helps assist participants with answers to questions and demonstrate physical exercises to encourage participation.
The RIM program not only improves the quality of life for those living with dementia, it also benefits their caregivers by allowing them to spend quality time in an uplifting outdoor setting with their loved one, allowing them the opportunity to ride horses, and introducing them to a support network of other caregivers going through the same challenges they are.
> WATCH THE RIDING IN THE MOMENT OVERVIEW VIDEO
> WATCH THE RIDING IN THE MOMENT TESTIMONIAL VIDEO
> VIEW OUR RIDING IN THE MOMENT FLYER HERE (PDF)
> WATCH DOROTHY & LINDA’S VIDEO TESTIMONIAL HERE
> WATCH BARB & PETE’S VIDEO TESTIMONIAL HERE
The Riding in the MomentTM program was created by Hearts & Horses, LLC. Hearts & Horses, LLC is not affiliated with nor participates with BEAMING, Inc. and its use of the program.
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We also take the horses and these activities to memory care facilities through our “RIM Mobile” program, helping socialize while exercising their minds and bodies. Life enrichment staff have shared with us that our RIM program is something their residents ask about and look forward to, and that the experiences help them with socializing while exercising their minds and bodies. Many residents even share memories that rise to the surface of growing up on farms and with horses.
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We welcome community members with early- to moderate-stage dementia and their caregivers to enjoy horse experiences and other interactive activities such as educational presentations, musical performances, arts and crafts projects and other outdoor and barn activities. These hands-on horse experiences offer participants and their families an opportunity to engage in a social gathering and meet others for support. We are offering monthly Memory Cafés in 2024; all sessions are 1.5 hours in length.
> WATCH OUR EQUINE-ASSISTED MEMORY CAFÉ OVERVIEW VIDEO
> VIEW OUR 2024 MEMORY CAFÉS FLYER WITH DATES HERE (PDF)
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Steady Strides for Parkinson’s is an equine support program designed to enrich the quality of life for those living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their caregivers. PD is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease; up to 80% of people with PD eventually develop dementia.
Studies have shown that equine-assisted services as a support to traditional PD treatment are effective for improving mobility, cognitive abilities and emotional well-being. The movement of the horse can improve balance, strength, tone, timing, coordination, and postural control, which can all lead to improved functional ability of the person with PD (MI Parkinson Foundation).
This program was developed using similar curriculum to our evidence-based Riding in the Moment Dementia Support Equine Program. Participants groom, walk and ride horses; engage in mind-body emotions exercises; enjoy educational activities, musical performances and guest presentations; and participate in hands-on projects; while caregivers are able to spend quality time with their loved ones while meeting a support network of others going through similar challenges.
Our Hold Your Horses Teen Support Equine Camps provide emotional support through building connections and relationships with our equine partners. We seek to improve the mental wellness of troubled and hurting teenagers through providing them with fun, interactive learning opportunities to help them bolster their self-esteem, grow in their self-confidence and discover their own unique skills and talents.
With the guidance of professional counselors and the assistance of our equine partners, we use a variety of strategies to help these teens learn how to hold their emotions in check before acting or reacting, resulting in making better choices, improving mental health, and forming healthier relationships. Two no-cost sessions are held every summer.
> READ JULIO’S STORY (PDF)
> VIEW THE 2024 HOLD YOUR HORSES CAMPS FLYER (PDF)
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Our CANTER (Community Arts Network for Teens Empowering Resilience) teen support equine program, led by local artists, educators and other professionals, provides teens with the materials, knowledge, and guidance to engage in art as a form of self-expression that will help them discover their innate gifts and talents while building their self-confidence.
Teens are able to express themselves in a safe space in the company of horses, without fear of judgment or expectation of perfection, and explore their fears and emotions in a nonthreatening, nonverbal way. The focus of CANTER is to offer a healthy outlet for teens to use art to express and discover things about themselves, address barriers and traumas within their lives, inspire both peers and mentors alike, and process their emotions with an end goal of having a deeper, more confident understanding of themselves.
Special Education personnel from area school districts send us some of their most troubled students who tend to be outside the mainstream of their peer group. Launch has the ability to impact the increasing mental health crisis with our teen population in the Fox Valley. The hands-on nature of this unique and effective mentoring program addresses basic skills essential for managing conflict, utilizing effective coping skills, developing positive social skills, and learning to engage in healthy self-care. BEAMING has been extremely successful in changing the attitudes and self-image of these teens.
BEAMING is honored to provide local veterans with no-cost private equine sessions. Our goal is to provide safe and enjoyableexperiences, whether it be grooming, walking or riding horses,groundwork or other fun activities at the barn.
Equine-assisted services help reduce anxiety, improve strength, balance, motor skills and cognitive awareness, help with anger management, exercise memory and sequencing abilities. Participants have a range of diagnoses including but not limited to amputations, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. This is a great way to meet and bond with fellow service members.
> WATCH OUR HORSES, HEARTS & HEROES OVERVIEW VIDEO
> WATCH VETERAN TERRY’S VIDEO
> VIEW OUR HORSES, HEARTS & HEROES FLYER (PDF)
Please note: for veterans who prefer individual classes, we also offer one-to-one sessions on a limited basis. Please contact Center Director Katie Samuelson at 920-851-6160 or [email protected] for more info.
We began a new trauma support equine program in 2022 called RideStrong, which invites survivors who havebeen affected by suicide, cancer and other crises to experience the healing benefits of equine-assisted services.
Mental health after trauma is an ongoing concern for everyone affected. Equine-assisted services can help families and friends come together in the wake of loss, and help cancer survivors and those affected by other illnesses or crises cope with their diagnosis and treatment.
> WATCH RAYNE’S HORSE EXPERIENCE VIDEO HERE
Women are invited to the BEAMING Barn to connect with other women in search of solace, strength and community while engaging in interactive activities such as horse yoga or other wellness activities together. Women enjoy meeting others and sharing their experiences with finding hope and empowerment, and finding support with each other.
To view our upcoming Women’s Empowerment Series events and RSVP to attend, check our website Events page and our Facebook Events page
To register for any of our programs, please complete the appropriate Participant Application below:
* NOTE: To be approved for horseback riding, please also have your physician complete our Medical Release Form (PDF)
> PONY POWER ACADEMY PARTICIPANT APPLICATION (Tabbed Word doc)
> PONY POWER ACADEMY PARTICIPANT APPLICATION (PDF)
> RIDING IN THE MOMENT / STEADY STRIDES FOR PARKINSON’S PARTICIPANT APPLICATION * (Tabbed Word doc)
> RIDING IN THE MOMENT / STEADY STRIDES FOR PARKINSON’S PARTICIPANT APPLICATION * (PDF)
> RIDING IN THE MOMENT / STEADY STRIDES FOR PARKINSON’S PARTICIPANT APPLICATION – NONRIDING (Tabbed Word doc)
> RIDING IN THE MOMENT / STEADY STRIDES FOR PARKINSON’S PARTICIPANT APPLICATION – NONRIDING (PDF)
> PARTICIPANT APPLICATION PACKET FOR ALL OTHER PROGRAMS * (Tabbed Word doc)
> PARTICIPANT APPLICATION PACKET FOR ALL OTHER PROGRAMS * (PDF)
After you have completed your application forms, please email them to [email protected] or mail them to us at 2692 County Road GG, Neenah, WI 54956. We cannot accept jpg’s.
All program participants or responsible parties must complete the appropriate Participant Application packet. In order to ride, the participant must submit a Medical Release Form signed by their doctor. If there is a waiting list for the program, the participant’s name will be put on that list as of the doctor’s signature date.
REFUSAL OF SERVICES POLICY
If the participant is currently experiencing any of the following symptoms, BEAMING Inc. may refuse to provide service(s): (i) an active threat to self or others; (ii) in need of inpatient services or intensive outpatient care; (iii) struggling with active self-harm which requires medical attention; or (iv) struggling with violent outbursts or experiencing psychosis.
SESSION CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations may be initiated by BEAMING Inc. due to bad weather or other circumstances. The safety of our participants, volunteers, employees, and horses is our top priority. Cancellations will be posted on our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/beaminginc.
ABSENCE POLICY
Please give advance notice if your participant will miss a session for any reason by sending an email to [email protected] or by contacting (920) 851-6160. Please include the date and time of the planned absence. Please give as much advance notice as possible so we can arrange for a substitute participant.
If your participant is ill on the day of the session, please text (920) 851-6160.
Participants or their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be invoiced personally for any absence for which there is no prior notification.
