Chastain Horse Park

11/07/2024

As we prepare for this evening's "Rein's of Hope" event, we are reflecting this morning on previous events and the touching stories we have been witness to over the years. Here is a mini version of our 2022 video highlighting one of our therapeutic clients, Winfred, and the positive changes that his mom has witnessed through his work here at CHP.

is more than a motto. Through physical therapy, occupational therapy, adaptive riding, equine-assisted learning, and a robust outreach program, we are able to provide thousands of sessions through our Therapeutic Program each year that are part of the building blocks that our clients and their families rely upon in their own journey. Proud to be a part of the lives of so many deserving families.

11/07/2024

You never know who you will come across over at Chastain Horse Park! Our team enjoyed touring Curley Dossman of Georgia-Pacific last week and sharing with him our incredible Therapeutic Program as well as our new facilities. Thank you Georgia-Pacific for being a sponsor at this year's Reins of Hope event and your commitment to providing accessible equine-assisted therapeutic services to individuals in our city.

10/29/2024

Our very own Casey Moore was horsing around this past weekend and brought home a blue ribbon in her eventing competition at Ashland Farms. Way to go Casey!!

10/25/2024

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the Foreseeable Future Foundation & CHP Horsemanship Event for the Visually Impaired originally scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2024.

We appreciate your interest and support, and we are committed to rescheduling this event for the spring. We will keep you updated with the new date and details as soon as they are finalized.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.

10/10/2024

APS Carver High School's Moderate Intellectually Disabled and Autism class was at Chastain Horse Park this morning for their weekly class with Miss Whitney. Our equine-assisted learning program with APS reinforces concepts that are being taught in the classroom at school. Our specialists coordinate and develop a curriculum with the APS teacher.

Today’s experience was focused on:
• Concepts of estimation, more than, and less than
• Sequencing through learning grooming steps

A true teacher through and through, Whitney makes sure that she is a bright light in their day and is constantly teaching and reinforcing past lessons!

Incredible things are happening here at Chastain Horse Park!

10/08/2024

10/03/2024

We still have some space left in our November women's group focusing on grief and loss. Please reach out to Kelly Stephens at [email protected]. Price is $375/ person

Loss can be felt in many contexts such as the death of a loved one, the loss of a significant relationship or ending a career. Loss can be experienced in changing family relationships, retirement, personal disappointments, uprooting for a move, or even a loss of spontaneity or freedom.

A common misperception is that grief is linear – meaning we go through set stages over a specific period to fully heal. Feelings of grief such as sadness, anger, irritability, and hopelessness in fact come in waves, and there is no set time for healing. It is also common to experience conflicting emotions at the same time during loss – like feeling sadness and despair while also feeling a sense of relief. Grief can feel confusing at times, and hard to explain or share with others.

10/01/2024

It's amazing what a new hairdo can do for your psyche! Be bold, take chances!

09/30/2024

CHP is a 501c3 nonprofit and we are seeking a dynamic and experienced Operations Director to lead all programing including our PATH premiere accredited therapeutic program, volunteer services program, school lesson program, and boarder program. This newly created position is critical to supporting our strategic plan and achieving our impact and financial goals. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, extensive equestrian operations experience (hunter-jumper discipline preferred), nonprofit leadership experience and a solid understanding of key operating metrics and financials.

Full job description in LinkedIn and through social media profiles. Please direct all inquiries and resumes to [email protected].

09/26/2024

Unlike exercise machines that isolate individual muscle groups and don't mimic natural body movements, riding engages the entire body. Riders must steer, control, and adjust both the horse and themselves to maintain balance, making it a full-body workout like no other.

Chastain Horse Park’s Therapeutic Program provides a Therapeutic/Adaptive Riding Program for for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals with special needs. These lessons are adapted to each student's abilities, goals and objectives.

09/25/2024

Weather update!

Chastain Horse Park is paying close attention to the upcoming storm. As it stands, our plan is to continue services as normal throughout all of our programs. Please check in on social media or our website for further updates as the weather develops.

09/25/2024

Making a difference in the lives of those in need throughout the Atlanta community. In 2023, Chastain Horse Park conducted over 5,000 therapeutic sessions to children, teens and adults.

Who are we serving? Although the majority of the participants in our program are under that age of 18, our adult program continues to grow. Mental health is a huge need within the community and we have seen a definite increase in clients needing assistance in this area. Autism remains one of the primary diagnoses that we serve here at CHP.

In 2023 we served individuals from 28 counties across the state of Georgia and 185 different zip codes. Our primary counties are Fulton, Cobb, Dekalb and Gwinnett.

09/23/2024

09/22/2024

Thank you Genuine Parts Company for participating in a Service Day at Chastain Horse Park's Therapeutic Program on Friday September 20th.

An integral part of any equine assisted therapeutic program is the sensory trail. Our trail was closed off throughout our construction process over the past two years and thanks to the Genuine Parts Team, we have begun the process of refurbishing the trail to reincorporate it into our therapeutic sessions. Last Friday was step one, and we have many more steps to go in the process.

What is the purpose of a sensory trail?? Sensory trails are frequently used in therapeutic riding to offer clients a fresh perspective while engaging all their senses. These trails incorporate both natural and artificial elements that challenge balance, promote interaction, and provide sensory stimulation. They present a distinctive opportunity to experience the outdoors while riding a moving animal.

Depending on the day, the client and the environment needed, they can provide a soothing place to decompress before a therapeutic session or on opportunity to provide stimulation seekers the input that they need to then be in a place of productivity.

Thank you again GPC for joining with us to begin this journey!

09/17/2024

We couldn’t make this happen without you!⁠
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A huge thank you to for their incredible support of Chastain Horse Park’s Therapeutic Program. The Inspire Brands Foundation is now among the leaders in Atlanta championing our mission to provide equine-assisted therapeutic services to children and adults across the city.⁠
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Our reach in Atlanta is powerful. Each year, we serve individuals from approximately 32 of the 41 City of Atlanta zip codes. Remarkably, 47% of those we assist come from communities where the average household income is below $28,600. Throughout the school year, we work closely with Autism and Moderately Intellectually Disabled (MOID) students at Crawford Long Middle School and Carver High/Early College. Over the past decade, we’ve provided nearly $1M in scholarships and subsidies to the Atlanta special needs community.⁠
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Thank you, Inspire Brands, for helping us make a lasting impact!⁠
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09/17/2024

Open House for Atlanta Mental Health Professionals.

Sip on hot apple cider and observe the horse herd with fellow clinicians. Then enter the horse arena to experience how this non-traditional therapy incorporates horses into mental health treatment.

Envision a live sand tray with humans and horses interacting within their herds or systems. The arena space and horses symbolize meaningful things and relationships for each participant. The client's therapeutic experience of these interactions creates newfound insight and change.

If you have clients who are "stuck", who could benefit from group therapy, who enjoy emotional support from pets, who love to be outdoors and would be open to trying something new and different, please consider referring them to supplement your work in the office.

Upcoming groups are for adult women focusing on Grief and Loss in November and Anxiety and Depression in December. In 2025 we will expand to offer groups for teenage girls experiencing anxiety and/or depression.

We invite clinicians to join us for this event (please don't bring clients). If you wish to enter the horse arena, we will ask that you sign a liability release and closed toe shoes are required.

Please park in the main (free) parking lot off of Powers Ferry Road and walk to the covered horse arena at the top of the hill. We hope to see you there - rain or shine!

For questions, please email [email protected]

09/10/2024

Always excited to work with Shepherd Center and their patients. Therapeutic riding and horsemanship is an excellent option for recreational therapy. So many benefits, both physical and emotional, are intrinsic to these activities.

09/09/2024

Chastain Horse Park is thrilled to welcome Kelci Crenshaw as the new Head Trainer for our Hunter and Jumper program. Kelci brings a wealth of experience in training young and adult riders across Atlanta, with a remarkable track record of guiding her students to compete and qualify for prestigious events such as Pony Finals, Junior Hunter Finals, Zone Jumper Finals, NHS Finals, Maclay Regionals and Finals, and Hunter Seat Medal Finals. ♥️🐴

With 17 years as a professional rider in Georgia, Kelci has cultivated strong relationships with fellow professionals, including trainers, veterinarians, farriers, and horse show staff throughout Georgia and the surrounding states. She spent two decades under the mentorship of Sharon Enteen at Falcon Ridge Stables, honing her skills and expertise.

Chastain Horse Park’s Hunter & Jumper Program is dedicated to riders of all ages who are committed to advancing their equestrian skills. Our program features a brand-new, state-of-the-art 28-stall barn, a spacious 150’ x 300’ main arena, and an 80’ x 120’ covered arena, all designed to support our boarders and show participants. Conveniently located in the heart of Atlanta’s Chastain Park community, our facilities offer a premier environment for riders to excel.