TheraBarn

03/25/2025

This is why I LOVE this community…. Their support is unwavering!

🌳 Our Community is Like a Forest 🌳

In a forest, each tree plays its part—the roots nourish the soil, the trunks provide strength, the branches reach outward, and the leaves sustain the whole ecosystem. Even when leaves fall, they enrich the soil, helping new growth to thrive.

Just like a forest, our community thrives when we support each other. Every person brings strength, wisdom, and connection, creating an environment where we can grow together. 💚

Let’s continue lifting each other up, nurturing growth, and building a stronger, more connected community! 🌱✨

Visit our website at www.equischolarsplus.com or contact us as [email protected] 🔗

03/24/2025

Spring is right around the corner ( I think we are having a fake spring here in North Dakota) and we thought we would share our favorite links for spring.

I LOVE the atrimud! It is a must have on hand for thrush and spring. https://amzn.to/4iVWkLC

The shedding brush is FABULOUS! It works excellently with horses and short haired dogs. https://amzn.to/4c1hTbx

We have a mare that finds the worst places to use as a scratching post and found herself in quite the predicaments so we have placed these scratchers around the paddock. She really enjoys using them. I really like the soft texture of the bristles as well as the shape of them. https://amzn.to/4la33Ue

03/24/2025

Great words to start a Monday!

✨ New Week, Fresh Energy ✨

A new week brings new opportunities to learn, grow, and connect. Stay present, stay curious, and remember—small steps lead to big progress! 🐴💛

03/23/2025

EquiScholars Plus at The RanchXtreme update..

We have been delivering The Early Intervention Programme with amazing feedback and alongside our schools programme we are meeting lots of young people across Dorset.

So what is it ?

A focused, one-to-one equine-assisted programme designed to support children, young people, and adults through tailored, therapeutic sessions. Built on the principles of EquiScholars Plus, this program offers a safe and nurturing environment to explore emotional regulation, resilience, and personal growth.
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Through meaningful interactions with horses, participants gain a deeper connection to themselves and their emotions, supporting their journey toward improved mental well-being and life transitions.

Our activities are designed to mirror natural equine behaviours while respecting their welfare at every step. This ensures that horses are not just participants but equal partners in the learning process. By prioritising their well-being, we create environments where horses can thrive and genuinely engage with humans.

In our programmes, mentors develop the skills to interpret equine behaviours accurately, understanding how horses signal stress, comfort, and connection. This deeper awareness leads to stronger, more respectful partnerships and equips participants with tools to create safe, supportive interactions. Through this fusion of science, compassion, and expertise, we ensure that equine welfare is never an afterthought but a guiding principle that enriches every aspect of our programmes. By learning from horses, we gain profound insights into ourselves and the relationships we build.

Contact us to find out more…..

03/21/2025

I also recently learned it’s important to watch for the shake after a roll…..

🐴 Rolling: A Key Maintenance Behaviour for Horses! 🐴

Rolling isn’t just about getting dusty—it’s a vital body care behaviour and an essential need for horses.

Rolling helps promote:

✅ Coat & skin health – Spreads natural oils, removes loose hair, and repels insects.
✅ Muscle & joint relief – Encourages movement and flexibility.
✅ Itch relief – Scratches those hard-to-reach spots!
✅ Social & environmental interaction – Horses often share rolling spots, reinforcing herd connections.

🔹 As a maintenance behaviour, rolling is just as important as eating, drinking, and sleeping. Limited space and restricted movement can prevent horses from rolling when they need to.
Here’s how you can help:
✔️ Provide access to soft, dry rolling areas (sand, dirt patches, or deep bedding).
✔️ Increase turnout time to allow natural movement.
✔️ Avoid excessive blanketing—horses use rolling to adjust their coats.
✔️ Observe rolling patterns—avoid interruption unless it signals discomfort or colic.

Rolling is a need, not just a luxury! 💚

Want to learn more about natural behaviours and how to support them?
Take a look at our website www.equischolars.co.uk or why not drop us an email at [email protected] ! 🔗📖✨

03/20/2025

Couldn’t agree more!! It’s a hard thing to make a habit BUT so important!

🌿 Self-Care & Mindfulness 🌿

Life can be overwhelming, and it’s easy to put yourself last. But self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s essential for your well-being. Taking time to care for yourself isn’t selfish; it allows you to show up as the best version of yourself in all areas of life.

✨ Why Self-Care Matters ✨
💙 For Yourself – Prioritising your well-being helps you feel balanced, resilient, and more in control, even during life’s toughest moments.
💙 For Those Around You – Your energy affects others. When you take care of yourself, you create healthier relationships and a more positive environment for those you love.

💡 Simple Ways to Practice Self-Care
✅ Mindfulness – Helps you recognise stress and find balance in the present moment.
✅ Exercise – Releases tension, boosts energy, and supports both physical and mental health.
✅ Journaling – Provides clarity and emotional release, helping you process your thoughts and feelings.

No matter who you are or what you do, your well-being matters. Make self-care a priority—it benefits not just you, but everyone around you. 💙

What’s your favourite way to practice self-care? Share in the comments! 👇✨

03/13/2025

Can you guess what it is???????? I am THRILLED to bring this program to our area!!! We are going to grow and learn in so many ways! Who wants to learn more with me????

💀✨ Exciting News Coming to EquiScholars Plus! 🐎⚡

Can you guess what’s on the way? 🤔
Here’s a hint: Why did the skeleton horse refuse to tell secrets? Because he could see right through everyone! 👀😆🦴

Something big is in the works… Stay tuned and keep an eye on this space! 👀🔥

🔗 Find out more at www.equischolarsplus.com 🔗

03/07/2025

This is so true with all program. I appreciate EquiScholars plus making this a priority

🌱 Supporting Mentors in Early Intervention: Empowering Those Who Empower Others 💡

Mentors are the heart and soul of the Early Intervention Programme. They provide children and young people with guidance, stability, and emotional support, helping them grow into their full potential.
Their dedication is truly inspiring, and we are incredibly grateful for everything they do. 💙

But to continue making a difference, mentors need support too.
That’s why our programme provides:
✅ Training in emotional regulation & co-regulation – Helping mentors navigate challenges with confidence.
✅ Tools to build trust and safe spaces – Strengthening meaningful connections​.
✅ Ongoing learning & peer support networks – Preventing burnout and creating long-term success.

By supporting our mentors, we strengthen the entire community. Their passion and dedication change lives every single day, and we are proud to stand beside them.

🌟 To all mentors out there – you are amazing, and we appreciate you! 🌟

03/07/2025

Did you know….

🌙 Did You Know? Horses Have Better Night Vision Than Us! 🐴 🌙

Horses can see better in the dark than we can, but it can take them nearly twice as long to adjust from light to darkness—around 45 minutes! ⏳

This is why sudden changes in lighting, like loading into a dark trailer or entering an indoor arena, can be challenging for them.

In our training module, we dive deeper into how a horse’s vision works and even have a fun, interactive activity where you get to experience the world as they see it! 👀🐎

Want to know what it’s like? Join us and see for yourself! 🌟
Visit our website at www.equischolars.com or drop us an email to [email protected] 🔗

03/03/2025

We LOVE being apart of the Equischolars community….. we are always learning and growing within their program.

🌟 EquiScholars: A New Kind of Equine Education 🌟
Our equine curriculum focusses on what we can learn from our equine partners through their eyes. 🐴💡

We dig deep into equine behaviour, communication, and welfare, helping the students you teach as a Coach truly understand horses as sentient, social beings.

✨ What have we covered so far within our modules?
🔹 Equine Senses – Seeing the world through a horse’s eyes 👀
🔹 Herd Dynamics – How horses interact naturally 🐎
🔹 Communication & Behaviour – Building trust without outdated myths 🤝
🔹 Consent - How horses communicate their boundaries to each other and us 🧠
🔹 Welfare & Enrichment – Supporting their mental and physical well-being 💙

We don’t just teach—we inspire a new way of thinking about horses.

Ready to see the world through a horse’s eyes? 👀🐴
Why not take a look at our website, www.equischolars.com OR email us at [email protected]

02/24/2025

Such an exciting announcement!

🚀 Our First EquiScholars+ Programme of 2025 Goes LIVE Tonight! 🚀

Tonight marks the start of our first online Early Intervention Programme session.

We are so excited with more than a years worth of development, we have put our hearts and souls into this and cannot wait to get started. 💚

This is just the beginning of a ground-breaking year for EquiScholars+! 🌍🌟

www.equischolarsplus.com

02/24/2025

Go for it! 🙌🏼

02/14/2025

⏳ There Is Still Time – Don’t Miss Out! ⏳

Our Early Intervention Programme kicks off on 24th February, offering a flexible, impactful 16-week journey designed to support mental health, resilience, and social skills. 🌿

📚 Programme Overview:
✅ Core Theory – Full access to the EquiScholars Plus online course
✅ Early Intervention Framework – One-to-one adaptable support for children, young people, and adults
✅ Mentor Training – Comprehensive manuals, framework cards & live online sessions
✅ Outcome Tracking – Practical tools to monitor and measure progress
✅ Community Access – Ongoing professional network and post-course reflections

Want to find out more?

✨ Visit our website today at https://www.equischolarsplus.com/to learn more about our programme and why not hit that enrol button. ✨

02/13/2025

THIS IS SO COOL!!!! What a fun activity and learning opportunity!

🐴 Guts in Action! 🦴

This week at EquiSchools, students got hands-on with horse digestion in our “Guts in Action” session! 🏇💡

Horses have a unique digestive system designed for constant grazing. With a small stomach and a huge hindgut, they rely on fermentation to break down fibre-rich foods like hay and grass. 🌿

Students explored how food moves through the mouth, stomach, small intestine, and cecum, discovering why horses can’t vomit and why slow, steady feeding is key to preventing colic. Using fun activities, we modeled the journey of food from bite to… well, you know! 💩

📸 Check out our learners proudly holding their digestive system model—bringing horse anatomy to life!

💬 EquiSchools is currently part of our EquiScholars Plus curriculum which supports learning for alternative education - you can find out more about the programme at www.equischolarsplus.com

02/12/2025

❤️ Cows & Co Creamery…… gelato in sub zero temps is always a win when coming to ND!!! ❤️

We hope Jessie & Shawna come back to ND soon!

02/10/2025

🐴💙 Horses Need Their Besties! 💙🐴

Did you know that horses form strong social bonds and often have a best friend in their herd when the option is available to them? 🤗

Horses are natural herd animals, and having a companion isn’t just a preference—it’s essential for their well-being! 🌿✨

When horses have a buddy, they feel safe and secure, allowing them to relax and express natural behaviours like playing, grazing, sleeping, and drinking—just as they would in the wild. 🐎💞

So next time you see your horse sticking close to a buddy, know that they’re doing what comes naturally 💕

💬 Does your horse have a best friend? What behaviours do you notice that they do together? ⬇️

02/07/2025

The second day of the Shawna Karrasch Equine clinic was incredible!

It was a very pivotal moment to be apart of because I witness a community beginning!!!

Shawn and Jessie planted the seeds of a positive reinforcement community beginning in ND and I can only see it expanding from here….

I had the privilege of attending this clinic with some incredible people! I look forward to seeing how fast our new community grows!

Thank you to NHSC Equine studies program
For providing this opportunity!

Go check out their program!!!! They have amazing class options. Some classes available for dual credit and online

https://nhsc.edu/community/equine/