Butterfly Dreams Farm Equine Therapy

03/07/2025

🌟 Meet Eli — a true fighter, a bright light, and a beautiful example of why hippotherapy matters. 💜🐴

For children like Eli, traditional therapies aren’t always enough. But put them on a horse… and something incredible happens.

Hippotherapy isn’t just riding — it’s movement, connection, motivation, and joy. The horse’s gait mimics the human walking pattern, stimulating muscles and the brain in a way no machine can. It can help with:

✅ Core strength & balance
✅ Speech & communication
✅ Motor planning
✅ Emotional regulation
✅ Confidence & engagement

For kids with rare disorders like Sanfilippo Syndrome, every moment counts — and every smile matters.

Choose hope. Choose horses.
Choose hippotherapy. 🐴💪💜

02/07/2025

💜 Care for Colbie 💜

We are so honored to be part of Colbie’s journey and beyond proud to see her story shared with the world. Colbie is a fighter, a light, and a true inspiration. Her strength and spirit shine in everything she does — especially during her time at Butterfly Dreams.

Please take a moment to read this beautiful and powerful story from 11Alive and learn more about the rare condition she’s bravely facing, and the incredible community rallying behind her. 💪🐴

👉 https://www.11alive.com/article/life/heartwarming/care-for-colbie-awareness-rare-neurological-disease/85-15fba48a-7f14-4b3d-9a1b-a331a834f045

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. Colbie Schueneman, 6, is sharing her story with KIF1A, also known as KAND.

30/06/2025

🌟 Farm Update 🌟

Butterfly Dreams Farm will be closed this week in observance of the Fourth of July holiday 🇺🇸

We hope everyone enjoys a safe, fun, and relaxing week with family and friends! ❤️🤍💙
We’ll be back next week, refreshed and ready to welcome our amazing riders and families!

28/06/2025

⏳ Just a few more hours left to vote for Aleyah in the Athens Area Horse Community Calendar Fundraiser! 🐴💜

Your vote not only supports this amazing horse-loving girl but also helps raise funds for a great cause in our local equine community. Let’s help Aleyah cross the finish line strong! 🗳️

👉 Cast your vote now: https://www.gogophotocontest.com/aahc/entries/572293

Thank you for showing your support and love—every vote counts!

Show your support for Athens Area Horse Community by voting for Aleyah in Athens Area Horse Community Photo Calendar Contest

28/06/2025

🌿 Rooted in Gratitude, Growing in Purpose🌿

We are deeply thankful for our long-standing partnership with the Athens YWCO and are honored by the opportunity to purchase the pasture land we’ve used for years.

While our main program has always taken place on our own property, the additional land generously shared by the YWCO has provided valuable space for our horses to roam and grow. Now, with the chance to make that pasture officially part of Butterfly Dreams, we’re filled with hope and excitement for what’s ahead.

This purchase opens new doors for expansion—more room for our herd, more possibilities for our programs, and more opportunities to serve individuals with disabilities through the power of equine therapy.

We are so grateful to the YWCO for believing in our mission and helping us take this big step forward. 💜🐴

You can read more about this exciting milestone in the Athens Banner-Herald article.

The Athens YWCO has sold its prime real estate in Oconee County to the founder of Butterfly Dreams Farm.

27/06/2025

🎶 If you're happy and you know it, shout hooray! 🎶

We’re kicking off Friday with a big HOORAY from Colbie — and honestly, we couldn’t agree more! 🥳💜

Colbie lives with KIF1A, a rare neurological condition that impacts movement, coordination, and muscle tone. But that doesn’t stop her from singing her heart out and spreading pure joy to everyone around her.

She’s not just ready for the weekend — she’s celebrating life with every word. Let’s shout a big HOORAY for Colbie and all the happiness she brings to Butterfly Dreams! 🐴✨

26/06/2025

🌟 Eli’s not just horsin’ around — he’s ridin’ in style! 🐴🚜

Whether he’s in the saddle or taking a spin on the tractor, Eli is always up for an adventure at the farm. His love for all things that go vroom or neigh makes every visit a day full of smiles and joy!

We love seeing our riders explore, connect, and create memories in every corner of the farm 💜

25/06/2025

🔥🌞 When it’s too hot to ride… we get creative! 🎨🐴
Today’s heat index was too high for riding, but that didn’t stop the fun at Butterfly Dreams! Instead, our amazing riders turned our horses into living canvases with some colorful, washable paint.

The horses got pampered, the kids got artsy, and everyone stayed safe and cool.
Sometimes the best therapy happens with a paintbrush in hand and a horse as your canvas 💜

24/06/2025

☀️ Teaching Tuesday: How Heat & Humidity Affect Horses ☀️

Summer is here, and while we’re reaching for cold drinks and air conditioning, our horses rely on sweating to cool down—but that’s only effective if the sweat can actually evaporate. When it’s hot and humid, that natural cooling system struggles.

🧠 Here’s why it matters:
Horses generate a lot of heat when they move—especially during riding or therapy sessions. But if the humidity is high, their sweat just sits on their skin instead of evaporating. That means they can overheat quickly, even during light activity.

That’s why we closely monitor both temperature and humidity using the heat index.

👉 If the heat index (temp + humidity) is 150 or more, we do not ride. It’s not worth the risk. This rule comes from trusted veterinary experts.

Here’s what we do to help our herd stay cool:
🌿 Reduce time and intensity of sessions
💧 Provide cool, clean water before and after work
🧊 Cool horses off with hose baths and fans
🌤 Keep them in shaded areas during peak heat
🕐 Adjust our schedule to avoid the hottest hours of the day

Our horses are the heart of our program—and just like our riders, they deserve the very best care. Thanks for trusting us to keep everyone safe and cool this summer! 🐴💙

📸 Graphic courtesy of the American Association of Equine Practitioners

23/06/2025

🌟 Meet Monday: Sheik 🌟

This sweet grey gelding might be one of our oldest horses, but don’t tell him that—he still has a few playful tricks up his sleeve!

Sheik is the strong, silent type and a total pro when it comes to hippotherapy. Reliable, kind, and just the tiniest bit sassy when the moment’s right. 🐎💫

Curious how old he is? Why he’s a go-to for therapy sessions? And what he does when he thinks no one’s watching? 👀

👉 Check out his full bio below and get to know this silver gentleman better!

💛 Want to help support horses like Sheik?
Click here to sponsor one of our amazing therapy horses: https://givebutter.com/DMW6ho

22/06/2025

🌞🐴 It’s Getting Hot Out Here… So Let’s Get Creative! 🎨💦

Hello amazing families!

This week’s forecast is: sunny with a 100% chance of sweat. 🥵 We're expecting record highs, so while hippotherapy and therapeutic riding will still happen, we’re making some summer-smart adjustments to keep everyone safe and smiling.

Here’s the game plan:

🐎 Shorter time on the back of the horse (because even they were checking the weather app)
🎨 More time doing horse-themed crafts and guided sensory play
💦 And yes—good old-fashioned water play (think splashy, not swimmy—no swimsuits needed)

IMPORTANT:
Please dress your child in clothes that can handle:
✅ A little water
✅ A little paint
✅ A lot of fun
(We’re using washable paint, but washable ≠ magic, so maybe skip the designer jeans.)

Thanks for rolling with us as we beat the heat—farm-style! We’ll make sure your kiddos stay cool, safe, and have the best time possible.

See you soon, sunscreen in hand!
—The Butterfly Dreams Team 🦋

21/06/2025

🌈✨ Addie and Jonathan brought the Rainbow Brite energy to the farm today! ✨🌈

Jonathan a tail full of color and Addie a heart full of courage wearing her signature purple, she and her unicorn steed brightened up the whole arena. 💜🦄

Because at Butterfly Dreams, we believe therapy should be filled with a little sparkle, a lot of love, and maybe even a rainbow or two. 🌟