15 Hands & Hearts Inc

To improve the well being of children and adults with mental health and physical disabilities by providing skilled therapies in a natural setting using equines, the equine environment, and equine movement to achieve functional goals.

15 Hands & Hearts Inc. was founded in 2020 by Pat New-Jenkins PT,DPT who is a pediatric Physical therapist. Pat has patients throughout the state virtually and in Flagstaff and on the Navajo and Hopi reservations. She provides Physical Therapy using equine movement to children and adults with disabilities, in Flagstaff AZ. and in Sanders, AZ. 15 Hands & Hearts provides both Hippotherapy rehabilitative treatments and in 2022 will begin providing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) /counseling using horses. The use of equine movement during a PT session imparts multi dimensional movement to the hips and pelvis of a rider, facilitates improved posture, core strength, balance and coordination. EAP encompasses a range of treatments that involve activities with horses and other equines to promote mental health. Equine assisted therapy can empower life-changing outcomes in self-exploration and help individuals overcome trauma and learn to foster healthy relationships. Our services are provided at Sacred Peaks Equine Sanctuary, a horse rescue and beautiful location in NE Flagstaff. We train and use some of the appropriate rescue horses who were destined for the slaughter pipeline or previously abused as important partners with us to provide rehabilitation to individuals in need - a win/win scenario for the horses and our clients. An exciting new program we started last summer was our week long "summer camp" of Intensive therapies for children with disabilities. it was a huge success and we plan to offer it every year in Flagstaff and to expand to other parts of AZ throughout the year.

Testimonials

My daughter has autism as well as Hypotonic CP (a form of cerebral palsy that causes LOW muscle tone). Additionally, she has intense sensory challenges. She was not supposed to walk - probably IS walking because of Hippotherapy when young (and since). She adores riding - and we notice an increase in her stamina, as well as her attentiveness during the riding season. It is beautiful to see her little floppy body straighten up as she sits tall on a horse. Thank you, Pat and 15 Hands! - parent of a 25 year old young woman with autism

After a lifetime of working with and caring for horses, being a horse handler for 15 Hands & Hearts organization has been really gratifying. To see how the patients improve through their contact with horses, and to realize how the horses become very sensitive to and supportive of the patients are some of the highlights of being a horse handler for 15 Hands and Hearts." - a 15 Hands & Hearts Horse Handler

Some children do not do well with online therapy or therapy inside 4 walls. Coming to an outdoor natural environment and being mounted on a horse that imparts many neuromotor inputs and the same hip and pelvic movement as walking is a powerful therapeutic experience." From an Occupational therapist mom of a 9-year-old Autistic boy.

My son loves horses and I knew there was a special connection between humans and horses. Now I have seen it firsthand. I was doubtful about PT on a horse, but now I am convinced about the many benefits. He is calmer, more engaged and relaxed."
Parent of a 3-year-old autistic child.