Painted Ladies Foundation

Do the Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers ride for the cause?

Not only do they ride for the cause, but many of the riders have also personally experienced trauma and discovered the healing power of horses. This foundation holds a deeply personal meaning for the performers, as ten members have faced the profound loss of a parent early in life. Their shared experiences drive their passion to bring hope and healing to others through the transformative bond between humans and animals.

Can young children participate?

Children often struggle to express their emotions, but our clinics provide a unique opportunity to foster a magical bond with horses and other animals. These connections offer a safe, nurturing space where children can begin to process their feelings and heal in ways words often cannot.

The incorporation of animals in mental health treatment has a long history, by why horses?

The practice of horses helping to rehabilitate humans is well documented. In the latter half of the 1990s, practitioners in the mental health field and educators began actively exploring ways to broaden the horse’s ability to help rehabilitate humans with more than a physical transformation. In psychotherapy, often referred to as “talk therapy”, horses have been shown to help patients who suffer from trauma to experience bonding, reduce psychological distress, and improve well- being.

 (Herbette, Guilmot, & Heeren, 2011; Yorke, Adams, & Coady, 2008).