GE employees and retirees: Log in with your GE SSO ID and password to register gifts to Peaceful Acres Horses.
Your Gift of $25 or more will be matched by The GE Foundation and will help feed rescued horses who provide equine guided therapy programs for at-risk youth.
Peaceful Acres Horses, Inc
A horse is a horse — and a teacher, of course!
At Peaceful Acres horse farm students learn calm and focus
"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."
—Winston Churchill
It was cold, sometimes “smelly” and definitely outside of their comfort-zones. But after spending time at Peaceful Acres Horses, students at the Special Education division’s Rotterdam Academy 1 know a lot more about trust, act more kindly and patiently with fellow students, and can work more successfully as a team.
Credit and thanks for inspiring this growth goes to the gentle and patient four-legged teachers the students befriended at the farm.
Peaceful Acres Horses is a unique farm located in Pattersonville, N.Y. where rescued and retired horses are rehabilitated and guide children and adults in healing emotionally, psychologically and physically. During the six weekly sessions the RA1 students spent at the picturesque Peaceful Acres, they were introduced to the sights, sounds and sensations of the rural outdoors — a novelty for some who live in more urban settings. They also learned important lessons — basic caretaking and grooming, how to remain calm and still in the presence of a frightened horse — through a series of activities designed to build trust and familiarity between horses and humans.
“It has been interesting to see how far the children have come in terms of their confidence and ability to be calm and attentive after being with the horses,” said fifth grade special education teacher Brian Kenney, whose students along with those in teacher Jen Yamin’s class were the first from RAI to spend time at the farm. “Seeing the looks of determination on the students’ faces and watching them confront their fears, find ways to solve problems and stay focused has been great to witness.”
Next spring, the two primary elementary grade classes at RAI will learn at the farm. The school’s youngest students will also attend a “farm day” to introduce them to Peaceful Acres. This, along with other activities, is part of the Special Education division’s move to incorporate social and emotional learning experiences into all aspects of its students’ education.
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Students from Rotterdam Academy 1 participate in exercises that foster trust, patience and kindness with horses, as well as each other, at Peaceful Acres horse farm in Pattersonville, NY.
A horse is a horse — and a teacher, of course! - BOCES January 6, 2012
Brief History of Peaceful Acres Horses, Inc.
Peaceful Acres Horses is a “Sanctuary for Horses and People”. Founded in 2003 and incorporated in 2007, with 501c3 status achieved in March 2009, we are a not-for-profit organization located in upstate New York’s Capital Region, within the Schenectady County Town of Rotterdam, in the hamlet of Pattersonville. Peaceful Acres Horses was named The Small Not for Profit Organization in NY’s Capital Region by The Non-Profit Business Council in 2010. At our 156-acre farm, rescued and retired horses guide human partners in healing emotionally, psychologically and physically. Peaceful Acres Horses’ mission is to provide a therapeutic environment for both horses and people to resolve issues related to grief, loss and trauma, and to regain strength and trust. Partnered together in equine assisted experiential learning and psychotherapy programs, the horses and people both learn skills and find a supportive environment that improves their quality of life. We offer therapeutic services through Youth, Family & Women’s Programs. Our organization has grown significantly during the past seven years, into a sanctuary that is home to 42 rescued and retired horses and provides therapeutic services on a daily basis to youth who are considered “at-risk” due to grief, loss, trauma and mental health fragility.
Peaceful Acres Horses provides equine rescue and retirement and offers Equine Guided Experiential Learning in partnership with horses.
Youth Services - Individual and Group Equine Guided Experiential Learning Services. Our Individual Equine Guided Experiential Learning programs provide high-risk youth, ages 9-17, with intensive equine guided activities facilitated by a team consisting of an equine specialist and trained mental health professional. Our Small Youth Group Program provides EGEL activities for up to six youth participants in each session. The services provided are non - riding based, the ground work activities are developed to promote improved personal and social skills, behavioral controls and self - esteem. This program is developed to work in collaboration with referring organizations to enhance the ability for a participant to reach his or her goals and objectives. All youth services are available to Program Partners and Parents, to find out how to become a Program Partner and begin making referrals contact Nanci Beyerl at nanci@peacefulacreshorses.com
Family & Veteran Programs – Family based programs are offered to referring agencies and also self referred families to address issues related to grief, loss, trauma and mental health fragility. Addressing the needs of the family as a system works to improve the functioning of the entire family and of the identified client (s). Family based services are integrated into the treatment plan to also help identified youth reach goals and objective and return back into a more stabilized home environment. Adult EGEL programs assist in addiction recovery, transitioning from a life changing event (adjustment disorder diagnosis), separation / divorce, and cancer / illness survival.
Women’s Programs – including individual and group Equine Guided Experiential Learning Programs are conducted by an EGEL team and offer Workshops/Events and Women’s Retreat Programs. Peaceful Acres Horses offers a “Natural Horse Woman-ship Group” that joins women together as a social support and provides the opportunity for women to meet others, relax and reflect. Peaceful Acres Horses provides weekend retreats and workshops that help women to surpass loss, abuse, trauma and life transitions. Many women served are surpassing domestic abuse, mental health fragility or are recovering from cancer or other life altering illness. Our EGEL Workshops and Retreats for women also introduce Reiki, Vortex Healing, Matrix Energetics, massage, Yoga, art expression and drumming ~ lots of fun with horses and in a beautiful nature based setting. Most sessions are held in our 30 foot Yurt overlooking horses in the pastures and stunning views. For reservations: call 518-887-3178 or email Peacefulacresinfo@gmail.com
Peaceful Acres Horses facilitating team is certified in Equine Assisted Learning and Psychotherapy by The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (www.EAGELA.org)
Peaceful Acres Horses relies on grants, private donations and member support to conduct all EGEL programs and the equine rescue and retirement sanctuary. Please consider becoming a donor by supporting a rescued horse or EGEL program sponsor. All donations are a charitable contribution. View our supporters at “Sponsors and Grants”.
TechValley Nonprofit Business Counsel:
Nonprofit Organization Award (1-74 employees)