High Hopes Equine Assisted Learning

High Hopes
Equine Assisted Learning

Whispering Acres High Hopes Equine Assisted Learning Center (EAL) opened in April 2020. We work with children and adults across the Southeastern Nebraska and Northern Kansas areas that face a variety of challenges in their lives, ranging from PTSD, Autism, ADHD, Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Depression, and many more mental health challenges that affect the quality of life for these individuals on a daily basis. We utilize the EAL methods brought to us by Greg Kersten, who is the founder of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, EGALA, O.K. Corral Series. We have a certified staff of two EAL Horse Specialists as well as one instructor and offer an out of the box approach to the challenges our clients face and teach alternative methods of coping and overcoming their difficulties by utilizing the power of a horse to help unlock self-sustainable empowerment for each individual.

Meet the Horses

  • Duke

  • Squiggy

  • Charlie

  • Barney

  • Frederick

  • Jasper

  • Katie

  • Sadie

  • Stitch

  • Spree

  • Sassy

  • Abby

  • Amy

  • Penelope

  • Allie Jo

  • Annie

Our Programs

Horses for Honor

For Veterans, Active Military, Reservists and Guard Members and First Responders. This program is a gentle introduction into EAL, with opportunities for participants to ground themselves, help each other and learn about communication and self-regulation.

Camp G.R.IT.

Camp G.R.I.T is a place to Grow into a Resilient, Independent, Tenacious young adult. The campers have a family member or loved one that suffers from addiction. Campers will engage one another, build trust and relationships, learn to support each other as they deal with challenges in their everyday life.

Take the Reins

Offers individual and group services for children, teens and adults. Take the Reins equine program focus’ on positive self development and helps develop new life skills for the participants to carry with them.

Summer Reading Camp

Students interact with horses to learn five critical reading skills: phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. Students will pick their own horse to read to and connect with.

Saddle Up for Siblings

Are you a special needs family? Looking for something special for your children to do together? Or even the family? Take the focus off of your everyday challenges and just enjoy some time at the farm.

Reins for Resiliency

For kids in the Adoptive and/or Foster care system. This program is designed to improve the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of youth EAL.

VR Summer Transition Program

This program allows us to partner with Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation to provide students with any disability a work-based learning experience. At their own pace and learning ability, they will learn the tasks necessary to care for the animals and horses at WA. Our tasks and activities will hopefully set them up to having jobs of their own in the future.