Evergreen Farm, LLC, is a privately owned farm and residence. If you have an interest in volunteering or registering a student, please contact us through the website, call 540-533-2777 or email at brcthinc@hotmail.com. Please do NOT go on farm property unless you have an appointment for a specific day and time. Thank you for your cooperation.
WE HAVE GOOD NEWS!
Therapeutic Horsemanship is fun. It also produces results. Some of the benefits one can expect:
Physical…
Improved coordination and muscle tone
Increased range of motion
Cognitive…
Improved attention and concentration
Improved sequencing and planning
Improved flexibility in thinking
Improved judgement
Psycho-Social…
Increased self-confidence and self-cont
Increased understanding of consequences
Improved social interaction
Increased empathy and empowerment
Get Involved
We are always in need of volunteers, particularly to help with lessons and with caring for our horses. Prior to each spring and fall session and our week of day camp, we provide training for horse leaders and side walkers. For more information, check out our Volunteers page.
Community Partnerships
Shenandoah Valley Westminster
Canterbury (Senior Lifecare Facility)
Girl Scouts of America
Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice
BRCTH has contracts with the Department of
Social Services of five counties and Winchester City.
Meet Our Dedicated Team
Our team at Blue Ridge Center for Therapeutic Horsemanship is composed of passionate and skilled professionals dedicated to providing exceptional equine-assisted activities. Each member brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to enhancing the lives of our participants.
Marjorie Youngs, M.Ed.
Executive Director and ESMHL
Margie has been involved in the therapeutic horsemanship sector for more than three decades, first becoming a certified instructor in 1996. She holds a Masters in Special Education and served in many capacities as an educator. Now retired, and in addition to her E.D. duties for BRCTH, she provides Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) services to individuals and groups. She is a PATH Intl. Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) and is Natural Lifemanship® Trained Level Two, well-versed in trauma-informed care.
Megan Donovan
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI)
Megan has taught for BRCTH for six years and brings creativity, sensitivity, and an unwavering belief in her students’ potential to everything she does in and out of the arena. Her experience working with developmentally disabled individuals and as a mentor and advocate for foster youth have contributed to her successes at BRCTH.
Laura Leaven
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI)
Laura has taught for BRCTH for four years and draws from her broad experience, having ridden and studied in her native England. Her students benefit from her dedication to their improvement and her playful instructional style. Years spent supporting the independence of adults with developmental delays and other challenges have contributed to her effectiveness.
Elizabeth "Scottie" Heffner
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) Scottie recently joined our staff, and it has proven to be a good fit for her and for BRCTH. She comes with an extensive and varied background in equine management and training. In the recent past, she served as Volunteer Coordinator for another center where she also taught students with disabling conditions, developing several innovative programs to better serve them. Her patient, soft-spoken manner and carefully planned lessons foster self-confidence in her students, leading to real growth and learning. We look forward to Scottie’s continued engagement as a member of our instructional team.
★★★★★
The girls have grown so much in their ability and confidence. They have multiple disabilities, and their pediatrician suggested that therapeutic riding might be beneficial. Their instructor, Laura, knows how to engage them and keep them focused by incorporating games and other fun activities. The volunteers are so attentive and sweet, cheering them on.
Beth Chittenden
Grandmother
★★★★★
“The Equine Serving Elders Program has been a wonderful addition to the activities offered to our residents in Memory Care, Assisted Living and the Health Care unit. The residents brighten up and ask questions about the horses while they interact with them and the attentive volunteers. The therapy horses are engaging and enjoy the strokes and love they receive from the residents.”
Amber Daniels
Health Care Activities Coordinator at Shenandoah Valley Westminster Canterbury
★★★★★
“My journey as a lesson volunteer began with a deep love and passion for horses, but I soon discovered that the experience was also about assisting children and adults facing various physical, cognitive and emotional challenges. I love working with the staff and all the other volunteers. Throughout this journey, I have formed many wonderful friendships that I will always treasure.”
Kim Habel
Volunteer