Horse Illustrated Magazine

One of the challenges of running an Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) program is finding appropriate horses. One Gypsy Horse breeder in Tennessee has created an annual contest to help qualified programs add a new horse to their herd.

For four years, LexLin Gypsy Ranch in Rockwood, Tennessee, has run the Gypsy Gift program, in which Gypsy Horses are donated to nominated EAAT programs based on votes received from the public.

In order to be nominated, programs must be accredited through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl). Fans can vote for their favorite program once a day through June 15, 2017 on LexLin’s website or through its Facebook page.

This year, LexLin is providing 20 horses through Gypsy Gift, and the top 20 centers will be given a horse in a “passing of the lead” ceremony later this summer. However, the journey doesn’t end there.

Gypsy Horses are said to be well-suited to therapy work. Fans of the breed say they naturally possess the even-tempered personality required in this work, and their stout conformation enables them to carry riders of different sizes. However, these young horses will still need some training before they’re ready to become full-time therapy horses.

Each of the horses, who are at least two years old, will undergo two to three years of training with qualified trainers through Gypsy Gift’s sponsorship program to help prepare them for their eventual role as therapy horses.

Contact LexLin for information for information on getting involved with the sponsorship program, and tap here to vote now for your favorite equine therapy program.

Leslie Potter is a writer and photographer based in Lexington, Kentucky. www.lesliepotterphoto.com