On July 7, 2023 The Shea Center celebrated the retirement of Choco, our beloved therapy horse of 5 years. The heartwarming event brought together Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) firefighters, Shea staff, volunteers, clients, and their families to give Choco a...
This month, we are honoring Greig Ellis as our volunteer of the month. Why we love him: Greig combines a strong presence with a big helping of kindness; he is especially helpful and attentive with our more fragile clients. Greig’s self-described job duties: Sidewalker...
A proposed 288% water rate hike by the Santa Margarita Water District has sparked widespread opposition from The Shea Center and numerous San Juan Capistrano organizations, as concerns arise over unfairness, lack of equity, and the drastic increase in monthly water...
Rev. Monsignor Art, or as we call him, Father Art, has been riding at The Shea Center for 12 years. He served as a pastor and rector at the Mission Basilica for over a decade and is currently working on his mobility and core strength while riding therapy horse Tess...
Two ways everyone can support the upcoming Gala fundraiser (even if not in attendance). 1. Fosheim Rider Support Fund Donation This weekend's annual gala kicks off our 2023 fundraising events that help replenish the Fosheim Rider Support Fund. This fund supports...
We are pleased to honor Caprice Trejo as our volunteer of the month. Why we love her: Like clockwork, Caprice volunteers an afternoon a week, session after session, year after year! In addition to her dependability, she is always flexible (for example: “You’re leading...
The Shea Center Gala is coming up on June 17, 2023, and will be located at Montage Laguna Beach. We hope you can attend for a night of spectacular views, amazing food and entertainment, and an opportunity to raise funds in support of The Shea Center. View the 2023...
by Kelli Navarro, BS, ESMHL If you’ve ever spent time around horses, you probably have felt an emotional connection with them. Did you know there’s an evidence-based explanation behind this? Horses can hear a human’s heartbeat from several feet away, according to a...
by Kelli Navarro, BS, ESMHL The Shea Center provides customized services for veterans and active-duty members of the Armed Forces. These services include family reunification, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, couples groups, adaptive riding, Equine Assisted Learning,...
May is #BetterHearingandSpeechMonth, a time to celebrate the life-changing services that speech-language pathologists provide. Our very own Terri Hutchinson, SLP was recently featured on HETRA’s podcast “Not Just a Pony Ride” to talk about speech therapy utilizing...