In equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) clients work on improving their quality of life by working towards a variety of goals. These could include improving communication skills, setting and maintaining boundaries at work or school, learning healthy coping skills to...
For over 40 years, The Shea Center has been an enthusiastic participant in the San Juan Capistrano Swallows Day Parade, which is now in its 64th year. The parade is an outgrowth of a school carnival in the 1930s, held in March to celebrate the swallows' return to...
Meet Yusuf, a vibrant three-year-old with a passion for horseback riding! Just seven months ago, Yusuf began his journey at The Shea Center with a diagnosis of autism and speech delay. Since then, his progress in occupational therapy utilizing hippotherapy has been...
Congratulations to Mark Owens, our volunteer of the month. Volunteer Services Manager Michele Gingras remarks, “Mark is here every Saturday morning like clockwork…he’s quiet and flies under the radar!” Why we love him: Mark is here every Saturday morning to sidewalk...
Thank you to everyone who voted for us in The Capistrano Dispatch Best of San Juan Capistrano People's Choice Horseshoe Awards. We won the Gold Award in five categories! Best Nonprofit Best Riding Lesson Best Horse Training Best Stable Best Summer Camp and...
Preparations are in full swing for our upcoming Summer Horse Camp! Our staff and horses are gearing up for a summer of exciting horse-related activities in our beautiful equine setting. Summer Horse Camp is an integrated, five-day experience for kids with and without...
Congratulations to our volunteer of the month, Gill Skeet. Volunteer Services Manager Michele Gringras has this to say, “You can count on Gill to do what needs to be done, and she gets it done with a smile. Gill shows up to continuing education classes and shows...
This is an account of Dortha Souers' heartwarming journey beginning in January 1984 at the Orange County Riding Center, as The Shea Center was named then, told by her daughter, Cynthia White. "At 61, Mom embraced horseback riding, becoming the oldest individual the...
Learn how Andrew benefits from both physical and occupational therapies at The Shea Center. Andrew became a Shea Center client two years ago. He attends sessions twice a week, once for physical therapy utilizing hippotherapy with therapist Matt Mitchell and once for...
Meet Janelle Robinson as she shares her passion for horses and her path to becoming The Shea Center's Chief Program Officer. "As a kid, like many little girls, I loved horses and wanted one of my own. Growing up in a military family, we were fortunate to be stationed...