Hunkapi Farm therapy horses beat the heat, help riders heal and connect

SCOTTSDALE – In the stalls at Hunkapi Farm, as the brutal sun scorches the surrounding grounds, therapy horses feel the heat. While most of the horses travel north to Flagstaff in the summer to beat Arizona’s high temperatures, a handful stay behind to continue providing services to people in need.

At the 10-acre farm named after a saying from the Lakota Native American tribe meaning “we are all related,” the therapy horses work alongside adults and children with a wide range of diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, addiction disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and other life challenges. Hunkapi Farm uses the bond between horse and human as a catalyst for positive growth in the lives of participants.

Want Arizona news in your inbox each morning? Sign up for our free newsletter.

In order for Hunkapi Farm to succeed, the equine-centered programs rely on volunteers and donations. During the summer months, horses need electrolytes and special attention that requires more people and money.

“It really feels like I’m giving back to the community,” said volunteer Jen Olsen. “We make sure all the horses are taken care of, from feeding them to cleaning up the farm. And we always reserve time at the end to give love to the horses.”

The animals, which have either been rescued or donated, have had long careers in competitive horse racing or were working horses. Along with a licensed therapist, the horses help guide riders in building healthy relationships as well as regulating their thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

“Our commitment to them is that once we adopt them, they’re ours for the rest of their lives,” Olsen said. “We want them to retire and have a lovely life on the farm for the rest of their days.”

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

MORE: Why Tohono O’odham Nation’s centuries-old saguaro fruit harvest is experiencing a revival