At Sawhorse Hill, we believe in the need to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment for our clients.   All participants and staff are required to sign Confidentiality Agreements.  The staff and volunteers are trained to be mindful of the physical space that the participants will be working in to minimize risk and avoid any potential danger.  The treatment team for each session consists of at least one mental health professional and one horse professional to assure the safety of both the participants and the horses.

Experiential exercises that involve horses promote growth and healing and we believe that the horses are our partners in this work.  At no time are the animals viewed as tools or objects to be used to create a result, but rather as sentient beings with intelligence, feelings and desires.  As such, they are entitled to the respect and dignity afforded to all sentient beings.  It is this fact that makes this work so powerful.  It calls for an active presence and positive regard toward the animals, which becomes a useful therapeutic process.  Many people live their lives behind walls of fear and distrust resulting in a lack of intimacy in their relationships.  Working with the horses helps them to confront those fears and learn how to become "Present" to themselves, the horse and others.