Medicaid funding cuts threaten equine therapy program serving Southern Colorado families
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- A Southern Colorado nonprofit that provides equine-assisted therapy for children and adults with developmental and mental health challenges says it is facing a financial crisis that could threaten its future.
Leaders with Stable Strides say recent changes to a developmental disability Medicaid waiver have removed the program’s ability to bill for therapy services, cutting off a major source of funding.
The nonprofit serves families across the region, many of whom rely on Medicaid to access therapy services.
Stable Strides offers equine-assisted therapy designed to help participants improve emotional regulation, confidence, communication skills, and social development.
Program leaders say the therapy goes beyond recreational riding and is tailored to meet therapeutic goals for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, and mental health needs.
Volunteer David Ellis says the program had a personal impact on his life. Ellis, who now works as a behavioral health technician with Adwo Cares LLC, says equine therapy helped him find purpose and ultimately inspired him to leave a career in Denver’s restaurant industry to work in mental health.
Stable Strides has operated in the region for 45 years and serves families who often have limited access to alternative therapies. Leaders say if the program closes, many participants could lose access to services that support their development and emotional well-being.
“We’re going to have to shut our doors if we don’t get a lot of help from the community,” Executive Director Michelle Ruehl says. “Let’s take care of the kids in our community and the veteran and military community.”
Ruehl says equine therapy provides a unique experience that many participants struggle to find in traditional treatment settings.
“Sometimes you can sit on a couch, sometimes you can take medication, but nothing compares to going back to nature and being with animals,” she said.
Volunteer David Ellis says the program had a personal impact on his life.
Ellis says working with horses helped him during recovery from alcoholism and gave him a renewed sense of purpose.
“This place definitely helped me change my life around,” Ellis said. “Just being with the horses brought a lot of peace to my life.”
Ellis now works in behavioral health and credits his experience with equine therapy for helping shape his career path.
Ellis started a GoFundMe for the nonprofit to raise funds to keep the program going.
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