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| History
The
founder and past executive director of A Child's Haven, Peggy Coats,
has been sharing the ponies on her farm with the community for
over seven years. She became interested in the smaller version
of the horse when her daughter with special needs, Natalie, showed
an interest in riding, but was unable to because of a seizure
disorder. Getting a pony that could pull a cart was a great alternative
to riding. Sharing the ponies with other children seemed a natural
next step and “Miss Peggy” (as the children affectionately
call her) opened the doors of her barn to visiting children in
2001.
With this experience of the impact equines can have on an individual
life, A Child’s Haven was founded in March 2006 out of love
for children and ponies. Working with area schools, therapists,
agencies, and other organizations, A Child's Haven's programs
and services provide interactive equine-assisted activities for
children with special needs as well as equine-facilitated alternatives
for students who are at-risk of failing in the traditional school
setting. A Child’s Haven also provides an alternative to
the traditional approach of working with children from dysfunctional
families, or those struggling with an emotional or mental disorder.
Beginning in the Spring of 2009, activities were moved to the Dallas area, about 20 minutes west of Salem, where a large arena provides the opportunity for even more fun.
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