Dake Foundation for Children Partners with Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga to Fund Psychotherapy for Local Youth

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga recently announced a new partnership with The Dake Foundation for Children that will provide equine-assisted psychotherapy sessions for children and young adults up to age 21 who face financial barriers to accessing mental health care.

The partnership will allow participants to engage in equine-assisted psychotherapy alongside a licensed clinician from ECS Psychological Services, P.C. The program is modeled after Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga’s Freedom Rein Project, which provides equine-assisted psychotherapy to veterans and service members.

Founded by Gary Dake, president of Stewart’s Shops, The Dake Foundation for Children has supported local children with disabilities since 2009. In addition to providing individual support to children and families, the foundation’s Community Grant Program assists local nonprofit organizations in expanding access to inclusive and accessible spaces and programming. Through the latest round of community grants, Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga was selected as one of the nonprofit recipients.

In a press release, Therapeutic Horses said that its new program will maintain a strong focus on transparency, documentation, and measurable impact. The number of children and young adults treated will be a key indicator of success, helping to ensure that every contribution directly supports accessible and effective mental health care.