About
Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm provides equine movement and farm-based occupational therapy services to children and adults with physical, mental health, and cognitive needs within the scope of occupational therapy practice. To meet the growing needs and interest of our community, Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm is developing a larger scale, inclusive garden to provide increased opportunities for nature connection, social engagement, and gardening for all abilities.
Program Details
Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm is a multidimensional ADA accessible farm in Northern Colorado designed to provide excellence in occupational therapy and music therapy to children and adults with disabilities. We strive to create a safe, welcoming, and accessible environment where compassion, honesty, and accountability guide every action. Through high-quality service, innovative solutions, and collaborative efforts, we empower individuals and communities with the education and support they need to thrive.
We currently offer occupational therapy utilizing equine movement, farm-based therapy, and adaptive gardening with the opportunity to provide co-treatments with music therapy. Equine therapy utilizes the movement of the horse as a therapeutic tool to promote balance, coordination, sensory processing, and social-emotional skills, to name a few. Our combined occupational and music therapy sessions are little miracles. The horses entrain to the beat of the music therapist’s interventions, providing the client harmonious auditory, vestibular and proprioceptive input. These sessions are very regulating and often parents share the regulation lasts for 1-3 days. Farm-based occupational therapy helps kids in our more urban areas connect with nature and learn life skills in a fun, engaging and natural setting. Our farm-based program has four levels of animal care competency developed by one of our staff to fully engage clients in all aspects of our farm life that meet their needs based on allergies or other limiting factors. Through participation in the program, clients can expect to learn about animal husbandry, executive functioning skills, time management, gardening, and much more. Our latest occupational therapy based offering is under development. We are creating an adaptive garden space to help clients get back to their roots and dig in the dirt. Clients can experience the life cycle of garden produce, learn how to care for a garden, explore new foods, and engage their senses!
Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm also offers a supportive work site for Unique Services of Northern Colorado through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Employees of Unique Services are welcomed and valued as team members contributing to the success of our farm. They learn many skills to help care for our animals and farm and even get to drive a tractor to spread manure!
Our farm hopes to continue to grow deeper in knowledge and research-based interventions as well as becoming more established in our community as the "go to" for nature-based occupational therapy!
Contact Taneal Behm – Owner taneal@nocopediatricot.com (970) 412-7361 Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm
Staff Composition
Taneal B. – Owner and Occupational Therapist
Marley H. – Equine Program Director
Savannah N. – Lead Horse Walker and Trainer
Steph V. – Clinical Director
Lindsey M. – Lead Occupational Therapist
6 Occupational Therapists
2 Occupational Therapy Assistants
2 Part-time Horse Walkers
Services Offered
- Equine movement farm-based interventions
- Adaptive gardening
- Collaborative co-treatments between occupational therapy and music therapy
- Barn Buddies – a program that pairs a member of the community with an animal on the farm that they are welcome to visit at least once a week
- Free lease program – horse owners can provide meaningful work for horses unable to do previous jobs
- Supportive employment offered through the Colorado Department of Vocational Rehabilitation
Cost to Participate
We can bill some insurances for services through our for-profit company. We also have a scholarship fund with full or partial scholarships available. Private pay services are $100/45 minute session.
Research
We are currently completing a study with the Colorado State University Music Therapy Department on the benefits of combining music therapy with occupational therapy while using equine movement with children.
