Meet-the-staff-2

Bonnie Riley: Owner and Director of the Riley Equine Center

Meet Bonnie Riley:

Bonnie is a Licensed Psychologist who has always had a passion for horses. Since the age of 9 Bonnie has been showing horses. Her favorite classes were reining and cutting, but she has also showed halter, pleasure and speed events too. She decided to combine her passion with her profession to offer Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). Equine Assisted Psychotherapy challenges people to utilize gained confidence and leadership skills through guiding horses to complete tasks together. This cooperation between the rider and the horse helps the rider better understand themselves since horses have the ability to mirror human body language.

Horses have the ability to mirror exactly what human body language is telling them. Humans and horses both are social beings. Just like humans, horses have defined roles within their herds, and distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. Horses provide vast opportunities for us to learn about ourselves. Interacting with horses in a therapeutic environment is an effective way for individuals to reflect upon their behaviors and gain a deeper understanding of themselves while also working physically to achieve new goals.

In 1992, her son Bart had a very serious accident which left him permanently and severely disabled. This opened the door to a whole community of other people with disabilities which added another dimension to her original two passions. She had always wanted to combine her two loves in some way, and was always wondering how she could share these wonderful animals with others. The newfound affinity for those with disabilities gave her the avenue in which to do that. In the fall of 2010, she formed a 501©3 corporation that could offer riding skills, therapeutic riding, and equine assisted psychotherapy to those with disabilities as well as able bodied folks who just want to be close to a horse. She says this is the most exciting and heartwarming venture she has ever pursued.

Danielle Asbury : Physical Therapist

Barbara Lampson Assistant Instructor

MEET THE STAFF

MEET THE VOLUNTEERS

MEET THE HORSES

Meet Danielle Asbury:

Danielle is our licensed Physical Therapist. She brings a fresh new approach to working with our clients and makes them each a unique plan to grow in strength. She also works at the University of Missouri Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab Program in Boonville. She graduated from St. Louis University.