Rein in a Dream (RIAD) has long been a place where healing, growth, and connections happen in extraordinary ways. Rooted in the powerful bond between humans and horses, the program has helped countless individuals build confidence, develop emotional awareness, and experience the transformative impact of working alongside these remarkable animals for over 35+ years.

As of Dec 2025, the RIAD mental health service is offering outpatient psychotherapy with equine and small animal interactions (PEI)—a new service that deepens the program’s ability to support mental health and well-being.

Expanding a Proven Model of Trauma-Responsive Care

Rein in a Dream has always focused on more than just riding. Participants and local community members can engage in structured activities with horses and small animals designed to foster self-regulation, communication, and trust. These experiences often lead to meaningful breakthroughs that traditional approaches alone may not achieve.

The introduction of PEI (and small animals) builds on this foundation by integrating licensed mental health services directly into the program. This new offering allows participants to benefit from a trauma- and neurodiversity-responsive mental health care approach while still engaging in the experiential, relationship-based work RIAD is known for. And, as of March 2026, RIAD MHS is able to accept not only private payment, but also a variety of insurances. 

Through outpatient appointments with clinicians dually certified as Equine Specialists through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International, individuals can process emotions, develop coping strategies, and strengthen relationships - all in a supportive setting that feels both grounding and empowering. With PEI, we can focus on the goals of the participants and meet them where they are with evidence-based modalities.

A Vision Years in the Making

For Cherie Ansin, RIAD’s Program Director, the launch of this service is especially meaningful.

“The development of this service has been nearly a decade in the making, requiring years of advocacy, planning, collaboration, and building the clinical and organizational infrastructure needed to successfully integrate licensed mental health services into RIAD's existing equine-assisted programming,” Cherie shares. “We are excited to offer a service that is covered by insurance and leads the individual in a different way. This really expands who we serve and our reach.”

Her words reflect not only persistence, but also a deep commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the community. Bringing psychotherapy into RIAD required aligning clinical expertise with equine programming, building strong partnerships, and ensuring the right team and infrastructure were in place.

A Team Effort Driven by Passion, Rooted in Mental Health

The launch of psychotherapy with equine and small animal interactions is a testament to the dedication of the RIAD team and the broader RFK Community Alliance community. From clinicians and RIAD instructors to administrative staff, donors, and supporters, many individuals have contributed to making this vision a reality.

For nearly 25 years, Cherie has been deeply integrated with the development of RIAD. She transformed what began as a nine-month after-school program serving 12 students into a year-round, seven-day-a-week program for children and adults ages four and up.

Growing up on a farm and caring for horses allowed Cherie to witness firsthand the remarkable power of the human-animal bond. Through her experiences, she learned to appreciate the quiet, nonverbal language of horses and developed a deep belief in the healing that can happen through relationships with animals. That lifelong connection has inspired her commitment to developing this service and helping others experience the benefits of meaningful animal-assisted interactions.

She is incredibly proud of what their team has accomplished and deeply appreciative of everyone who has helped make this program possible.

That sense of collective achievement is woven into every aspect of the program. It reflects a shared belief that innovative, compassionate care can change lives—and that meaningful progress takes time, collaboration, and perseverance.

A key part of bringing this new service to life is the expertise of team members like Barbara Harrison, Clinician, whose connection to animals and passion for education and healing shape her work at RIAD.

From a young age, she was immersed in working with horses—starting at just eight years old on a local farm—and went on to major in ethology before attending veterinary school. She continues to practice veterinary medicine on a small scale, with a particular focus on supporting the regulation of the autonomic (fight-or-flight/rest and reset) system in horses, deepening her understanding of how animals respond to stress and emotion.

Barbara also spent nearly a decade as an educator in both general and special education settings, where she focused on supporting students facing systemic disadvantages and helping them find empowerment through learning. Drawn to the intersection of human connection and healing, she later pursued social work to expand her ability to work with individuals and small groups.

“At Rein in a Dream, my experiences come together in one space—blending my knowledge of horses, education, and mental health to create meaningful experiences for participants,” she said.

Working Together as a Unit

Psychotherapy with Equine Interactions, previously known as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, offers a unique approach to mental health care. Horses, as highly perceptive animals, respond to human behavior and emotional states in real time. This creates opportunities for immediate feedback and authentic interaction, helping participants:

• Develop self-awareness and emotional regulation
• Practice healthy communication and boundaries
• Build trust and relational skills
• Process trauma through experiential approaches that emphasize safety and choice
• Increase confidence and a sense of agency

For many individuals—particularly those who struggle in traditional office-based therapy—this approach can feel more accessible, engaging, and effective.

“The partnership between a horse and participant is built on trust, consistency, and authentic communication," Cherie said. "Because horses naturally respond to subtle changes in posture, movement, and emotional state, participants gain valuable insight into their own behaviors while learning to interpret the horse's nonverbal communication. This reciprocal relationship creates powerful opportunities for self-discovery, confidence, resilience, and personal growth, while strengthening the skills needed to build healthy relationships with others."

Looking Ahead

The addition of PEI and small animals represents both an evolution of the program and a reaffirmation of our mission: to create support for a connected, capable, and healthy life.

As RIAD continues to grow, the RIAD Mental Health Service will expand access to innovative mental health care while honoring the program’s roots in equine connection and experiential learning.

For Cherie, Barbara, and the entire team, this moment is both a culmination and a beginning—a celebration of how far they’ve come and an invitation to imagine what’s possible next.

To learn more about Rein in a Dream, please visit: https://www.rfkcommunity.org/our-services/rein-in-a-dream