Speaking of Horses

08/08/2025

Ada Haensel, speech language pathologist at Speaking of Horses, was nominated for a 2025 Caring for Community Award. Please vote and share so Speaking of Horses can be recognized for their mission of giving every child a voice through equine assisted speech therapy! Here is the link to vote: https://bit.ly/VoteCFC2025

08/07/2025

The horses are settling in nicely to Celt Run Farm!They are getting use to the goats and other critters! We can’t wait to start sessions again in September!

07/30/2025

Thankful to all my clients who have come to visit and help at our new barn! The outpouring of support has heart warming and we can’t wait to start lessons again very soon! Our horses have been loving the new environment and seeing all their kids again. We are welcoming visits from our clients and their families!

07/25/2025

🐴 Speaking of Horses has moved!!

We're thrilled to announce that Speaking of Horses has found a beautiful new home on a farm in Stanardsville, VA! This gorgeous setting has everything we dreamed of - a spacious new ring and miles of scenic trails for our equine assisted speech therapy sessions.

We're so grateful to Brooke Baugher for welcoming us with open arms and helping us create an amazing new barn family. The support and warmth we've received has been incredible, and we couldn't be happier with this fresh start.

Our clients are going to love the expanded space and peaceful surroundings. We're currently working through insurance transitions and will be ready to resume sessions in early September. We can't wait to continue our important work in this perfect new setting!

Families are welcome to come visit the farm, love on their therapy horse, and see our new space! Just text me at 571-535-1217 to arrange a visit.

07/20/2025

Speaking of Horses is heartbroken that Phil’s owners have decided to take him back. Phil thrived at Speaking of Horses. So many of our children and families had deep bonds with sweet Phil. Some of our students refused to ride anyone other than Phil because he is such a calming, consistent presence. We are sad that Phil will not be able to continue his passion of helping children with communication disabilities. I hope, through the heartbreak, my students and families will open their hearts to the two new ponies joining our program. Goodbye Phil, we will always appreciate the therapy magic you provided for so many kids.

07/02/2025

Speaking of Horses is honored to be selected as a recipient of the USEF Opportunity Fund grant! This funding will provide scholarships for families who need financial assistance accessing our therapeutic programs, including those without insurance and families awaiting Medicaid approval. It warms my heart that USEF understands the transformative power horses have in helping people reach their full potential.

US Equestrian is pleased to announce that it has awarded $90,500 in USEF Opportunity Fund grants to 13 USEF Community Outreach Organizations (COO) in the fund’s fourth year through a comprehensive review process.

06/23/2025

Chamber Spotlight: Ada Haensel founded Speaking of Horses to help children with communication disorders find their voices through equine-assisted speech therapy.
https://www.cvillechamber.com/2025/06/16/chamber-spotlight-ada-haensel-speaking-of-horses/

06/15/2025

🐴✨ What an incredible day at our second horse show! ✨🐴

Watching our amazing riders showcase their progress and confidence was absolutely magical, but what truly filled our hearts was seeing the beautiful community that has blossomed around Speaking of Horses.

From families cheering each other on to new friendships forming in the stands, today reminded us that our mission goes beyond speech therapy on horseback – we’re creating a village where children differing abilities and their families feel truly supported and celebrated.

The joy, laughter, and pride radiating from every corner of the arena today is exactly why we do what we do. Thank you to every family, volunteer, and supporter who makes this incredible community possible.

Here’s to many more milestones ahead! 🏆💙

06/11/2025

Bath time is the best time to naturally elicits language! Children who struggle with speech often find their words during familiar routines like this. The predictable steps give them confidence to communicate, turning pony care into powerful speech practice!

06/07/2025

At Speaking of Horses, we don’t just ride in the ring. We explore all the farm has to offer to ignite a language rich environment that stimulates the senses. This makes speech therapy effective and fun!

06/04/2025

🏆🐴 The magic at our first horse show!
Our students with speech and communication challenges rode confidently, earned ribbons, and proved that every child belongs in every arena.
Read the full story on our blog - it's one for the heart!

The alarm went off at 3 AM on a foggy morning that would become one of the most meaningful days in Speaking of Horses' history. As I stumbled to the barn in the pre-dawn darkness, my heart was racing with anticipation. Today wasn't just any day at the farm—it was our very first horse show.For mont...