Dream Catchers

Our Mission

Dream Catchers improves the lives of children, adults, and families through equine-assisted services offering empowerment, education, healing, and hope.

About Us

Founded in 1993, Dream Catchers is a 501(C)(3) charitable organization that provides a wide range of equine-assisted activities and services.

In 1993, two nurses from Cumberland Children's Hospital opened a therapeutic riding center known as Dream Catchers. A retired Quarter horse barrel-racing champion named Red Jet and a retired Thoroughbred steeplechaser named Voo carried children with special-needs to small and large victories as they improved fine motor skills, self-esteem, and self-worth and gained confidence as they mastered both simple and complex tasks like placing rings on poles and reigning. By 1996, Dream Catchers provided 35-40 lessons each week. The hospital was sold, and Dream Catchers relocated to a leased facility in 2002. In 2004, Dream Catchers found a permanent home on 22 beautiful acres in Toano.

Dream Catchers and the amazing impact of therapeutic riding founds its way into the hearts of Angie and Wade Johnson, MD. As a trustee for the Roy R. Charles Trust, Angie with her husband Wade decided Dream Catchers was worthy of significant support. In 2006, they directed the capital improvements resulting in the state-of-the-art facility as it stands today.

Dream Catchers now provides life-changing equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) to a large and diverse community of children and adults with special needs on the Virginia Peninsula from Richmond to Norfolk, the Middle Peninsula, and the Northern Neck. Dream Catchers serves an average of 80-100 participants each week; all services are provided by credentialed providers. EAAT services provided by Dream Catchers include Therapeutic Riding, Therapeutic Horsemanship, Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), Psychotherapy Incorporating Interactions with Horses with a licensed mental health provider, Hippotherapy Physical Therapy with a licensed physical therapist, and Operation Mount Up! a dedicated program for active duty military and veterans. Participants range in age from 4 years to seniors in their 90's with more than 150 distinct diagnoses recorded. The organization is accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH intl.) as a Premier Accredited Center.

Dream Catchers relies upon over 200 active volunteers who receive rigorous training and who provide as many as 20,000 volunteer hours annually. More than 800 participants were served during the last fiscal year. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, has an Advisory Board, and is staffed by 3 full-time/22 part-time employees (mostly barn crew and instructors), along with a herd of 19 horses. Dream Catchers has a highly engaged and influential Board of Directors. dram Catchers' fundraising comprises approximately 65% of its gross annual operating revenue of $850,000+. dream Catchers continually improves the methodology and evaluation of its services to develop the most positive, cost-effective, efficient services and organizational structure possible. Dream Catchers provides therapeutic interventions to help develop healthier, more productive citizens creating a positive impact for our community today and in the future. 

About Our Programs

We provide a variety of programs and services to children and adults from age 4 through senior citizens all utilizing the unique qualities of horses. Each program/service meets different needs. Determining which program and service best meets the needs and the desires of the applicant depend on the results of an assessment.

What are Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies (EAAT)?

Therapeutic Riding: The process of teaching individuals with special needs equine-oriented riding skills for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, and emotional development of the individual.  

Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies (EAAT) includes a variety of different services:

• Therapeutic Horsemanship: The process of teaching people with special needs how to handle and care for horses (unmounted). 

• Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EFP): Addresses Mental Health and Behavioral Health goals through activities with horses and a licensed mental health provider.

• Equine Assisted Learning (EAL): An educational approach with the goal of facilitating life skills, personal growth and development with activities that involve horses. This service can be customized for an individual or to meet the needs of a group.

• Corporate Team Building: Utilizes horses in team building activities that address the issues of communication, hierarchy and leadership, while building productive working relationships.

• School Group: Call us to discuss how we serve groups coming from schools. 

• Professional Education and Mentorship: As a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) Premier Accredited Center, we are proud to offer PATH approved workshops in addition to those that we have developed for continuing education of EAAT professionals and those seeking the various PATH credentials and mentorship towards certification. ?

Who Benefits from Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies?

To date, we have served people with over 150 different diagnoses. The most common diagnoses we serve are: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental/Intellectual Disorders, Behavioral/Emotional Diagnoses, ADD/ADHD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Mobility issues.