Your Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Session: What to Expect
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) uses horses as partners to support self-discovery and emotional growth. In these on-ground sessions, clients explore thoughts and feelings in a safe, interactive environment. EAP is a collaborative process between a licensed therapist, an equine specialist, and the horses, all working together toward your treatment goals.  

Once registered, here’s what clients experience as they begin their journey with Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy.

• Registration covers the full 8–12 session, curriculum-based program. Requests for additional sessions beyond 12 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

• Participants under 18 are encouraged to wear helmets. Helmets are no longer provided, so students must bring their own. If a participant under 18 chooses not to wear a helmet, a parent or guardian must sign a waiver. EAP sessions are conducted solely on the ground. We respect individual needs, including sensory sensitivities or behavioural concerns, and accommodate accordingly, prioritizing safety while recognizing each participant’s limits.

• Participants should monitor the weather forecast. Sessions will be rescheduled if highways are unsafe, storms are expected, or winds are strong. Cancellations and rescheduling will be determined in consultation with Stephanie, typically within 24 hours of the forecast.

• Saskatchewan weather can be unpredictable. Please dress appropriately for changing conditions. Stephanie will work with participants to adjust plans as needed when weather or driving conditions make sessions unsafe. Safety is the priority, and missed sessions will be rescheduled whenever possible.

• Please complete our registration package before your first session. This package will be emailed to you once you sign up. You can also find the registration package below. Fill it out online, and I will prepare copies for you to sign at your first session.

• If your paperwork is completed in advance, we will begin work with the horses immediately. If not, all required forms must be completed during the first session before entering the arena.

• Please arrive on time for your session. Sessions run for the scheduled time only. For example, if your session is 1:00–2:00 PM and you arrive 20 minutes late, the session will still end at 2:00 PM. No additional time will be added. 

• Sessions typically last 45–90 minutes, with most designed to be approximately one hour. I aim to respect the natural flow of each session: if you are fully engaged, I may allow the session to continue past the hour. Conversely, if you feel you are finished, even after 20 minutes, your choice to end the session will be honoured.

• What may seem minor or irrelevant to an observer can be very significant to a client. Just as we respect your decision to end early, we also honour your need for a few extra moments when necessary.

• All classes must be paid in full upfront to confirm your scheduled time and date. Payment can be made by cash, e-transfer, or cheque. 

• Funding for programs can be found through various programs and supports. Social Services, cognitive disabilities strategies, and Sask Abilities are just a few. Please reach out if you need support financially. If you submit a claim through insurance, please talk to your insurance agency to confirm that you will be reimbursed for services. I am happy to help you in this process if you need me.

• Participants will not receive refunds for programming. You agree to pay for the entire program (8-12 sessions) and commit to completing it. 

• Specified letters of support or progress reports being requested will be subject to a $50 surcharge. 

• As per Saskatchewan legislation and mandate, there are currently no restrictions on programming at Success Ranch: D.S.L. Therapies, Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy. The team and I want you to experience self-growth on your terms. Please do whatever makes you most comfortable upon arrival. 

Cancellation & Illness Policy

You are booking your SPACE in our program.

• A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required for all cancellations, including cancellations due to illness.

• Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged in full, and the session will not be made up or refunded.

• If you or your child are beginning to feel unwell, please cancel as soon as possible and before the 24-hour cancellation window.

• Illness does not automatically waive the cancellation fee. In the case of a sudden or unexpected medical situation, documentation may be requested.

• There are no make-up sessions and no refunds for missed appointments.

• Sessions cancelled by Success Ranch due to unsafe weather, highway conditions, or other safety concerns will be rescheduled whenever possible.

This program is a commitment. Your scheduled time is reserved specifically for you, and consistent attendance is an important part of the therapeutic process.

Why We Require 24 Hours' Notice

When you book an Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy session, you are reserving a specific block of my professional time, as well as the horses, facility, preparation, and programming required for that session.

Unlike a drop-in service, I cannot simply fill a cancelled EAP appointment with another client at the last minute. A late cancellation means that time has already been set aside and prepared specifically for you and cannot usually be recovered.

For this reason, 24 hours' notice is required for ALL cancellations, including illness. If you or your child are beginning to feel unwell, please make the decision to cancel before the 24-hour window whenever possible.

Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice will be charged in full. This is not a penalty for being sick—it is payment for professional time that was reserved specifically for your session and can no longer reasonably be offered to another client.

As always, I understand that unexpected situations and genuine emergencies do happen. Please feel free to contact me and we can discuss individual circumstances as they arise.

We also watch the weather forecast closely. Saskatchewan weather can change quickly, so decisions around storms, unsafe highways, extreme winds, or other weather concerns may be made based on the forecast and approaching weather systems. I am always happy to plan ahead with families when weather may affect travel or the safety of a session.

The goal of this policy is not to penalize families—it is to protect the time reserved for each participant while still allowing reasonable flexibility when circumstances are genuinely outside of anyone's control.

Registration forms below...

- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY - 

Success Ranch: D.S.L. Therapies POLICY

You are booking your SPACE in our program.
There are no make-up classes.
There are no refunds.
The schedule is firm and cannot be rescheduled. If you or your family are sick or if you or your child anticipates illness, please message me prior to your session. We plan to attend your next session.
ALL payments will be made upfront, no later than your FIRST session. 
This is a COMMITMENT—you are committing to 12 sessions.