Spirit Therapies

I’ve been volunteering at Spirit Therapies for the past 5 years and love it. There are 9 horses (including 2 miniature horses), 4 dogs, 3 cats and 13 chickens on the ranch. It’s a family-like, supportive, calm environment, which encourages teamwork, social skills development, and problem solving skills. Everyone, including the program participants, volunteers and staff are treated with dignity and respect in an atmosphere of inclusion. The Executive Director, Laurie Willmott, has the unique ability to listen to everyone without judgement, which is a skill that few people have. It is also the only Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) accredited premier center member in Southern Nevada. (PATH is an association which ensures that strict safety guidelines for the horses, volunteers and staff are adhered to.) Spirit Therapies assures these safety regulations are adhered so no one gets hurt while learning and having a good time.
While I’ve been volunteering at Spirit Therapies, I’ve seen clients progress through the center’s programs. Clients who never talked start speaking, their physical abilities, and confidence have increased. Through the Horses Healing Heroes Program, which services active duty/retired military personnel, the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress (anxiety, social isolation) have decreased. For me, it’s a fantastic, indescribable feeling, and I feel privileged to be a witness to the clients progress.
When I relocated to Las Vegas, I knew no one. Through volunteering at Spirit Therapies, I’ve met so many people and established friendships. My horse knowledge was limited as well when I started volunteering. Now my knowledge has increased, as well as my confidence. It’s a great organization. I strongly encourage those people who are looking for a sense of purpose to volunteer at Spirit Therapies.

I found Spirit Therapies 8 years ago this month. My husband and I had moved to Las Vegas for his health and I told him that when we moved, I was going to find something to do that involved horses. That is how I started at Spirit, I just wanted to be with the horses. But the first time I side walked and interacted with the kids, I fell in love with them. I watched as child after child would come in, their bodies twisted or with illness such as Down's Syndrome, MS, Muscular Dystrophy, Angelman's Syndrome, spinal cord injuries, emotional distress, and other disabilities experience the expansion of their worlds through the magic of connecting with horses. Parent's cry when their child talks or takes their first steps on their own. They had been told by doctor's that their child would never be able to do any of those things. These children were so often looked down on, but on the back of the horse, they grew stronger and learned to trust and communicate. They were now looking down on us as we were now looking up to them. One young man in particular, so loved the horses that he decide that when he graduated, he wanted to work around horses for a living. Counselors at his school told him he would be only be qualified to hold a small job at maybe a McDonald's or some similar place. Our Founder spoke with some friends who owned a boarding stable and he has been working there for a few years now, doing a fantastic job of caring for the horses there. He was able to have his dream job. His parents were ecstatic as he is so happy with his accomplishments.
Children who had suffered abuse or been trafficked came through our gates and I saw the wonderful ways they changed and evolved as the relationship between the horse, rider, and volunteers evolved. They began to see that they could trust and that they saw their own self-worth develop. Some began to come back to work as volunteers, giving back to others and being so glad to help others.
Then the Veteran's program was developed, Horses Helping Heroes started on 9/11/09. First one Veteran came for therapy, he suffered from severe headaches and PTSD, it was slow work but he developed a strong relationship with one of our horses. As time went on and as their bond grew, his headaches were less severe and did not occur as often. We now serve a great number of veterans, and not just them but their families as well.
Family members of those with PTSD or any form of Special Needs receive indirect help as well, seeing their loved ones get better and being able to accomplish as goal. The intercommunication with parents and care givers going through similar problems and gaining ideas and support from others helps them as well.
Then there are the horses. Most are rescue horses, they were given a new purpose. Mustangs, Rodeo horses who could no longer compete, horses whose owners could no longer care for them, now have a great live. They have love, great care, and purpose. They are so special and each one unique in the ability they have to help the different riders.
Last but not least are the volunteers, we cold not operate without them. Our volunteers give of their time, care, financially, and most importantly; they give their hearts!
You see our rider's and clients are not the only ones receiving therapy. Many a volunteer comes to help after a long stressful day and find that the aid they give and camaraderie from other volunteers helps them as well. We work as a team to aid in anyway we can to keep Spirit Therapies the wonderful organization it is.
Spirit Therapies was started by Laurie Willmott over 11 years ago and is the only PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Center in all of Las Vegas. She and Spirit were featured on CNN News for the work done for Veterans .
I started for the horses, fell in love with the kids, and decided to become involved as much as possible. Less than 3 months after finding Spirit Therapies, I joined the Board of Directors; serving for two years as the Vice-President. I have been on the board now for 8 years and I wouldn't change a thing. Diagnosed with Graves Disease over a year ago, I had to stop volunteering at the Center for almost a year, but stilled served on the board and starting to volunteer again. I know how much Spirit personally helped me! I cannot imagine not being a part of this wonderful organization.
Our motto is: "Spirit Therapies is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. Someday through support of our friends, riders, volunteers, sponsors and the public, we will be able to offer our services free of charge through our Pegasus Program."
I want to say, 'Thank you' for this site to be able to write about this amazing facility and its' team members.

When I moved to Las Vegas 5 years ago, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my time. I tried other volunteer positions, but they didn't fit. I heard about a horse place and decided to check it out. I had owned horses and love them. When I walked on the property, I felt a sense of belonging. The other volunteers there welcomed me and Laurie, CEO and instructor, welcomed me with open arms. I had never been around special needs children. They quickly stole my heart and I knew I had found where I was suppose to be.
Spirit has become my extended family and second home. So much so that I am now their volunteer coordinator and train new volunteers.
Everyone who comes through the gate is a part of this wonderful organization. I have made so many wonderful friends and seen the horses work their magic on so many kids and adults.
Spirit is truly a place of peace and healing.

Spirit Therapies has been an amazing experience for my teen who suffers from Epilepsy & Intellectual Deficit Disorder, as well as myself as a volunteer. I have witnessed miracles of healing through horseback therapy & Equine Assisted Learning, which is the program my daughter has been involved in for the past year. She had aggressive, almost suicidal issues. But, the programs at Spirit have helped her to express her emotions in a positive way! We have a saying at Spirit, "Came for the horses, stay for the kids." This holds very true for any volunteer who walks into the gates of Spirit Therapies!! It's truly a place of peace & healing for so many sweet special needs children. I have also seen great healing for Heroes suffering from PTSD through the Horses Healing Heroes program. It's all about releasing through ground training, helping these Heroes to release all their anxiety. My daughter & I are thankful everyday for Spirit Therapies & the impact the programs have had on us!!