Martha McNiel talking to Volunteer, Rob Hoffmann. 2014 Recognized by PATH International, Region 11: Pete, Horse
of the Year, Terri Stinson, Volunteer of the Year, and Garry Stauber,
Therapeutic Riding Instructor of the Year.
Group Ministries and other organizations sent kids to DreamPower
for four-week programs using equine-assisted therapy.
“Our first foster client came from a local children’s residential
program. A smart nine-year-old girl who had been running away
from school, refusing to do homework. Our rules are simple –
you can’t hurt others, yourself or the animals. For her, we added
another rule. You can’t be absent without permission.
“That young girl had been diagnosed and was on medication
for bi-polar disorder. She wanted to ride so badly that she stopped
running away. She was the first one to learn how to canter and she
rode with us for more than three years, making tremendous prog-
ress emotionally and in her behaviors. After leaving our program
she was adopted. She graduated from high school with straight As,
went on to college, and got off her meds. We’ve stayed in touch
over the years.”
Students who continue to live in the local area, are welcomed to
stay in the DreamPower program after they “age out” of the foster
care system at age 18.
In 2010, DreamPower also began to work with the Palo
Alto Veteran’s Administration and the Santa Cruz and San Jose
Veteran’s Centers.
“The first group included veterans who had done tours in Iraq
and Afghanistan. At one point in the program we hosted a family
fun day, so the veterans’ families could see what they had been
doing at the ranch.”
“I had matched one vet with a horse named Red that was
strong-willed just like he was. The vet told his wife, ‘There was a
time when frustration in a riding lesson would’ve made me want
to get off and shoot that horse, but I learned to work through my
anger and keep going.’ The wife came up to me with a big smile
and said, ‘Thanks for giving me my husband back; I thought I’d
lost him. He’d done multiple tours. He used to shut down and
isolate himself. Now, when he comes back from the ranch, he
talks non-stop.’ I have heard similar stories from many wives and
husbands since then.”
DreamPower also offers clinics to help clients overcome fear
when they run into problems handling their own backyard horses. “We cover the psychological aspects of fear as well as riding
skills. A horse is a big and powerful animal. They can be
dangerous if they are not trained, ridden and cared for properly.
We urge people to get a horse that’s a good fit for their interests,
skills, and temperament. Unlike any other sport, with horseback
riding, it’s all about the relationship between rider and horse. If
it’s not fun, don’t do it.”
In 2012, McNiel moved DreamPower to WoodMyst. “It’s an
excellent facility and we are very happy there, as are my staff and
clients.”
Today, DreamPower offers 16 programs, spanning three
categories of equine-facilitated psychotherapy, equine-facilitated
learning and therapeutic horsemanship. The organization is
also designated as a Premier Accredited Center by PATH
International, the acknowledged industyry authority when it
comes to therapeutic riding.
DreamPower is a 100 percent volunteer organization.
Hundreds of volunteers are involved in helping McNiel and her
staff run the various programs. This year, the Gilroy Chamber of
Commerce honored DreamPower as Non-Profit Organization of
the Year.
“Last year we served more than 450 clients. We could not
accomplish all that we do without our volunteers. Some come
for the learning; some come because they have the know-how
and want to give back. Some arrive with no previous experience
around horses, and we train them in horsemanship basics.
“It’s great to have high school and even college students
participate as community service volunteers. We also work with
students who are learning equine-assisted therapy as part of an
undergrad or graduate degree program.
DreamPower Horsemanship partners with a number of
community organizations including Advent Group Ministries,
Community Solutions, and the Santa Clara County Office
of Education. Therapeutic riding programs qualify under the
requirements of the county’s Adaptive Physical Education
program. DreamPower’s Equine Journey Wilderness Program
provides students with opportunities to go horse camping.
G M H T O D A Y M A G A Z I N E
MARCH / APRIL 2015
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