Ancora Imparo Equine Center

06/14/2025

Heck yeah, so cool to hear someone else talking about this!

If I ever start teaching or coaching again, it will be based on a premise of supporting people in *how* to actually do this, drawing on my experience in horsemanship, parenting, and as a trauma therapist to acquire skills that can be applied across all domains.

Horses are incredible partners in this area of growth. I've been drafting a program over the past few years, maybe the time will come to share it soon :)

06/07/2025

🌱 Ever notice how certain themes seem to ripple through conversations, almost like they’re in the air? Lately, I’ve been seeing a wave of thoughtful posts across the horsemanship community, all circling around one big topic: boundaries.

As someone who straddles professional careers in both horsemanship and neurodivergent-affirming mental health, I find it fascinating to explore the context behind different perspectives; what makes something true or meaningful for someone, based on their lived experience? That lens helps us learn from one another (and from our horses) in richer, more collaborative ways.

What really made me smile is that this week's focus in my Neurodivergent Identity & Community Group—scheduled months ago!—is Communication & Relationships, with a special emphasis on The Double Empathy Problem and, yep, you guessed it... Boundaries!

Coincidence or intuition? Either way, it's right on time.
Whether you’re navigating relationships with humans or horses, this short video is one I shared with my group. It offers a simple yet powerful breakdown of the differences between boundaries, rules, threats, and the concept of a standard (a shared agreement on how we relate).
🎥 Watch here: https://youtu.be/-UtVfBrDBw8?si=AHNlWBjylfBq9VYB

There’s so much more to say about the different dimensions of boundaries, but for now, I hope this perspective invites some curiosity and connection. 💬🐴

(and check out the comments for some reflection questions, and a link to a video explaining the Double Empathy Problem, which ALSO really applies to horsemanship!)

Hello! My name is Dr. Raquel Martin, PhD and I am a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, and scientist. I create mental health and advocacy videos to ...

05/27/2025

🌿 Are you ready to deepen your understanding of Equine Facilitated Interactions — and yourself?

Join us in June 2025 in Boscawen, New Hampshire, for the Onsite Certificate in Equine Facilitated Interactions (Module One) with Athena Herd Foundation*** 🐴✨

This immersive, experiential training is perfect for therapists, coaches, educators, and anyone interested in relational, somatic, and trauma-informed approaches to healing and growth through partnership with horses.

🔍 You’ll explore:

Relational neuroscience and somatic awareness

The power of co-regulation and presence

The role of horses as sentient partners in therapeutic and learning spaces

Ethical, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive practice

No prior horse experience required — just curiosity, openness, and a desire to learn through embodied connection. 💚

📅 Spots are limited — reserve yours here:
👉 https://athenaherd.org/event/trading-as-accelerated-insights-in-the-usa-onsite-certificate-in-equine-facilitated-interactions-module-one-new-hampshire-usa-june-2025/

Let’s come together in community, with horses, to explore how insight, regulation, and transformation can unfold through presence and partnership. 🐎💫

***Athena Herd Foundation is a UK-based organization, trading as Accelerated Insights in the USA

Trading as Accelerated Insights in the USA. Join us for our unique Foundation Certificate in Equine Assisted Services (EAS, EAL, EAP, EFL, EFP) Foundation Certificate…

04/29/2025

I got to take some intro photos this morning for the upcoming clinic... I'm not sure which of these goobers will be joining me in the arena. I'm pretty grateful for each of them 💓

04/20/2025

🌟 Join Our Equine Community at Ancora Imparo Equine Center!🌟

🦄Stalls Available!🦄

📍 Location: 130 Corn Hill Road, Boscawen, NH – 25 acres of premier facilities and scenic trails.

🏇 Riding Amenities:

* Indoor arena with treated, dust-free footing.
* Large 130’x200’ outdoor arena & round pen.
* Extensive on-site and off-site trail access.

🌿 Nutrition & Lifestyle:

* Custom mineral balancing supplements and Vitamin E included, supporting a forage-based diet.
* Horses live peacefully in a large mixed herd, ages 2-25+, enjoying abundant resources and space.
*Horses are turned out 22/7 from roughly April to October on a large paddock paradise track with field shelters and limited rotational equicentral-style grazing (horses come in daily for hard feed, supplements, fly control, and blanketing needs)
* Horses are stabled at night in winter conditions.
*Separate turnout available prior to managed introduction!

🏠 Facilities:

* 16 spacious stalls with heated auto-waterers.
* Grooming bays and 3-Season wash stall with heated water
* Heated lounge with kitchenette and bathroom.
* Surfaced paddocks and field shelters.

🧑‍🌾 Exceptional Care:

* Owner on-site with 30+ years of experience.
* Experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated staff team

💲 Boarding: $830/month

📢 Limited spots available! Contact us today to secure your place! 🐴✨

🔗 Learn more here!

Ancora Imparo Equine Center is located on 25 Acres in Boscawen NH. Riding amenities include an indoor arena, large 130’x200’ outdoor arena, round pen, and extensive trail access both on and off-site.

04/10/2025

At AIEC, we offer both premier horse boarding AND host affirming therapists integrating the horse. It's a combination of my passions that I'm thrilled to lead.

What many of you may not know, is that I am extremely fortunate to also work for Balance Mental Health as a mental health therapist. In this role, I get to be surrounded by an incredibly talented team of therapists and psych nurses who help constantly improve my knowledge and find my place in community.

Knowledge and community are powerful components of mental health, and that's one of many reasons why I am THRILLED to be leading another online group as a therapist at Balance Mental Health!

(And yes, I'm still a farrier 2 days a week. As an ADHDer, interest-driven variety is truly the spice of my life!)

Original post text:

🌟 Online Group for Adults Exploring Neurodiversity 🌟

Balance Mental Health is excited to host another Online Group for Adults navigating neurodivergence! If you're located in New Hampshire and exploring what it means to be neurodivergent in a world that often doesn’t "get it," this is your space to connect with others who understand. 💬🤝

In this group, we will: ✨ Identify strengths ✨ Explore challenges ✨ Foster connections with others on a similar journey

This group is for individuals who are exploring, self-identifying as, or diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, or similar neurotypes. 🌈

📅 Session Details:

Meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 4:30-6:00 PM (May - August 2025)

Dates: May 15th and 29th, June 12th and 26th, July 10th and 24th, and August 14th and 28th

Cost: $50 per session, billed twice monthly, for a total of $400

Limited sliding scale spots are available

If you're interested, let us know ASAP by filling out this Online Form https://forms.gle/X9H4HBUYaPUci6qr7

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of a supportive and understanding community! 🌟

🌟 Online Group for Adults Exploring Neurodiversity 🌟

Balance Mental Health is excited to host another Online Group for Adults navigating neurodivergence! If you're located in New Hampshire and exploring what it means to be neurodivergent in a world that often doesn’t "get it," this is your space to connect with others who understand. 💬🤝

In this group, we will: ✨ Identify strengths ✨ Explore challenges ✨ Foster connections with others on a similar journey

This group is for individuals who are exploring, self-identifying as, or diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, or similar neurotypes. 🌈

📅 Session Details:

Meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 4:30-6:00 PM (May - August 2025)

Dates: May 15th and 29th, June 12th and 26th, July 10th and 24th, and August 14th and 28th

Cost: $50 per session, billed twice monthly, for a total of $400

Limited sliding scale spots are available

If you're interested, let us know ASAP by filling out this Online Form

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of a supportive and understanding community! 🌟

03/19/2025

We manage a large mixed herd here on our combination track and equicentral-style facility. Both mares and gelding, aged 3-25+, are part of this group.

Our management practices support the regulating energy and clear communication needed to integrate new horses into a herd of this size. Years of experience provide the foundation for evaluating how and when to introduce each new horse.

Today, with the good footing and weather, we introduced 2 new horses to the herd. Each had prior herd experience, had been at our farm long enough to evaluate temperament and behavior, and had met in adjoining paddocks but had not been turned out together previously. One is a young 4yo Arab mare, and the other a 15yo Gypsy gelding, both with prior herd experiences.

The first video shows the initial introduction, and the second video (in comments) shows immediately following that, after I repositioned myself for a better view.

I always enjoy watching Annie Jo, my almost 25yo buckskin QH mare. Nothing gets past her... notice how she observed the new horses, immediately located the open gate for access, and clearly initiated a conversation about respect and safety. In the second video, although we can't see the waterer, she is communicating about resource access dynamics. She uses her ears and body position loudly and clearly; I think she wants to know, "In a tough situation, are you going to join our community, or risk our lives vying for control?" Once that is established, she's pretty quiet.

And yes, knowledgeable horse owners may panic at seeing her in hind shoes in a herd. She's the only horse wearing hind shoes (the rest are barefoot, with the exception of fronts on the new mare), they are necessary for her soundness, and I have 15 years of watching her in various herd situations to know she never instigates a kicking match. Just as with any turnout situation, it's a calculated risk, and one I wouldn't take with a horse I didn't know extremely well.

03/18/2025

With so much hard in the world right now, I’m holding tight to the moments that ground me.

Grateful for the horses, good drainage in mud season, and the time spent with my daughter — these are my "cues of safety," my personal reminders of connection, presence, and joy. These moments help me stay regulated and rooted, and I’m so thankful for the space we’ve built here.

Here’s to finding the small things that bring a little peace. What’s been helping you feel grounded lately? 💛

03/17/2025

All of us have heard someone say "My horse is my therapist!" Heck, many of us have probably said it ourselves.

But, why? What is it about being with a horse, that helps so many of us?

Well, there are actually A LOT of reasons, from corregulation to bilateral stimulation to mindfulness and beyond. That's an article for another time!

This is an article I wrote on mindfulness for neurodivergent folx. Even if you aren't ND, it may shed some light on what the heck mindfulness even is... and a perspective as to why the nature of time with horses has such a profound impact on so many of us!

And, obvious disclaimer: Being with horses can be therapeutic, but it's NOT THERAPY unless you are working with a trained and liscenced therapist. For your safety and wellbeing, be very wary of anyone trying to open up that type of dialog without the proper training and licensure.

ETA link 😅

Mindfulness - what does it mean? There’s no right or wrong experience here; it's about bringing your awareness to the present moment.

02/25/2025

An invitation for some gentle support, if you are noticing something off in your energy, mood, or responses…

This class was recorded for students with Christine Wushke's Myofacial yoga training. She generously shared the recorded of this 45 minute class. You can lea...

01/01/2025

✨ A New Year's Reflection with Annie ✨

On this first day of the year, I hope you find moments of peace, safety, and the quiet joy of something promising to move toward.

Yesterday, my beloved old mare, Annie, inspired some reflection. In a brief respite from the bitter cold earlier this month—and before the freezing rain arrived today—I found her dozing peacefully in the field, the warmth of the sun on her back. As she woke, she spotted me and made her way over, her strong spirit reminding me of the small yet profound joys in life... even if it's just the hope of a treat on a rare warm day in a challenging season!

There’s a lot of hard in the world right now. But here, in our little corner, we remain committed to creating spaces where safety, connection, and hope can flourish—for both people and animals.

To all of you: May this year bring moments of joy, the strength to keep moving forward, and the comfort of knowing you are seen and valued.

Here’s to brighter days ahead. 💛🐴

12/23/2024

🎄🐴 Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from Amcora Imparo Equine Center! 🐴🎄

As the snow blankets the paddocks and the barn fills with the warmth of holiday cheer, we want to take a moment to thank our incredible community. Whether you're a boarder, client, horse care team member, professional service provider, or supporter, you are the heart of what makes this place so special.

This season, we celebrate the healing power of horses, the friendships forged here, and the joy of working together to care for these amazing animals. Our horses are grateful for all the love and attention, and we hope they’ve brought as much peace and happiness to you as they have to us.

Wishing you a holiday filled with warmth, joy, and a little bit of horse magic. Here's to an incredible New Year full of growth, adventure, and connection—with our horses and each other.

With gratitude and love,
Stacia, V, and all the Horses 🐴❄️