Our Programs

The programs we offer improve the physical, mental, emotional and social well-being of our clients through our therapeutic animal assisted activities. Animals provide unconditional acceptance, not caring if you are homeless, have lost hair from cancer treatments, or are living with a disability.

We run programs at our farm in the peaceful, serene nature of Portola Valley on Webb Ranch, and our mobile unit brings animals to client locations. Founded in 2009, Jasper Ridge Farm has been serving children and adults in need in our community through our animal assisted programs, which are offered free of charge.

For more information contact: cynthia@Jasperridgefarm.org

WellnessBuddies

Partnering with mental health organizations, clinicians, and school-based therapists, our WellnessBuddies programs focus on improving the mental health of children in our community.Our support animals are integral participants incorporated into therapy sessions.

Goals are:

Create a safe, comfortable, and accepting environment
Improve mental well-being by improving mood and reducing anxiety
Teach mindfulness techniques
Improve interpersonal/social skills

HorseBuddies®

This is a unique experiential learning program where horses provide the mode of learning for special needs students in San Mateo County.

Working directly with Adapted Physical Education staff, classes of special needs students participate in three consecutive sessions.

The goals are:

Increase the physical activity of students: Horseback riding and horsemanship activities require movement, balance, and coordination.
Improve the emotional well-being of students: Learning new skills and overcoming fears and challenges improve self-confidence and self-esteem.
Improve the social well-being of students: Participating in a group of their peers is a shared experience and a team-building experience during which students encourage, motivate, and support each other.

HorseHeroes

Therapeutic adaptive horseback riding program for Veterans, including disabled Veterans, those with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury or Polytrauma. This program partners with the Veterans Administration Palo Alto Healthcare System. VA Recreational therapists participate along with their group of veterans.

Goals are:

Increase physical activity: Horseback riding and horsemanship activities require movement, balance, coordination, and core strength.
Improve mental well-being: Overcoming fears and challenges and learning new skills improve self-confidence and self-esteem. Being active in the outdoor environment promotes improved mental well-being.
Improve social well-being: Participating in a group of their peers who understand what they’ve been through, supporting, motivating, and encouraging each other improves social well-being. Bonding with a horse, trust is established. Relationships are developed.

The Veterans Commission of San Mateo County named Jasper Ridge Farm Enterprise of the Year in 2019 for providing “exemplary service to Veterans” through our HorseHeroes program. Watch video coverage here.

Animals Helping Children

This program connects the most vulnerable children with gentle animals. We serve children facing chronic and life-threatening illness, homelessness, domestic violence, special needs, and living in poverty. This program is offered onsite at our 3-acre farm in Portola Valley. Our mobile units transport animals to Ronald McDonald House, to 'classrooms designed for children with special needs, and and we also host groups of children for onsite programs.

"I never imagined that animals would be so open and accepting -- it really helped my son engage in the moment and feel cared for without conversation, or added pressure." - Parent, KARA Grief Support who participated in one of our programs with her son.

Animals Helping Adults

We serve adults including clients from Kainos program, seniors in retirement homes and memory care units, and post high school adults in the TRACE program.

Jasper Ridge Farm programs exist to enrich the lives of people living with difficult challenges through interactions with animals that provide unconditional acceptance and comfort.

Animals Helping Inmates

This unique program serves female inmates at Elmwood Correctional Facility. By bringing a variety of animals to these women, they are given the opportunity to show affection and feel the unconditional love of an animal.

"From smiling to crying, we have some inmates that just walk the perimeter of the animals for awhile, but once they engage it brings out a part of the inmate we don't normally see." -Sergeant Mallett, Office of the Sheriff, Santa Clara County

Virtual Programs

In April of 2020, we began serving several of our regular clients virtually in response to COVID-19. While we have resumed in person visits, we will continue to offer virtual visits for our clients who prefer it. We do this by using Zoom and other video tools, showing our animals doing their regular silly antics, teaching about what makes them healthy and happy, and doing fun activities like feeding the animals treats or going for virtual horseback rides!

"Since we've pivoted to Telehealth in March, we have had the opportunity to do weekly visits with Jasper Ridge Farm. It has been wonderful to see what a positive impact these visits have had. Our teens who are typically depressed and withdrawn, smile and interact more during these virtual visits." - Dr. Pardis Khosravi, Clinical Psychologist, Children's Health Council

Watch news coverage from KTVU Fox 2 covering our virtual programming!