Lori Ackley guides a client alongside Trigger, the miniature horse. (NIKKI BURKHAMER | THE CHRONICLE)
Hopes Blessings offers an open house to showcase their equine therapy, facility
By Nikki Burkhamer
Staff Writer
Lori and Marie Ackley were able to welcome potential clients to their Gestalt Equine Coaching barn during Hopes Blessings’ open house Saturday, July, 25, at the 9250 N. Township Road 169, West Liberty, farm.
A demonstration session was performed as watchers learned how horses can help people let their anxieties and stresses go. They will offer a grief recovery retreat on Sept. 12.
Lori tells us that “grief can take many shapes and forms. Some are losing a spouse, pet, family member, ending a relationship, losing or changing jobs, losing a dream, and more. After one loses someone or something in life, they can also lose joy or interest in life.
"During this One Day Retreat, we will utilize the Gestalt process to rediscover joy for life, for life without joy is a burden for the heart and soul.”
Oct. 10, you can experience Learning to Embrace All Sides of One-self – a retreat where you can “unlock your true potential and find clarity in this self-discovery and empowerment-based one-day retreat. Join them for a transformative experience focusing on personal growth, empowerment, and unlocking peace within. Learn about how & why we interact with the world the way we do, and gain tools to help navigate the world more easily and with more compassion for yourself and others around you”
Even young people benefit from the therapies that Hopes Blessing can offer. You can almost feel the connection forming between Everett Loehr and Sharkey in the short time they were able to spend together. (NIKKI BURKHAMER | THE CHRONICLE)
At Hopes Blessings, Lori and Marie partner with horses to help people of all ages navigate life’s most difficult seasons and discover hope on the other side.
Through Equine Gestalt Coaching, a trauma-informed approach within the growing horse-human healing movement, participants find a safe and supportive space for healing, growth and self-discovery.
Whether someone is facing emotional struggles, recovering from surgery, coping with a difficult medical diagnosis, grieving a loss, or simply searching for greater purpose and peace, the horses become gentle guides in the journey. Equine Gestalt can serve as an alternative to traditional talk therapy or work alongside it, offering a unique path toward wellness.
At the heart of Hopes Blessings is a simple yet powerful mission: to be a light in the lives of others—walking beside them through challenges, celebrating victories and helping them embrace a future filled with hope, healing, and renewed possibility.
For more information and for the schedule of upcoming events, visit:
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