To Be or Not to Be... That is the Equestrian In 2014, Chelsea Harden founded The H.E.A.R.T. Center, a nonprofit organization that provides alternative and intentional therapeutic learning opportunities to children with social learning challenges and related disorders.
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Jasmine McAreavy
Chelsea Harden has always viewed horses as a lens to authentically view the world and to see what is directly in front of her. “With so much around us, especially today, that is highlight reels, it is so hard to differentiate what is real and what is not real,” Harden explains. “Being with horses has always grounded me and allowed me to see and work with others from a space that is authentic, is real and is accessible.” That is why in 2014 Harden founded The H.E.A.R.T. Center, a nonprofit organization that provides alternative and intentional therapeutic learning opportunities to children with social learning challenges and related disorders.
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Comprised of a micro-school, an equine therapy program and a recreational therapy program, The H.E.A.R.T. Center strives to empower individuals with special needs to build confidence and develop life skills through recreation- and activity-integrated educational programs. Harden acknowledges that Arizona is rich with equine therapy programs — which is of great benefit to the people who call our state home. “We have a variety of programs out here that clients have access to,” Harden says. “Each one targets a different group. We primarily focus on students with special needs — mostly being students on the autism spectrum or with related disorders. The thing that sets
