Hunkapi Programs

Specialties

Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Garden Therapy

History

Established in 1996.

Hunkapi is the horse program with heart and a name you will never forget. Hunkapi, (pronounced Hoon-​KAH-​pee) a Native American word translated to mean «I am related to everyone», offers horse programs that emphasize learning about relationships with yourself and others.

Hunkapi was founded as a research program in 1996. When compared to other sports, the research showed that horseback riding was the most positive intervention for children with Attention Deficit/​Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism. The positive results prompted the launching of the community outreach program in 1999. Hunkapi believes that interacting with horses can serve as a non-​drug intervention alternative.

Today, the benefits of the Hunkapi Horse Program are experienced by many, ages 3 through adult, with behavioral, emotional and developmental needs. Hunkapi offers a vast range of services including riding programs, corporate teambuilding, equine therapy and parties.

Meet the Business Owner

Terra S.

Business Owner

Terra became the inaugural director for the Hunkapi Horse Program in 1999. Her extensive equine background includes; competing at the Inter-​Collegiate level for the Texas A&M Horse Judging and Equestrian teams and conducting research on racehorses, while completing a B.S. in Animal Science. Following college she trained reining horses professionally in Gainesville, TX where she began to see parallels between horse training techniques and interpersonal relationships. Hunkapi gave Terra the opportunity to explore these finding further. Terra entered graduate school at ASU to pursue a Master of Counseling degree in the Spring of 2002. While there, she took a special interest in group dynamics and family therapy and created a curriculum that integrates horses into a family therapy session.