Recreational equine assisted therapy Veteran-Owned · Confidential

A safe place to breathe again, rebuild confidence, and feel supported.

WildHeart recreational equine assisted therapy in Apopka, FL helps veterans, women healing from abuse, and teenagers with unique needs find emotional balance, trust, and confidence through guided work with horses and a trained equine recreational therapist.

Schedule My Assessment Is This Program Right for Me?

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Veteran-Owned
Built for those who served and those rebuilding after trauma.

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Confidential & Private
What you share stays between you and your therapist.

Request a Confidential Assessment

No obligation. No pressure. We start with a calm, private conversation and a gentle introduction to our horses.

45-minute guided assessment at the barn
Meet your therapist and therapy horse
Leave with a clear, personalized plan

Location: 7700 Stone Rd., Apopka, FL 32703

Start With an Assessment

A Veteran-Owned Program With Purpose

WildHeart is a veteran-owned, family-operated business — a family of six with three dogs, and a home built on resilience, second chances, and genuine understanding.

Our mission is shaped by lived experience. The wife in our family survived an abusive second marriage and carried silence and shame for years before finding her voice again. Today, she speaks openly to show others that healing and confidence are possible.

Combined with the realities of military service, this is why WildHeart recreational equine assisted therapy exists. We built this program for:

Service members and veterans who deserve respect, appreciation, and understanding.
Women rebuilding trust after abuse or assault, who need a safe and confidential space.
Teenagers learning to move through life with confidence, not fear.

What Makes WildHeart Different

Real-Life Experience Not Just Theory

We do not see clients as case files. We see them as people whose stories often mirror our own.

At WildHeart, veterans, trauma survivors, and teens are welcomed with calm, respect, and steady support — never pressure or judgment.

If you or a loved one are carrying heavy experiences, this barn was built with you in mind.

How Our Program Works

We keep the process simple, clear, and steady so you always know what to expect.

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Initial Assessment

A calm, private visit where we talk through your background, goals, and comfort level around horses.

You’ll meet your therapist and be gently introduced to your therapy horse — no pressure, no rush.

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Personalized Therapy Plan

Together, we design a plan with clear goals, session structure, and a pace that feels safe for you.

You’ll know how we’ll work, what we’re focusing on, and how we’ll track your progress over time.

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Ongoing Sessions

You choose a schedule that fits your life. Each 45-minute session is guided and structured, but never rushed.

Step by step, you build emotional balance, trust, and confidence in partnership with your horse.

Request Your Assessment

Who We Serve

Our primary expertise is in supporting individuals who benefit from recreational equine assisted therapy — not medical treatment. We work with people who are seeking emotional grounding, confidence-building, focus development, and steady support through structured interaction with horses.

PTSD & Trauma Support

For veterans and adults managing PTSD symptoms, our recreational equine assisted therapy can help:

Calm hypervigilance and anxiety.
Strengthen emotional stability and trust.
Practice grounding techniques in real time.
Build a sense of safety at a steady pace.

Women Rebuilding Trust

We support women healing after abusive relationships or assault who need a calm, private place to rebuild trust.

Predictable, structured sessions with horses.
No pressure to share details before you’re ready.
Focus on confidence, boundaries, and emotional safety.
Gentle, non-judgmental connection and support.

Teens

Our program supports teenagers who need a calm, structured outlet to help them navigate the challenges they face at home, at school, and within themselves. Many teens come to us struggling with:

Low confidence or self-esteem.
Difficulty managing emotions.
Trouble focusing or staying motivated.
Social anxiety or feeling misunderstood.
Stress from academics, friendships, or family dynamics.

Stage 1 Autism

We also work with individuals with Stage 1 autism who thrive with predictable routines, sensory-friendly activities, and steady interaction with therapy horses.

Clear routines and a consistent barn environment.
Gentle, non-judgmental connection with horses.
Opportunities to build confidence and self-awareness.
Supportive structure without overwhelming stimuli.

Important:

WildHeart provides recreational equine assisted therapy only.
We do not diagnose conditions, prescribe medication, or deliver medical or clinical treatment.
If someone requires doctor-led or medically supervised care, our program is a gentle complement , not a replacement.

Talk to Us About Your Situation

Why Horses Help

Horses mirror the emotional state of the person working with them. When someone is tense, the horse becomes alert. As they relax, the horse softens too.

This real-time feedback teaches emotional balance, self-awareness, patience, trust, and clear communication — all skills that trauma can disrupt.

Instead of talking about coping skills in theory, clients practice them alongside a responsive, gentle animal who reacts honestly to what they feel, not just what they say.

What a Typical Session Looks Like

45-minute guided session with an equine therapist.
Grounding exercises to settle the mind and body.
Hands-on connection with the horse (grooming, breathing, leading).
Optional mounted work, only when you feel ready.
Short reflection to integrate what you felt and learned.

Most clients leave feeling calmer, clearer, and more centered — and over time, they notice real changes in how they handle stress and relationships outside the barn.

Meet Your Therapist

Why We’re Qualified to Help You

At WildHeart, your sessions are guided by Jennifer Winzenburg, a therapist whose work blends clinical mental health expertise with the grounding, relational power of horses. Jennifer brings years of experience in counseling, trauma-informed care, and community service, and she integrates all of this into a safe, steady recreational equine assisted therapy approach for clients of all ages. Jennifer specializes in supporting individuals navigating:

PTSD and trauma-related symptoms
PStress, overwhelm, and emotional dysregulation
PLife transitions and grief
PChallenges common to veterans, first responders, and survivors of difficult experiences

Her background includes training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, polyvagal-informed practices, and mind–body regulation techniques — all adapted to fit a non-medical, experiential equine setting. Her work centers on helping clients feel safe, heard, and emotionally grounded.

Jennifer believes horses bring something truly special to the healing process. Their ability to mirror emotions, respond honestly, and calm the nervous system creates a powerful environment for growth.

In her sessions, clients learn to:

build trust at their own pace
regulate their nervous system
increase confidence and self-awareness
reconnect with their inner resilience

With Jennifer, clients experience recreational equine assisted therapy that is structured, intentional, and deeply supportive—rooted in a relational approach that honors each person’s story and progress.

Jennifer holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand View University (CACREP-accredited) and is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, currently supervised by Kayce Bragg.

Schedule a Confidential Assessment

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Confidential Everything you share stays between you and your therapist.

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Location WildHeart Riding School, 7700 Stone Rd., Apopka, FL 32703

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No Riding Experience Needed We meet you exactly where you are — emotionally and physically.

This is the first, low-pressure step. No commitment to a full program. Just a conversation, a visit to the barn, and a chance to see if this feels right for you.