Tierra Madre Horse & Human Sanctuary in Cave Creek is expanding its program for young people with autism.

Over the past three years, Tierra Madre has hosted scores of students from the Glendale Union High School District, SARCC (Southwest Autism Research & Research Center), and homeschooling cohorts to learn and participate in various tasks around the ranch, including up-close-and-personal time with the sanctuary’s 26 horses.

Susan Dodge, a special education teacher at Greenway High School, part of the Glendale Union High School District, oversees three classes of her students who have been visiting the ranch and the horses with regularity since the program’s inception. The district serves most of Glendale and a portion of Phoenix.

“I most definitely see a difference,” Dodge shared in a news release. “For days after one of our visits, I see a big difference in the students’ attitudes and their concentration on learning. I consider it one of the best ‘classes’ that we provide.”

Tierra Madre Horse & Human Sanctuary is the forever home to dozens of horses that were previously abandoned, neglected, injured, abused or surrendered, but are now home, safe and healthy. For years, Tierra Madre’s horses have helped people who have faced or are facing their own unique challenges.

“See,” says Alexis Roeckner Ferri, the sanctuary’s CEO, “horses don’t judge. They only care that you’re honest with them and that you’re kind to them. And that attitude has helped so many people who have come through our gates.”

Tierra Madre is expanding to reach more young people.

“We feel that we can help so many more children and young adults,” Ferri says. “What we’ve developed here is very, very successful and we want as many people to take advantage of it as we can. It’s to everybody’s benefit – our horses as well as the young people. To that end, we’ll be reaching out to schools across the Valley to make them aware of it.”

Founded in 2006, Tierra Madre Horse & Human Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Call 480-469-9166.