The Bear Tooth MT Ascent Equine Therapy Program

Cowboy Horsemanship Philosophy – Equine Therapy At Bear Tooth MT Ascent

Our Bear Tooth MT Ascent Program develops the mind, body and soul of troubled young men through active involvement in a ranching environment. At Bear Tooth MT Ascent Ranch There is a full life cycle in the cattle industry. From birth to the selling of yearling steers, Bear Tooth MT Ascent raises cattle in the traditional cowboy spirit.

Horses play an integral role in traditional ranch life. Bear Tooth MT Ascent has thirty head of horses for ranching purposes. We are very proud of our herd. Like the all the young men at BTMA, these horses come from many backgrounds. They are primarily Quarter Horses, with some Arabian, Paint Horse and Mustang breeding represented as well. It is amazing how quickly the young man will pick out a favorite horse among the herd. There is an old saying that goes, “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” This is proven true here at BMTA.

Our horse program does not allow for one horse to be ridden continuously by one person. The old horsemanship philosophy is that, “Many horses make a horseman.” The young men learn how to feed, groom and care for the horses soon after they arrive. Some at risk young adults have never been close to a horse, or even seen one in person, and the experience of close contact can contribute greatly to the young mans healing process.

Students ride horses as part of our young adult wilderness therapy , this combined with our outdoor work adventure helps young men overcome substance abuse

Since Bear Tooth MT Ascent l is not a “Dude” Ranch, we do not recommend that the troubled man ride our horses while he makes his initial adjustment to the first phase of our program. Trust, work ethic, self motivation, and a sense of responsibility are key factors in behavior improvement and in determining the young mans progress as he becomes more closely associated with the horse. Riding a horse has many responsibilities attached to it, successful horsemanship requires many hours of study and a desire to learn about horses

As the at-risk young adult enters our initial Frontier Program he is introduced to a way of living that resembles the 1880's lifestyle. They live in a log house and cook their food in a log kitchen or outdoors. They also take care of ranch animals including calves, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats. They learn how to irrigate crops, and assist in the harvest of hay and corn.

The troubled young man will also learn things about range management, natural spring development, and living the “simple” way of life. During these lifestyle changes the horse plays an important role in the behavior improvement therapy for the troubled youth. Several staff members here at BTMA l are certified in equine therapy. The horse is used to determine and assist the young man in recognizing their problems and how to deal with those problems. As a man develops a relationship with his new environment and becomes more knowledgeable and responsible, he will be allowed to experience more of the daily chores and events that make ranch life a maturing and challenging life experience. Bear Tooth MT Ascent horses are ranch horses in every sense of the word.

Bear Tooth MT Ascent- A Life Changing Experience for struggling young men, parents and the entire family.