It Takes a Herd™ is a non-riding equine program for care partners and care recipients living with dementia. The goal of the program is to help care partners return to their original roles within the partnership and to strengthen the relationship through connection, camaraderie and community. The program utilizes horses as a conduit and provides a safe, nonjudgmental environment where participants are given the opportunity to share an equine experience.
It Takes a Herd™ meets once a week for 4 consecutive weeks. During the 2-hour session, participants individually and jointly have the opportunity to meet, groom, pet, lead and engage in other activities with horses along with their partners (currently only ground activities). Both the care partner and care recipient participate in meaningful activities that promote purposeful engagement, encourage independence, build confidence, and foster empowerment. Care partners are encouraged to step outside of their role for a time and re-connect with their loved one without the burden of care. Throughout the program care partners enjoy moments of respite and time to connect with other participants who understand the experience of caregiving. While participating in the program, care partners and care recipients find their “Herd” comprised of others in the program who encourage, support, and validate the feeling that they are not alone in their journey through dementia.
Each week, a different theme is presented to care partners and care recipients guiding them to develop better communication skills as they are coached in techniques to minimize the frustrations of caregiving. While working with horses throughout the program, care partners gain a better understanding of how to navigate the disease of dementia while strengthening their partnership in a fun and purposeful environment.
As a result of participating in It Takes a Herd™, care partners and care recipients have reported general improved quality of life, improved mood, improved communication, reduced stress, a reduction in challenging behaviors, feeling more supported, a reduction in social isolation, and overall having a more positive outlook. It Takes a Herd™ helps both the care partner and the care recipient. The program is designed to offer activities that foster connection, community and camaraderie among the participants. The combination of interaction with the horses, individual and group coaching through the challenges of dementia, and activities that encourage teamwork, have proven to provide meaningful connection and lasting support to the participants.
The program was created and is administered by Georgetown native Karen Coppola, who is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a lifelong horseman. For 10 years, Karen has been coaching care partners on how to better understand dementia which results in an improvement in overall care for their loved one and serves to reduce the burden of care. Karen’s love of horses and heart for people is the foundation of the program. Her vast knowledge of dementia coupled with horse experience is a perfect marriage of skills when coaching partners through obstacles not only in activities with the horses, but also in daily life. She is aware of the unique connection people can have with horses, and coupled with the horses’ ability to sense and mirror our emotions is a combination that can have a profound positive impact on both the care partner and the care recipient.
It Takes a Herd™ was created in 2023, and the program has been successfully implemented 7 times at area farms. The program is designed to be delivered at any farm and is currently in partnership with Strongwater Farm in Tewksbury and Lazy J Ranch in Salsbury. We are working with area agencies on aging, the Veterans Administration, and other Veteran organizations to raise awareness and offer this program to participants. This program is open to any person living with dementia and their care partner. Our goal is to continue to offer this service free of charge to participants through fundraising efforts. It Takes a Herd™ is a strong supporter of veterans and veteran programming and encourages veterans to attend, either as a person living with dementia and as a caregiver of a loved one with dementia. Also, any veterans willing to volunteer in the program are welcome to inquire.
If interested in participating in the program or would like to support It Takes A Herd™, please contact Karen Coppola ~ karen4159@msn.com
It Takes a Herd™ was recently featured on Boston 25 News on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 under the title, “Mass farm harnessing calming power of horses to help veterans, caregivers cope with diseases.” ♦
