Programs

In this tour you’ll have the barnyard to yourself and with the help of your tour guide, you’ll brush cows, feed horses and donkeys, cuddle turkeys, hold chickens, pet goats, and sheep, give pigs tummy rubs, and so much more. Being at The Gentle Barn is like walking through a giant storybook where you’ll hear the animals’ stories of resilience and learn what they teach us about forgiveness, unconditional love, and living in the moment. You are sure to fall in love with animals more deeply than ever before.

This tour follows the same format and description of the Family Tour but is intended for a larger group of adults only from mixed households as part of an organized group activity. This tour is perfect for a company team building activity.

Try something new and different, have your next party at The Gentle Barn. Not just for kids, our parties are great for ages 6 to adult! Listen to an engaging presentation about the animals, then hug the cows, feed the horses, give the pigs tummy rubs, hold the chickens, cuddle the turkeys, pat the goats and sheep, and so much more. Once you and your party have worked up an appetite loving animals, have a meal and cake on our picnic tables. Out of respect for the animals, we ask that your meal and cake be vegan. Our staff are happy to give you recommendations if needed.

You’ll have the barnyard to yourself as your guide you will get insight and stories of the barnyard that can only be told the best by them. You’ll brush cows, feed horses and donkeys, cuddle turkeys, hold chickens, pet goats, and sheep, give pigs tummy rubs, and so much more. Being at The Gentle Barn is like walking through a giant storybook where you’ll hear the animals’ stories of resilience and learn what they teach us about forgiveness, unconditional love, and living in the moment. You are sure to fall in love with animals more deeply than ever before.

At The Gentle Barn we are not only here for animals, but once the animals are ready, we partner with them to heal people going through the same stories of trauma, or for those simply wanting to experience a greater sense of joy in their lives. Please choose to come for a cow hug therapy first, but then afterwards whenever you are ready for more, please come for horse and/or barnyard therapy too. Each of the three healing modalities has something different and truly remarkable to offer anyone searching for hope and healing. You can book as often as you need to, we are always here for you.

Cow Hug Therapy

Need a hug? Feeling sad, lonely, stressed out or scared? Going through a hard time? Come heal with the cows! Get hugs and unconditional love from our therapy cows. Meditate with them, hug them, and let them reassure you, fill you up, and love you. Put your worries down and leave renewed. The cows are here for you.

Rest your face on one of our cows shoulders, and feel warm and safe. Close your eyes and free your mind of thought, letting go of your to do lists and worry about past or future. Feel the cow's breathing and match yours to thiers. Find their giant heart beat and slow down your own. Our cows will help you get grounded, centered, humble, and vulnerable; and that is where all healing starts!

Each cow hug therapy session is for one hour and work best for one individual at a time, although we do allow guests to bring a spouse/partner or older child. It is for people ages fourteen and older. Cow Hug Therapy is not just for fun; we have private tours and are open to the public on Sundays for animal lovers who want to meet our animals. Cow hug therapy is intended for those who are looking for healing, peace, and hope from whatever you are going through.

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Horse Therapy

Need to build confidence? Do you want to work on leadership and life skills? Are you looking to create more self awareness and learn how to connect more deeply with others? Do you want to find you own inner strength and courage? Our horses and donkeys can help you!

In our very unique horse therapy sessions you will brush our horses in a very specific way to earn their trust, realize what signals you are sending out to others, and how to perceive the signals coming back to you. By watching the horses facial expressions, you will learn to understand them without words. By practicing self awareness, you will gain their trust. By walking them, you will learn leadership skills and confidence. There is nothing like a horse to learn about ourselves!

Each horse therapy session is for one hour and work best for one individual at a time, although we do allow guests to bring a spouse/partner or older child. It is for people ages fourteen and older. Horse Therapy is not just for fun; we have private tours and are open to the public on Sundays for animal lovers who want to meet our animals. Horse therapy is intended for those who are looking for confidence, inner strength, and healing from whatever you are going through.

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Barnyard Therapy

Need to find joy? Have you lost your smile and forgotten how to laugh? Are you stressed out and need to feel like a kid again? Do you just need to forget about your responsibilities for a while and just have fun? Our barnyard animals can help!

Leave your life at the door and come spend time with our pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, llamas, emus, and peacock. They too have been through hard times, but they have found joy in our barnyard and would like to help you do the same. Give the pigs tummy rubs and feel how soft and sweet they are. Hold the chickens in your arms and hear them purr. Cuddle our turkeys while they fall asleep in your lap and feel wanted. Spend time with our goats and sheep and feel needed. Laugh as they play. Cuddle up with them and feel loved. You will find your smile, your laughter and your joy! Remember how it feels to be a kid again!

Each barnyard therapy session is for one hour and work best for one individual at a time, although we do allow guests to bring a spouse/partner or older child. It is for people ages fourteen and older. Horse grooming Therapy is not just for fun; we have private tours and are open to the public on Sundays for animal lovers who want to meet our animals. barnyard therapy is intended for those who are looking for freedom from grief, laughter and joy, and healing from whatever you are going through.

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The Gentle Barn's staff or volunteers are there to facilitate the connection and provide safety between you and the cows but they are NOT therapists, and in no way offer medical or mental health advice themselves. In the event that additional mental health support is needed, The Gentle Barn recommends reaching out to a licensed mental health clinician.

Animals have so much to teach, and nature is a perfect classroom to educate children about themselves and the world around them. While brushing cows, feeding horses, cuddling turkeys, holding chickens, petting goats and sheep, giving pigs tummy rubs, and hearing the animals’ stories of resilience, children in grades k-12 will learn about body language, compassion, confidence, tolerance, and find themselves in the barnyard. We will explore what animals eat, how they play, where they sleep, and the many different ways animals use to communicate. All field trips start with a short presentation about the animals, ending with making wishes at our wishing well, and are geared to empower kids to be heroes in their own neighborhoods for animals, nature, and other people.