LOCATION & HOURS 3713 New Highway 96 W. Franklin, Tennessee 37064 APPOINTMENTS MUST BE MADE IN ADVANCE CONTACT WHF Tel: (615) 594-9958 Email: chefcyndi@protonmail.com SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A SESSION Submit Thanks for submitting!

EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL HEALING THROUGH EQUINE THERAPY Request an Appointment Photo: SusanDeLisiPhotography.com

CYNDI SHALHOUB Equine Specialist Eagala Certified OUR STORY WHISPERING HEARTS FARM: A SANCTUARY OF HEALING AND PEACE Whispering Hearts Farm was a vision long before it became a reality. Born from my personal life experiences and a desire to create a safe haven, this farm is a place where people can find healing and peace through the love of Christ. Here, broken hearts find a sanctuary—a place to escape the outside chatter of the world and quiet their minds and hearts. Much of my inspiration came from Kim Meeder, a remarkable woman in Bend, Oregon. She founded a small ranch with rescue horses, providing them with food, love, and shelter. Alongside these animals came children, bearing wounds similar to those of the horses. Kim's journey, beautifully chronicled in her book “Hope Rising,” was a beacon of hope during my own healing journey. Years later, the dream that had been incubating in my heart took shape. I began with my own rescue horse, Buttercup. Then came Motley, another creature who arrived at my farm thin, undernourished, and in need of love. With steady care and affection, Motley transformed into a beautiful, confident companion. Together, they have been incredible partners in my work as an equine therapist. At Whispering Hearts Farm, the goal is simple: to offer a place of refuge and renewal, where every soul can find solace and strength through the gentle, healing presence of horses, aided by my passion and expertise, and covered by the unwavering love of Christ. OUR JOURNEY TO EQUINE THERAPY In 2018, while preparing for certification in a program designed by the founding members of EAGALA, I visited Kim Meeder’s Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Oregon to participate in a similar ministries program. There, I learned the essential elements of starting a ministry that uses horses as facilitators for growth, learning, and healing. In 2019, after qualifying for acceptance into EAGALA’s program, I pursued my own certification as an Equine Specialist. The journey to realizing this vision hasn’t been swift, but isn’t that just how healing works? Step by step, I have been building upon this vision. In the near future, my goal is to offer sessions that will inspire and facilitate healing for the broken-hearted, substance-addicted, and abused. Welcome to Whispering Hearts Farm. Join us in our journey to love and healing.

WHAT IS EAGALA AND EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY The Eagala organization spans a global network of highly professional and passionate individuals incorporating horses into treatment. Every certified Eagala practitioner is a credentialed Mental Health Professional or Equine Specialist, passing through standardized hands-on training, assessment, and mentorship. The Eagala Model is a team approach that includes a licensed, credentialed Mental Health Professional, a qualified Equine Specialist, and horses working together with the client in an arena at all times. You can learn more by visiting their website at www.eagala.org Even More on the uses and benefits of Equine Therapy Equine Therapy (also referred to as Horse Therapy, Equine-Assisted Therapy, and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy) is a form of experiential therapy that involves interactions between patients and horses. Equine Therapy involves activities (such as grooming, feeding, haltering and leading a horse) that are supervised by a mental health professional, often with the support of a horse professional. Both during the activity and after the patient has finished working with the horse, the equine therapist can observe and interact with the patient in order to identify behavior patterns and process thoughts and emotions. The goal of equine therapy is to help the patient develop needed skills and attributes, such as accountability, responsibility, self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and self-control. Equine therapy also provides an innovative milieu in which the therapist and the patient can identify and address a range of emotional and behavioral challenges. What are the Benefits of Equine Therapy? Studies have indicated that equine therapy has been successful in helping patients show marked improvements in the following areas: Assertiveness Emotional awareness Empathy Stress tolerance Flexibility Impulse control Problem-solving skills Self-actualization Independence Self-regard Social responsibility Interpersonal relationships Many of the benefits of equine therapy are likely due to the nature of the animals with which the patient and equine therapist are interacting. Horses are typically non-judgmental, have no preconceived expectations or motives, and are highly effective at mirroring attitudes and behaviors of the humans with whom they are working. While working with horses under the guidance and supervision of an equine therapist, equine therapy patients have a unique and effective opportunity to note their tendency to engage in self-defeating and otherwise negative thoughts and actions. These realizations provide excellent bases for discussion and processing both during and after the equine therapy experience.

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WHISPERING HEARTS FARM is a gorgeous rustic retreat just minutes from downtown Franklin, Tennessee. It is a gated, fenced, and cross-fenced working farm with a riding arena, large stables, tack room, and storage room. The farm is also an Equine Therapy Center and boasts lots of friendly, furry, feathery creatures! CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY PARTIES AT THE FARM The owner of WHF, is also known around the Franklin TN area as Chef Cyndi. Because of the unique partnering of Equines and Cooking, and a love for children, Chef Cyndi offers a unique children’s experience for interactive birthday parties at the farm. Kids experience a working farm, pet a chicken, walk around with an alpaca and meet the Miniature Therapy horses Lollipop and Butterscotch. After some interactive fun around the farm, everyone sits down for an organic kid friendly lunch. Special add on’s can also be available, such as a homemade organic birthday cake or a Miniature Donkey ride in the round pen. This birthday experience is limited to 20 children and there must be one adult per 2 children to assist in their supervision and safety. WHF is also home to Rosy & Daisy, Huacaya Alpacas who offer a fun distraction for visitors to interact with or just hangout and enjoy their goofiness. The “chicks” of WHF include a bevy of various breeds of chickens, some of whom were conceived, born and raised on the farm.

WHO WILL BE WORKING WITH ME ? Eagala Certified Equine Therapist CYNDI SHALHOUB Introduce your team! Click here to add images, text and links, or connect data from your collection. Mental Health Professional TBD Introduce your team! Click here to add images, text and links, or connect data from your collection. Therapy Horse BUTTERCUP Introduce your team! Click here to add images, text and links, or connect data from your collection. Miniature Therapy Horses LOLLIPOP & BUTTERSCOTCH Introduce your team! Click here to add images, text and links, or connect data from your collection.