About Stirrup Hope
We are an EFL (Equine Facilitated Learning) program. EFL is an emerging field in which horses and humans work together as guides and facilitators to help people enhance their life skills, improve emotional well being and increase self-awareness.
It is also known as Equine Assisted Learning, Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning, Equine Facilitated Therapy and Equine Assisted Growth and Learning.
EFL is a term covering a wide array of social and emotional learning activities centered around horse experiences.
EFL facilitators may be educators, athletic trainers, medical or allied health trained individuals. EFL facilitators may have background knowledge of horses and horse related activities. EFL may contribute to positive outcomes for a participant.We serve people of all ages and from all stages of life-autism, anxiety, trauma, young and old, disabled, first responders and veterans-just to name a few.
Our program
consists of ground level experiences with our equine partners with activities geared toward each individual. These individual sessions that can be as private as needed by each participant.
Stirrup Hope offers the experience of spending time with our horses from the ground, shoulder to shoulder, eye to eye. We focus on teaching our participants how to build a trusting, kind, empathetic relationship with themselves, the horses and others.
Through a variety of activities, we lead our participants through exercises that teach self-regulation, soft breathing, a sensitive touch, compassion and leadership. Stirrup Hope Equine-Facilitated Learning promotes learning, growing, and embracing the heart of human and horse one at a time.
Stirrup Hope is located at 2151 Woodville Road at Trinity Oaks Farm in Florence, SC.
Our program is based on the studies conducted by The Heart Math Institute Research Center, the practice of “Holding Space” by Adam Brady, and the philosophy and training by Mark Rashad.
Meet Our Board
Stirrup Hope Board of Directors
Connecting the Hearts of Horse and Human One at a Time
Liz Moore
Chair, Director and Board Treasurer
Liz is a Co-Founder and the Director of Stirrup Hope. She serves as Chair and Treasurer on the Board of Directors. Liz facilitates sessions and manages the day to day activities at the farm. She is a retired Special Ed teacher with 12 years experience in the public schools. Liz lives in Florence with her husband and has 2 adult children.
Noemi Tassios
Advisor/Volunteer
Noemi is recently retired from the military after serving for 34 years in the Navy, Navy Reserves, SCARNG and Army Reserves. On the civilian side, she is Fitness Professional with a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology from USC Columbia. She has 30 years experience in Fitness Management, Personal Training, Group Fitness and developing exercise programs for people with chronic conditions. She currently teaches Water Aerobics at McLeod Health and Fitness Center in Florence, SC. Stirrup Hope's Mission as well as her love of nature, animals, people and her faith have inspired her to join our team.
Michael Hopla
Advisor/Volunteer
Has over 16 years of experience as Diagnostic and CT technologist and currently is a supervisor of an imaging department in a hospital. He is a Founding Member of Faith Chapel Martial Arts. He holds a 3rd Black Belt in Dae Han Moo Do, 2nd Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, 1st Dan Black Belt Tang Soo Do, and a brown belt in Hapkido. Mr. Hopla is a member at Faith Chapel Church and has a true heart for our young people. He is a committed leader in the children ministries and when he is not training you will find him mentoring or counciling a young person.