Our Story

Butterfly Dreams Farm Therapeutic Riding Program (BDF) is a 501C-3 nonprofit organization that provides a safe and fun environment for students to receive therapy and riding instruction on horseback. BDF was established in 2005 and is situated on a 9-acre farm in Watkinsville, Georgia. Our program relies heavily on our dedicated volunteers who assist our certified therapists and therapeutic riding instructors with weekly lessons and therapy sessions. Currently, BDF has two certified therapists, five PATH-certified instructors, and over 30 volunteers who make our program possible. Additionally, our incredible program horses and ponies play an integral role in our program. If you’d like to learn more about our program horses both current and past, please visit the “Our Horses” tab located under this “About” menu tab.

At BDF we serve youth through two complimentary services: hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. While both are done on horseback, the horse serves a unique role in each. Some of our youth will receive both forms of therapy or transition into therapeutic riding as their needs and goals change. Please see our hippotherapy and therapeutic riding tabs for more information about each branch of our program.

Speech pathologist, foster mother, and lifelong equestrian Cat Thompson established Butterfly Dreams Farm with co-founder Tracy Mosher after seeing the powerful way horses impacted a special child in her life. Through riding, her daughter, Alli, gained the strength to walk and ability to communicate. Horses gave her reasons to laugh, smile and created a place where her body and heart felt safe. Our vision is for BDF to be a place of healing and joy for every child and adult that we serve. In each interaction we seek to carry forward the memory of Alli and create a safe environment where our students can find strength and healing.

Below is the poem written by Cat Thompson in memory of Ali, which inspired the name of BDF Therapeutic Riding Program:

Butterfly Dreams
For Alli
Beautiful, beautiful child,
No words, but such a story,
Still written though you’re away.
No voice, but such a song,
Its melody a gift to stay.
Troubled body, but such a dance,
Its movement missed dearly each day.
Beautiful, beautiful child,
Your light still shines beyond my tears,
Won’t you chase away my every doubt?
The lessons you taught me of genuine love,
Won’t you gently remind me what those were about?
Your smile that would brighten my darkest hour,
Won’t you be my rainbow in this cloud?
Beautiful, beautiful child,
My heart is crushed and I’m empty inside,
Won’t you lift me up with your angel wings?
My days catch me searching for strength and for hope,
Won’t you show me the wonder of simple things?
My nights leave me restless, weary and scared,
Won’t you fill up my head with butterfly dreams?