Take Flight Farms began as an idea of Lisa Roskens to incorporate her love of animals with her desire to help others. This concept, labeled the “Farm Project”, was developed during the summer of 2001 as interested individuals in the community contributed their ideas and enthusiasm.

As the Farm Project became more refined, the idea of concentrating on horses began to take shape. Initial research indicated that in traditional therapeutic riding programs, the physical aspects of the horse - its gait, size and warmth, provide benefits to riders with physical and cognitive challenges. During these therapeutic riding sessions, it was noted that often the riders also experienced a sense of well-being, accomplishment, and gained self esteem. Couldn’t individuals challenged with emotional, behavioral or mental health issues, or those at-risk due to socio-economic factors, benefit from the interaction with horses as well?

Over the next few months, a series of pilot programs involving horsemanship instruction and riding lessons were conducted with young women from Girls Incorporated. The entire experience brought to mind a quote by Denis Waitley, “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” Soon after, the ‘Farm Project’ officially became Take Flight Farms.

By the summer of 2002, Take Flight Farms had been incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, elected a Board of Directors, hired an Executive Director, certified an instructor, and was conducting equine assisted learning activities with 16 young people from 2 organizations. The services of an adolescent clinical psychologist provided the professional experience to add equine assisted psychotherapy sessions in 2003.