{"url":"/sunland-tujunga/special-spirit","provider":{"id":"special-spirit","name":"Special Spirit","kind":"organization","about":"Special Spirit Inc. is a Los Angeles nonprofit (501(c)(3)) founded by Eva Lund, who opened Moonshadow Ranch in Shadow Hills in 2005 and later started Special Spirit. It provides inclusive equine-assisted services for people with special needs, at-risk youth, and people in recovery, including adaptive riding lessons, equine-assisted therapy, coaching and mindfulness, and team building. The ranch is at 9889 Helen Ave. (the site header says Shadow Hills, the footer Sunland). The ranch also has a small farm with goats, mini horses, a donkey and pigs.","website":"https://www.specialspirit.org","phone":"(323) 661-3090","email":"info@specialspirit.org","instagram":null,"founded":null,"credentials":["Nonprofit 501(c)(3)","PATH International certified riding instructors","EAGALA certified equine specialists","Licensed marriage and family therapists on staff"],"languages":[],"image":null},"location":{"id":"main","name":null,"street":"9889 Helen Ave.","unit":null,"city":"sunland-tujunga","zip":"91040","neighborhood":null,"coords":[-118.365101,34.249716],"precision":"exact"},"serviceArea":[],"programs":[{"id":"equine-therapy","type":"health","name":"Adaptive riding and equine-assisted therapy","summary":"Adaptive riding lessons and equine-assisted therapy at a Shadow Hills/Sunland ranch for children and adults with special needs, led by PATH-certified instructors and licensed therapists.","description":"Adaptive riding lessons and equine-assisted therapy at a ranch in Shadow Hills/Sunland, for people of all abilities, including children and adults with special needs, underserved youth, and people navigating recovery or seeking emotional healing. Riding instruction is led by PATH International certified therapeutic riding instructors and instructors who follow PATH guidelines. Equine-assisted therapy is offered with licensed marriage and family therapists on staff, using animal-assisted and trauma-informed approaches, along with equine coaching and mindfulness programs and Natural Lifemanship-certified facilitators. Staff include Eva Lund (Executive Director, PATH certified instructor, EAGALA certified equine specialist) and Cassie Hurlbut (PATH certified instructor). Adults are served too; the program also runs a youth empowerment track. Contact by phone or text at (323) 661-3090.","categories":["equine-therapy","child-therapy"],"ages":{"min":0,"max":21},"format":"in-person","health":{"specialties":["Adaptive riding lessons","Equine-assisted therapy","Equine-assisted coaching and mindfulness","Trauma-informed equine-assisted services"],"practitioners":["Eva Lund, PATH International Certified Riding Instructor, EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist","Cassie Hurlbut, PATH International Certified Riding Instructor, EAGALA Certified Equine Specialist","Katie Griner, LMFT","Nicoletta Heidegger, LMFT"]},"traits":{"specialNeeds":"focused","delivery":["clinic"],"staff":["certified-coaches","specialists"],"feel":"A working horse ranch with a small farm where riding lessons and therapy sessions happen alongside horses and farm animals.","topics":["adaptive-riding","equine-assisted-therapy","path-international","trauma-informed","eagala","animal-assisted-therapy","nonprofit"],"methods":["mindfulness"],"goals":["confidence","wellbeing"]}}],"source":{"url":"https://www.specialspirit.org","fetched":"2026-10-12"},"updated":"2026-10-12","checked":null,"closed":null,"sample":false}