About Us
The Purpose
We serve children and adults with special needs, kids with cancer, veterans, military service members and their families. Participants in our therapy programs range from age 2 to 92 and are diagnosed with a variety of conditions. Participants are referred to us by word of mouth, physical practitioners and by other agencies. Learn more about the benefits of our services here.
The Programs
We offer a comprehensive approach to therapy in five different services: Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Occupational Therapy (Hippotherapy), Equine-Assisted Self Exploration (E.A.S.E.), Warrior Mission: At Ease (W.M.A.E.) Military Retreats and Family Fun Days. We believe healing starts with the individual, but expands to the entire family and community. All of our services involve interaction with horses whether in saddle or on the ground and are administered by certified professionals. Learn more about our services below.
The People
Quantum Leap Farm was founded by Edie Dopking, PhD after an academic endeavor revealed the benefits of equine therapy for adults with disabilities. Twenty-one years later, the Farm consists of 12 staff members with an array of degrees and certifications in Hippotherapy, EAGALA, PATH and mental health counseling. Beyond what schooling can provide, the Quantum staff has a passion to help others find healing, a genuine love for all living things and a spirit of fun and friendship that can’t be quantified.
The Pasture
Our facility is on a 20-acre pasture in Odessa, FL nestled next to a 1,700-acre environmentally sensitive land preserve owned by Hillsborough County. We currently have 9 horses, 2 donkeys, 2 goats and 1 cat. You can read their biographies in the links below.
History
Edie Dopking, Ph.D., founded Quantum Leap Farm, Inc., in 2000 originally to serve adults with mental and physical disabilities through therapeutic equine activities. Edie and some friends had used the Odessa property as a horse co-op for many years, sharing resources and taking turns caring for each others’ horses. A fortunate turn of events made it possible to Edie to pursue a long-held dream of serving wounded veterans through equine therapy and the small pasture slowly grew into a comprehensive equine therapy facility. When founded, QLF was the only local therapeutic horseback riding program serving adults.
2001
Our first full year of service, we provided just over 1,100 riding sessions to upwards of 80 participants from Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco Counties with the help of over 90
2007
A state-of-the-art riding arena was added thanks to a Community Development Block Grant from the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners.
2008
At E.A.S.E. sessions (Equine Assisted Self-Exploration) and E.E.L. (Equine Experiential Learning) were added to our menu of services.
2010
Occupational Therapy program using equine movement began A Sure Hands Lift was installed to safely aid paralyzed participants in mounting our therapy horses. The At E.A.S.E. Team began a series
2011
Participant volume increased by 30% from the previous year. A special program called MaKayla’s Hands on Horses was created in partnership with 1Voice, to serve pediatric cancer patients, pediatric cancer
2012
Participant volume increased again by 35%. Therapeutic riding sessions extended into the afternoon hours. Our At E.A.S.E. Team began a weekly partnership with traumatic brain injured participants from NeuroRestorative. Summer
2012
Edie Dopking receives the Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero Award for Quantum Leap Farm’s 13 years of service to the greater Tampa Bay area.
2013
Participant in Quantum’s equine-assisted therapies and Army veteran, Mark Lalli receives the Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero Award.
2014
Just over 1,500 individuals were served with over 5,500 therapeutic sessions, assisted by over 600 volunteers.
2016
Quantum receives the 2016 WEDU Be More Award for “Be More Entertaining” for the creativity and success of yearly fundraiser, Stirrup Hope.
2016
Quantum receives “Heroes Among Us” Award from Congressman Gus Bilirakis for outstanding work in the community.
2017
Mark and Matt Fetterman of the Homefront Foundation are awarded as Tampa Bay Lightning Community Heroes benefiting Quantum Leap Farm and the Homefront Foundation.
