Every body can use a helping hand…or hoof.

A farm in Mattapoisett aims to provide just that, operating as a therapeutic farm for adults with special needs. Most of the activity at the farm, called Helping Hands and Hooves, is horse-based, and helps with building confidence, self esteem and independence, as well as working on fine motor skills.

The newest additions to the farm, run by Julie Craig and Debbie Dyson, are interactive stations that have been added to a trail on the property.

“We got a grant from the Yawkey Foundation, and we had a year to use it,” Craig said. “So we built stations on the trail.”

Craig and Dyson reached out to Kate Butler, an art teacher at Old Rochester Regional who also has a daughter who rides at the farm, to design the stations. With help from Paul Lagonwich, Butler was able to come up with a few different designs for activities that could be done while sitting on top of a horse. Bob Graves, of Graves Construction in Mattapoisett, built the stations.

One station has a variety of types of locks that need to be locked, another has small doors that need to be unlocked so the rider can grab a toy from inside and another had giant hanging wind chimes that need to be hit with a big stick.

“These stations really focus on developing fine motor skills,” Craig said.

The newest addition to the trail is just part of the bigger picture for Dyson and Craig.

“We wanted to make this program for people who would otherwise not get the opportunity to learn to ride,” Craig said.

For more information on Helping Hands and Hooves, visit www.helpinghandsandhooves.org.