THE HORSE GAZETTE
working with horses
the prism of the horse - one therapist’s approach
By Ingrid Edisen, © 2010
“My therapist friends the horses and relate their is what she hopes to help her
three tries of this, Linda wisely
moment for her.
and the client.”
like to say that I do sex and emotional revelations to their clients to understand. “I don’t
pointed out to Sarah that Sarah
As a general rule of
R e c e n t l y S a r a h
horses,” Austin psychothera- everyday lives. “They learn tell them what they are doing.
herself was continually turn-
thumb, Sarah suggests that a
formed a new office that houses
pist and horse enthusiast Sarah how to notice their emotions Instead I invite people to look
ing back and checking on the
new client or couple try at least
not only her office practice
Janosik said with a quick smile and use the information,” Sarah at things, to trust their own
horse’s progress--desperate to
four sessions--in an office or
but also offers practitioners
as we sat down for our inter- experiences and their views.
make sure that the horse was
through a horse experience--
who focus on body, mind and
view one recent evening. Sarah We work on what is called
following along with her. The
before deciding if the therapy
emotional work from all angles.
has seen the power of our con- ‘emotional mapping.’” The
dynamic of turning back in-
is valid for them. By then she
There is not only another thera-
nection to horses. She considers clients learn, for example, to
stead sent energy in the wrong
has had time to share necessary
pist there, but a Pilate’s special-
the animals to be partners in use range of physical distance
direction and the horse cor-
information with the client or
ist and a physical therapist as
her work as the horses help between them and the horse as
rectly read it this way.
couple and they have a better
well. Her two websites explain
her clients transform their they set up boundaries.
Linda advised Sarah
feel for her as a therapist to
her work at Relate Center.com
lives. Her clients can better The best set up for
to try to have confidence and
see if all can work together.
and Equus for Venus.com. She
understand themselves and gain her horse work (she is willing
assume that the horse would
And after several sessions, to
reserves two days a week for
trust in their own intuition and to work with clients at any barn
come with her and to stop look-
end their time with her, she
her horse-assisted practice
emotions. as long as there is consent and
ing backwards. It worked like
is sure the client will tell her
and travels to several barns in
It is the horse’s abil- a safe environment to use) is a
a charm; the horse followed
when they are done and ready
Austin and across the U.S. and
ity to stay in the present, which explained. “It’s what you do paddock or round pen but even
along happily. The session
to move on.
other countries when hired to
allows Sarah to guide clients with the emotion that counts.” this is not necessary. Merely
mirrored exactly some issues
“It’s not like the old
do so.
towards a sense of balance and Routine horse han- taking a horse out of a stall and
Sarah was having in her “real
days,” Sarah said. “Nowadays
heightened self-awareness. dling might include her ob- doing any routine horse care can
life” in important relationships.
therapy is more of a partnership
Interactions with horses not serving how a couple might go serve as a therapy session. For
Photo: Sarah and Mystique
This proved to be an “a-ha”
between you as the therapist
only help people understand the about grooming a horse. She example, once Sarah invited a
parallels in their own lives but allows clients to choose which client to help her bathe her own
begin the healing process. Sar- horse they might want to work horse, Mystique. The client
ah explained that the horses with. Most of the exercises who had a long-standing belief
make excellent teachers and and handling is done on the that she was unlovable kept
Horse Megga Store
therapists, leading her clients ground. Certain rules concern- mentioning that she thought she
to have “corrective emotional ing respect for the animal and could tell Mystique didn’t like
experiences.” safety considerations are taught her. Sarah gently remarked that
A licensed clinical beforehand and reinforced the horse was instead relishing
social worker, Sarah also is an throughout the sessions. all the attention--from the client
accredited sex therapist and a Sarah observed that a as well--and showing this. The
recognized EPONA instructor. horse can detect when someone client called her a few days later
EPONA is a form of equine is being inauthentic. Due to happily telling Sarah about a
facilitated learning founded their sensitivity and history of breakthrough based on this OPEN TO THE PUBLIC...and much more than just a feed store!
by Linda Kohanov whose in- being prey animals, horses are session. The client was able to
Take Lookout Road to the Retama Park Guard Station -  Retama Parkway, Selma, Texas
teractions with horses resulted quick to react when they don’t make a much-valued connec-
in groundbreaking therapeu- feel safe or willing to trust. And tion between what had trans-
tic insights. Sarah is also an just like horses, people have an pired when she worked around
NEW Western Tack Section!
approved equine facilitated emotional range that stretches the horse and how she handled
psychotherapist after having from fight, to flight or freeze. certain relationship issues in
Roping, Barrel, Pleasure, Trail & Children’s Saddles
studied at the EPONA Center When we get into the extremes “real life.”
in Sonorita, AZ. of this emotional scale, we start What won Sarah over
While her practice to lose the ability to choose to this form of therapy was an
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also offers traditional office our actions and instead begin early experience she had with
visits, Sarah finds that some
We carry the BEST shavings...not too small, not too large and not too dusty!
to operate more automatically Linda Kohanov herself. In
of the most beneficial sessions and reactively, Sarah explained. that instance, Sarah was in the
with clients are hands-on ex- The goal of the therapy is to round pen with a horse and the
210-651-8228
periences with horses. In her enable clients to see more two of them were connecting Monday - Wednesday: 8am - 5pm
private and group sessions she clearly what variations they (the horse clearly loved being Thursday - Saturday: 8am - 6:45 pm • Closed Sundays
routinely offers horse-handling can select from before merely near Sarah, was nuzzling her,
opportunities to help clients shutting down or ramping up etc.) All seemed well. How-
establish important and highly their emotions based on past ever, when Sarah attempted to
personal connections with experiences or fear. have the horse “join up” with
horses. Her workshops offer “The answers are re- her and walk a few steps along
clients a fun environment to ally inside of them,” Sarah said with her, the horse refused
Training • Showing • Instruction
explore themselves through of her human clients. That and stayed put. Finally, after
Limited space available ... call today!
equine health
the way of the horse
mare watch
By Eleanor Blazer © 2010
A watched pot never Don’t breed her, turn
During the last 90
boils. her out to pasture and expect
days of gestation the mare’s
Just like the fabled nature to take its course.
body condition must be moni-
pot, waiting for a mare to foal You may get a foal,
tored. An obese mare will have
will make you think it will but you want more; you want
trouble foaling and tends to
never happen. a healthy foal, able to reach its
have smaller foals. A thin mare
But turning your genetic potential.
will produce weak foals and
back on the simmering pot…or During the first eight
insufficient amounts of milk.
the gestating broodmare can months of gestation things are
When calories are decreased
lead to disaster. pretty quiet. The fetus only
in an obese mare it is important
Prior to being bred does about 20 percent of it’s
not to decrease needed amounts
the mare’s health and condi- developing during this time.
of protein, vitamins, and miner-
tion should be evaluated and The last three months
als. Make any changes to the
adjusted if needed. After she of gestation is critical. Things
diet gradually.
is pregnant is not the time to start heating up and the simmer-
This is also the time
Bo & Michelle Phillips
make big changes. Take good ing is accelerating. The ignored
to take the mare off tall fescue.
Bulverde, TX
care of that special broodmare. pot can boil over.
Tall fescue is a popular grass
If she’s good enough to breed, Most of the fetal
used in hay fields and pastures.
210-332-2743
Indoor Training Facility
she deserves good care. growth and bone development
It can carry endophytic fungus
Her body condition takes place during the last 90
(neotyphodium coenophialum).
score should be between a five days of gestation. The mare’s
This fungus causes laminitis,
and seven. This means you nutritional requirements in-
abortions, prolonged preg-
should be able to feel ribs when crease.
nancy, thickened or retrained
you press lightly on her side. This is also the time
placenta, decreased or no milk,
There should be small amounts of year when good quality for-
foaling problems; weak, sick
of fat deposits around the with- age is in short supply, in most
foals and death.
ers, the tail head, behind the parts of the country the weather
There are endophyte-
elbows and along the backbone. is lousy and doing chores is a
free tall fescue varieties avail-
The mare should not be thin or challenge. It’s very easy to ig-
able. You can have the hay field
fat. For more about body con- nore the broodmare - but don’t
tested by your local agricultural
Lonely Fool
dition score, please visit www. do it.
extension office. This test must
209 CR 403 - Marble Falls, TX 78654
thewayofhorses.com. Vitamin and mineral
be done before the field is har-
Bo
Lonely Fool is a registered QH. He has done parades,
The mare’s nutri- requirements must be met.
vested. The safest thing is to not barrel races, trail rides and all things pertaining to Burnet
tional requirements are the Calcium, phosphorus,
feed tall fescue.
County Rodeo Queen duties. 17-years-old. Completely
same as a horse that is not in copper and zinc deficiencies
11 months – it’s a
sound & ready for another child to win ribbons & buckles.
foal. These requirements are during the last three months
long time to watch a pot or
Only good homes need apply.
based on the amount of work of gestation can lead to devel-
broodmare. But the end result
she is doing, her age, health and opmental orthopedic disease.
of a healthy foal out of your
Bo is a 17-year-old, 15.2 h beautiful palomino and
if she is nursing a foal. Minerals must be in balance
completely child safe. He is laid back and fun to ride. Bo
favorite mare is worth it. So,
has done western pleasure, parades and trail rides. He
The mare’s diet and provided at the proper
take the time.
is in great shape, current on all shots, farrier work, and
should consist of plenty of good levels. A good commercial
* Earn a Bachelor of coggins.
quality forage, a supplement or product designed for brood-
Science degree in equine studies
product that compliments the mares and fed according to the
or certification as a Professional
forage and makes up for the feeding directions can provide
Horse Trainer or Riding Instruc-
nutrients that are lacking in these needed nutrients.
Happy Holidays from Tonkawood Farm!
tor. Start your new career as a
the forage, free choice salt and Research has shown
riding instructor, horse trainer,
Our horses are selling so fast this year that we ask you to please call us with your wish list so we can let you know
fresh water. She should have trying to make up for nutritional
or stable manager. All courses if we get one that could suite you and your family. If the horse doesn’t suit your needs, we’ll trade out for another
all her vaccinations up to date deficiencies after foaling does
are online. Start anytime and
of our fine horses! Please check our web site to view them and review our buyer quarantee program.
and be on a good de-worming not work. The mare must pro-
work at your own pace. Visit
program. vide the nutrients to the foal
www.horsecoursesonline.com.
Call Pat Dickey at 830-693-8253
while the foal is in utero.
for information.
E-mail: Pat@tonkawood.com • Visit us at www.Tonkawood.com
Visit us at: www.HorseGazette.com Page 9
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