when Ashley describes how an EAP client who had suicide in his life gravitated to Sake—without knowing his his- tory. Choosing a horse with a similar loss in his life was pretty amazing. Registered Rhinelander Abraham (formerly Rangoon)
was donated at 17. Now 24, he had been a three-year-old German stallion of the year and went on to be a grand prix jumper, trained and ridden by Olympic gold medalists in jumping. He also was trained up through Prix St. Georges level dressage. A suspensory ligament injury sidelined Abraham for a
year, but he never really recovered. “I thought he would be too high strung for our programs,” Ashley continues, “but I took him anyway, turned him out in pasture and let him be a horse for a couple of months. Since then he hasn’t taken a lame step. We do a lot of EAP with him. He’s great in the ses- sions. Kids riding in our Life Skills Program know what to do with him and he loves it.” Hanoverian Ferro was a ‘basket case’ in the dressage
arena. Initially, when his owner learned how Ferro was abused by a former trainer, Ferro was brought to the Shep- herd ranch for Parelli natural horsemanship to build his confi dence. His owner’s busy schedule led to his eventual donation and he became a star at EAP. Then he joined the Life Skills Program, where he excelled in liberty training. “The kids have never even thought that you could run
Top: Sake warms up to owner/director Ashley Hayes of Shepherd Youth Ranch. Bottom: Sake works with two young teens during a summer camp session.
Sake pushes his way through the herd, making threatening faces and gestures at the other horses. This should be fun, they think, until along comes little Nevada, a 14.1 hand Mus- tang who spent the fi rst nine years of his life in the wild. Sud- denly stereotypes are shattered. Nevada calmly gives Sake the evil eye, and the big guy backs away. Nevada is a benevolent leader, but clearly in charge. “We have a lot of conversations with the kids and the families about what they see and what leadership is in life,” says Ashley Hayes, founder of the faith-based Shepherd Youth Ranch and certifi ed by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) in equine assisted psy- chotherapy. Shepherd serves youth and adults through equine assisted psychotherapy, equine assisted learning and equine assisted life skill building programs. “Warmbloods in the program can be intimidating, but
Sake is a good example of how size or physical strength doesn’t automatically give you credibility as a leader.” Sake’s owner from the time of his birth had tragically
passed away. He had fallen into depression and lost 400 pounds. “When I met him, he was gone emotionally,” says Ashley. The mystery of how EAP works is demonstrated
34 September/October 2013
and trot with a horse, or direct him with your body signals to go over a jump or stand on a pedestal. Here was Ferro, Mr. Emotional, opening doors to building children’s confi - dence,” says Ashley. “The kids in EAP and Life Skills Building relate to his emotional fears.” My own horse’s story is not at all sad and he comes
pretty much baggage free, though his skill at expressing his views on life might make him a great EAP horse. Unfortu- nately, he’s too old for Shepherd Youth Ranch which prefers horses 13 and under because their herd is getting up in years. Other places, however, may be looking for a horse just his age, 18 years young.
THERAPEUTIC RIDING How about if your retiring partner became a therapeutic rid- ing horse? It seems like a noble profession and he would not have to collect, collect, collect; be straight; give more impul- sion, etcetera. Therapeutic riding horses are praised as ac- cepting, trustworthy, predictable, focused, willing, well-bal- anced, pain-free and forward moving. Would he fi t the crite- ria? He should be sound walk, trot, canter on the lunge line in both directions. “A program for individuals with disabilities shouldn’t employ horses that are disabled,” says Maxine Frei- tas, founder and executive director of Equi-Ed in Santa Rosa, California. People with disabilities might have balance issues. Compromised gaits don’t help that rider’s balance.” My horse is not blind, even in one eye, nor has he had
navicular disease and been nerved. So for those reasons, he’s eligible.
Photos courtesy Shepherd Youth Ranch
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