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You can hear the pigeons cooing in the rafters from the
nearby stalls and nickers of contentment floating from the herd as the humans brush and stroke their partners. The humans are soon talking to their animals in hushed tones as their relationships begin to blossom. A few giggles and tears escape here and there. As an observer, you notice how each person’s posture relaxes as they become more comfortable and confident. A peaceful atmosphere seems to flow into the pasture just like the gentle breeze moving the grass around hooves and boots alike. Fear seems to evaporate as each per- son quietly becomes more self-assured with his or her horse.
Into the Light Love, Richard says, is the opposite of fear. He compares it to light and dark; dark goes away when the light is turned on. He’s pleased when he sees someone’s light go on and a smile bust loose. The sun beams down on the herd of 15 horses. When all
five senses—touch, smell, sight, hearing and taste—are ac- tivated, the brain is totally engaged and paying at- tention to every detail of this train- ing. Learning is guided by Rich- ard’s comments and suggestions as each person’s desire to open up and share seems
to come forward quite naturally. This is the atmosphere that is necessary for optimum healing. The work that takes place here is an example of how fear
can be a motivator in a positive way. When a person has been brave enough to put him or herself into this new situ- ation, success gives renewed courage that can be drawn on later in other situations. As a result of these first, brave steps, these trainees can identify the feeling of personal power they have been missing. Another staff member, Miss Bath Honey, is a 15.2 hand
Thoroughbred mare approved by the American Trakehner Association. Miss Bath and her son Petey were Judy’s first two horses and founded the McMahan’s entire equine-assisted psychotherapy program. (Petey is a 17 hand Holsteiner-cross who now resides with a gentleman in Denver, doing classi- cal dressage.) Miss Bath can be a little standoffish and hard to make friends with, because she doesn’t like to leave her friend Sierra’s side. But as soon as the humans start mean- dering through the herd, she will make her way to a woman and her daughter and will allow these humans she’s picked to catch and love on her throughout the session. Miss Bath is also the mother of Mustafa, by the Trakehner
Martini, nicknamed “Moose,” as he’s 16.2 hands and 1,800 pounds of muscle. One of the McMahan’s three stallions, Moose is the ‘old man’ of the herd and can easily read human
14 July/August 2014
emotions. At first he’s a bit difficult, as he demands respect. Once he gets it, he will allow a human to halter him. Then he demonstrates his love of the healing process as the person he has chosen touches, caresses and brushes him. Behind his white eye, which he uses to intimidate, there is the sweet- est, most gentle horse on the farm. A timid woman who has escaped an abusive marriage and witnessed the death of a ten-year-old child is soon hugging this powerful stallion. Judy knows the personalities of each horse just as a
mother knows her own children. Her love for these animals radiates as she quietly keeps a watchful eye on all the partici- pants in the therapy program.
A Lifetime in the Making Judy was born, raised and graduated from college with a degree in business and a teaching certificate, all in Colorado. Then she moved to California with her new husband, who was serving in the Navy. She couldn’t find a teaching job so she accepted a position in the personnel office at the U.S. At- torney’s office and forged a long career with the government. Judy worked side by side with attorneys and judges—it was a fascinating legal education. Sixteen years later, she returned to Colorado. Newly divorced, she went to work in the federal court system in Denver where she served as the legal assis- tant to the bankruptcy court’s chief judge for many years. In 1990 she reconnected with Richard, whom she had
known from their college days at the University of North- ern Colorado. Their love and faith joined them in marriage in 1998. Like Judy, Richard is a Colorado native. He earned degrees in psychology, physical education and business. He then became a certified addictions counselor while coach- ing the University of Northern Colorado Bears baseball team to the College World Series in 1974. During his ten years of coaching he completed his master’s degree in vocational re- habilitation counseling, with an emphasis in chemical depen- dency and adolescent and family counseling. Richard’s desire to continue to help young adults took him to Los An- geles, where he devoted his energy to helping at- risk kids as an adolescent case manager, therapist and eventually treatment di- rector. When he returned to
ABOVE LEFT: Another attendee grooms her new partner. ABOVE: Richard and resident trainer Troy who explain the safe- ty of handling horses. OPPOSITE PAGE:The initial gathering of a group of attendees as they learn the history of the Trakehner horse and what to expect in their session that day.
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