Horses help bring back memories for clients with dementia.
~Hearts & Horses, Loveland, Colorado, nonprofit therapeutic riding facility
Equi-Spective life lessons program brings self-awareness and the power to better control emotions. During the session, they may hug, pet and cry on the horse, but they leave the corral smiling.” The program teamed up with the
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survi- vors (TAPS) serving bereaved military families. Kelly Griffith, a surviving sister of U.S. Marine Corps Major Samuel Griffith, points to the power of equine therapy in a video at
Tinyurl.com/ Equi-SpectiveVideo. Susan Wight, a former professional
steeplechase rider and ambassador for TAPS in Leesburg, Virginia, says, “My husband was my riding coach. When he passed away, I was numb when facing decisions, but at the session, it felt like one of the horses was the one to choose. The initial flood of emotions and memo- ries from being around horses again wasn’t pretty, but empathy is a specific language, and I’m grateful for the oppor-
tunity. Horses are a huge part of my life.” At Ranch Hand Rescue Counsel-
ing Center & Animal Sanctuary, in South Argyle, Texas, founder Bob Williams considers animal therapy a ministry. “We rescue abused and neglected farm animals, including horses that come into play when patients are not respond- ing to usual therapies,” he says. “It’s important for damaged people to learn to live in the light, and our partnering with the special needs animals helps put them on the emotional path to health.” The res- cue’s mission is to provide hope, healing and a sense of security for children and adults that have suffered severe trauma such as abuse, domestic violence and witnessing violent death (
Tinyurl.com/ RanchHandRescueVideo). Riding Beyond’s four-session
program, in Ashland, Oregon, is free to women recovering from the rigors of breast cancer treatment. Expenses are covered by donations from the com-
munity. German research published in the journal Psycho-Oncology reported that 82 percent of participating breast cancer patients studied displayed symp- toms of PTSD following diagnosis. “They often don’t want to touch
or be touched, and have trouble with friendships and intimate relationships; issues that can cripple a woman’s life,” says Trish Broersma, founding director and a certified therapeutic riding professional at Riding Beyond (Tinyurl. com/RidingBeyondVideo). “The medi- cal team that saved their lives doesn’t treat these issues.” The first client, unfamiliar with horses, met Mystic, who touched her on the site of the former tumor. She says, “Even weeks later, when I brought her image to mind when stressed, sad or even happy, it brought feelings of contentment, peace and well-being.” Horses have been serving humans
in many ways for centuries. Equine therapy shows they have even more to give if we are open to receive.
Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@
mindspring.com.
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February 2017
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