program. And now another oil company, Bill Barrett Corpo- ration, already a supporter of Richard’s work, is beginning to work with Covenant under the same terms. “I’d like to see this spread and become a cultural phe- nomenon that’s unique to our industry,” Susan says. “I believe in my heart this is going to be a ground-breaking idea.”
“Richard’s work meshes really well with our industry and
its values. These creatures have enormous power to help people. It is simply awe inspiring,” she continues. For his part, Richard welcomes these partnership oppor-
tunities. As he works with local businesses to offer his services to more and more people in need, he is determined to spread the word—both about his work and the companies that support it. He is eager to share their good work and to recruit more of them. He also wants to install webcams and stream live videos
to show his work step by step, to help people around the country understand the progress wounded humans can make with the help of a horse, noting that explanations simply don’t do the process justice. In addition, he welcomes volunteers at his facility. It is, he
says, another part of his mission to improve peoples’ lives. “The greatest tool in mental health is the giving of yourself,” he explains. “That’s how you keep healthy.” “This is the beginning of making America healthy again— without medication!”
HEALING, STEP BY STEP Since 1998, Richard has been passionate about the ways horses can help humans. “The horse is the master of giving freely,” he explains. “The horse wants the human to be part of the herd.” As he describes it, a group of clients arrive at the farm,
receive safety briefing, and are brought into the field where the herd of Trakehners is waiting. As people walk out into the field, individual horses seek out individual humans. Once paired, with the horse making the selection, humans spend time with “their” horses, grooming, petting and simply inter- acting with them. As each human is able to handle the horse they’ve been paired with, and a huge animal does as that human asks, the human gains confidence that previously seemed impossible. “It’s all about empowering people in emotional pain.
That’s what a horse is capable of doing,” Richard explains. Best of all, he says, the work is done with a minimum of words—a benefit to someone who is deeply traumatized and has difficulty talking about their struggles. Sometimes, he says, healing is best done in silence. “Fear is the root cause of our problems. Love is the opposite of fear and horses are as perfect as love can get. Just ask the millions of horse owners in the country!” Colorado Therapy Horses will hold an official ground-
breaking ceremony on its new facility in Greeley, Colorado on April 21. It is, Richard says, a huge step toward realizing the dream he and his wife share of a facility large enough to help the countless people they see who need the healing only a horse can offer.
Above, top: A deaf army veteran and his wife walking through the paddock. Middle: A United Energy employee meets Monte eye to eye. Bottom: Vietnam marine veteran Frank Garcia visits with Anne.
26 March/April 2017
To learn more about the programs and the horses, go to
www.ColoradoTherapyHorses.com.
Thanks to Joe Cox, Frank Garcia and David Sanchez. All are volunteer photographers.
Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Joe Cox
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
