Horses can be very helpful therapy partners. They are intuitive and reflect the emotions of people interacting with them.
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Our TeamEleven years ago Gary came home and said he wanted to buy horse. I just laughed at him. We didn’t know any horses and the concept of horse ownership was totally alien. So we started going to a boarding barn and doing trail rides and taking lessons. As we did we both realized that these animals were magical and that it was not accidental that they were beginning to be front and center in our lives. At first we leased horses from the barn to ride. Soon we began to realize how powerful their feedback was to us in building relationships. We began to experiment with using them in therapy with clients. This worked well for a while but Gary is a big man and it was not easy to find a horse that fit him in size and temperament. So we decided to take a risk and find him a horse of his own. After a pretty painful search an off hand comment from another boarder caught his ear. She knew of a “beautiful sorrel horse that was for sale” and off we went. His conformation was certainly not the best, he was not very big and his temperament was, well, stubborn. He was ALWAYS in charge. No other horse was ever going to lead, no mare was going to be on her own and certainly no other gelding was ever allowed to call the shots. He was the alpha male and let no one forget it. His name was “Tiny Dancer” immediately changed to “Dapper Dan” and he started for us what became a life altering experience. The antics that Dan pulled were numerous. He excelled in his leadership skills and openly communicated those skills not only to the other horses but with humans as well. At the boarding barn it was not uncommon to look up and find him in with the mares leading a string of horses up and down the pasture. He had no tolerance of anyone ever being ahead of him on the trail and he could buck you down the fence row as easily as he could sidle up beside you and nuzzle your pocket for a treat. Clients routinely chose Dan to work with because he was so social and so invested in what was going on with them. He made you work for his affection and if you didn’t know where you were going – he had no problem taking over and leading you where he wanted to go. He was a flashy fellow who enjoyed testing your patience through the use of equine games. He taught clients to hone their leadership skills and develop creativity – resulting in an “outside the box (or stall)” kind of thinking. He was never mean – just in charge and good at calling the shots. Unfortunately he tore the suspensory ligament in his leg and recently it was re-injured. Surgery to repair it was unsuccessful and It quickly became clear that he was in tremendous pain and even heroic efforts were not going to be successful. He died December 21, 2008. Dan was our “messenger horse”. He was the first and he taught us to listen to the language of another species for powerful information about relationships with our own. The Universe gave us a great gift by the awareness of equines as therapists and Dan taught us how to utilize that gift most effectively. He changed us. His sweet spirit and constant challenging brought us to a new chapter in our lives. We are sure that without him we would not have become the people are we today and certainly not the horsemen. He wanted to get better and we are in awe of his courage and faith in us to try to help him in any way we could. He also needed a job and he was not happy without a purpose. Boredom was his worst nightmare and he hated being alone. Now he is with Grace, our lab Bailey and the others on the other side of the gate and we are sure he is leading them on a merry dance. We are honored to have had him as our teacher, friend and guide. We will miss him more than he will ever know.
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