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What is EAP?
Horsemanship Program
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Our Equine Staff |
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It can be argued that horses can’t really be trained to fill the kind of role required for equine psychotherapy/learning work. While some T.H.E. Ranch horses (like Nikki and Travis) are skilled riding school horses, all possess natural abilities that are of particular value in our ground activities. Thus, when we select horses for certain sessions or workshops, we choose for their innate abilities to effect emotional response and mirror states of mind. |
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Nikki “Serenity”:
The "grand dam" alpha of the herd, Nikki was born and raised at the Mingus Mountain Academy (for emotionally and behaviorally at-risk adolescent girls) and has been with us for 16+ years. With two of the oldest breeds known to mankind (Andalusian and Arabian) in her blood, she can be playful and crafty one moment and revert back to her serene state the next. Ever gentle,she is drawn to children and has stood completely still for spontaneous “leg hugs’ from toddlers. |
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Travis “Vulnerability”
New to the ranch, this gelding has shown such emotional complexity it makes us curious about the 15 years of life he spent elsewhere. Who hasn’t known someone so vastly talented and skilled in one area and yet completely guarded and shut down in his or her emotional life? We discovered that behind his initial flattened ears—usually a warning to “stay away!”—is a deep need to be hugged and gently stroked. He is rapidly gaining the confidence to be a caring and effective therapy horse. Oh, and Travis pinches himself daily to be among such lovely ladies.
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Twinkle “Gentleness”
Our “ace in the hole” therapy horse arrived as a frightened 5-month-old PMU filly from Saskatchewan, Canada some years ago. Laid back and warm-hearted by nature, she likes to outthink humans and get them to do the work. In fact, Twinkle conserves her energy so well that we’re considering wiring her to run the barn lights! She is 2nd in herd command and takes that duty very seriously. According to her diary, she also hopes to have Travis’ baby one day, a dream we don’t have the heart to shatter.
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Paloma “Passion”
Strong, brave, and towering, this PMU draft-cross mare has equally strong emotional reactions to events and people. We have seen her explode in a series of rodeo bucks in the pasture one moment and docilely follow one of our troubled teens over a bridge obstacle the next. Like most of us, she thrives on praise. Paloma seems to enjoy working with the larger groups and is always first at the fence to greet them when they arrive at the ranch.
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Elvis “Creativity"
This 28-inch Appaloosa gelding came to the ranch with the warning “He doesn’t drive or ride.” Of course not—Elvis is far too gifted to be concerned with such trivial conventions. His ability to “think outside the box” and hold his own with his four much larger herd mates has especially astounded and amused our corporate clients. Talk about your object lesson in interpersonal relations and negotiations! We use size-appropriate Elvis with children for both therapy and horsemanship lessons, but it is soon apparent that you must “bring it” to play in this clever mini’s arena.
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Arlo "Endurance"
No one can understand the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) better than this little guy. Born to be a show horse, his life followed the perilous plot of the Black Stallion story until, abused and betrayed, he found his way to T.H.E. Ranch. A mere look would send him scuttling off, choosing to graze alone in the far corner of the pasture rather than risk being hurt again. While nightmare images can still flicker across his eyes, they are generally calmer now, and he is learning to trust the staff and other horses on a one-by-one basis. Time and infinite patience are the healers of horses and humans.
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