In the News / Archives / KCBC TV 11- Lubbock, TX
11/10/01
Horses
and Therapy
A Horse is a Horse
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"My husband and I both grew up around horses
and both knew horses were very therapeutic to us,"
says Patti Mandrell, Refuge Services Director and
Licensed Therapist. For two years now, Randy and
Patti Mandrell have been helping people work
through real-life issues ranging from Attention
Deficit to depression, behavioral problems, and
eating disorders using horses.
It's called Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, and
Refuge Services use horses through activities that
help individuals and families work through
problems. "A 1,500 pound animal to do what you
need to do is very empowering, and helps with
self-esteem, self-worth, and feeling good about
yourself; that you can get things done if you just
communicate clearly," adds Mandrell.
Much like people, horses have distinct
personalities, and it's good for people in
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy to understand
personalities and behaviors in order to deal with
their own problems. "I generally, in experience
with my children, have tried to talk quietly to
them, and when that didn't work, I had to show my
authority and that's what I felt like I had to do
with the horse," says Colysta Wallers, therapy
participant. "The horse is going to be completely honest
with them about what their body language is saying
and the messages they're conveying, so that they
go home and they already have some success under
their belt. My goals are to help them make changes
in their life and to help them be happier people
and find happiness, and the horses help them do
that also," says Mandrell.
For more information, you can call Refuge
Services at
632-7327.
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