Equine therapy resources

CrossCurrents

 

In 1988, the Wyoming Honor Farm (WHF), a minimum-security prison for adult males in Riverton, Wyoming, began a volunteer program in which inmates train wild horses. The horses, culled from herds roaming western U.S. states, must be tamed before they are safe to put up for sale. Under the direction of professional horseman and corrections officer Mike Buchanan, roughly 25 inmates work in teams to habituate the horses slowly to being ridden. The non-aggressive techniques not only tame the horses; they help rehabilitate the men by teaching them the power of patience, gentle persuasion, and respect for others.

For other examples of equine-assisted interventions for people with issues ranging from depression to aggression to poor social skills and low self-esteem, check out these web sites:

Cartier Equine Learning Center: www.cartierequinelearningcenter.com/index.htm

Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA): www.eagala.org/informationContent.htm

Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (canTRA): www.cantra.ca/EFW.shtml

Partners in Process Equine Learning Centre: www.melodyacres.com

 

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