The essential members of our team: The Horses
Jump
to a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ):
Why do you use horses?
What
can you tell me about Rocky Mountain Horses?
Why
Horses?
We use horses in therapy because of their honesty
and ability to mirror human behavior. Let me explain...
The
Humane Society reports from a recent survey that 39% of homes have a
dog. Dogs, like horses, have been a part of human life for thousands
of years. Dogs have been used in animal assisted therapy as well as
Seeing Eye dogs and a world of other uses. So, why horses? You certainly
can’t snuggle in front of the TV with your horse.
The
answer lies in the differences between horses and dogs, and the similarity
with dogs and people. Dogs and people are predators. How do we know?
Well, both canines and humans, whether or not they eat meat today, have
a strong ancestral history of hunting. Horses, on the other hand, have
been depicted in cave art as being prey to humans. Another indicator
is the way human and dog eyes are set on the front of their heads, so
they can use their binocular vision to determine how far they are from
their prey. Horses and virtually all other prey animals such as deer
or a rabbit have eyes on the sides of their heads. This allows the prey
animal to see almost 360°.
These
physical attributes, allow the predator to focus on what is in front
of her, while the prey animal must always have an awareness of everything
around her. That being said, how does this answer the question at hand?
I have said earlier that horses are very honest, and that they are able
to mirror human behavior. Their ability, and really the necessity for
them to have a heightened awareness of their environment in order to
be safe, allows this to be so: they are very sensitive to everything
happening around them. A predator may try to conceal itself or its intentions
from its prey, but the horses, deer and rabbits can all read the language
that says: DANGER.
In
our day to day lives, and in talk therapy, humans as they grow become
better able to conceal their real intent. This is an important skill
for a predator, and we rather accept this type of behavior in one another.
There is still our ability to sense that something isn’t right
– what someone says may be incongruent with their body language.
In fact, 95% of communication is body language. So, even the knowledge
that the horse views you as a predator won’t help you ‘fake
it’ with a horse. You must genuinely change in order to communicate.
The
ability to work with a horse, to communicate and have a relationship
with the horse, requires that the predator change his or her perspective
in order to ‘think’ like a horse. No one ever changed without
being challenged. This type of change in perspective is useful if we
are to understand our own fears, and find new ways to overcome our own
challenges. Working with horses, we must learn to empathize with the
prey or victim, and therefore learn patience. Patience, is the foundation
of being a better, happier you, a better son or daughter, parent, friend,
partner, employee or boss.
What
can you tell me about Rocky Mountain Horses?
Adapted from a 1997 Rocky Mountain Horse Association brochure:
Tradition
has it that around the turn of the century, a young horse appeared In
eastern Kentucky that gave rise to a line of horses that have been prized
and treasured in this part of the country ever since. The basic characteristics
are of a medium sized horse of gentle temperament, with easy ambling
four beat gait. This gait made it the horse of choice on farms and the
rugged foothills of the Appalachians. It was a horse for all seasons.
It could pull plows in small fields, work cattle, be ridden bareback
by four children to the fishing hole, or to town comfortably on Saturday.
They even performed well hitched to the buggy Sunday morning to go to
church. Fancy barns and stalls are not necessary because of its cold-blooded
nature. It tolerated cold winters in Kentucky with a minimum of shelter.
For these reasons, and small groups, the breed was preserved, sustained,
and gradually increased in this area. Naturally out crossing with local
horses did occur, but basic characteristics of a strong genetic line
have continued.
In Sprout Springs, Kentucky, on the farm of Sam Tuttle, these horses
found a nurturing ground. Sam, who had the concession for horseback
riding at the Natural Bridge State Park, used these horses for many
years to haul green and inexperienced people over rough and rugged trails.
Old Tobe, his most treasured stallion, who fathered fine horses up until
the ripe old age of 37, was a “sure” footed and as gentle
a horse as could be found. He was the one that carried the young, the
old, or the unsure over the mountain trails of Kentucky without faltering,
even though a breeding stallion. Everyone who rode the stallion fell
in love with him. He has the perfect gait and temperament. Many of the
present rocky mountain horses carry his bloodline. The breed is known
for gentleness. It is an easy keeper and a wonderful riding horse with
a strong heart and endurance.
Today
the Rocky mountain horse is being used as a pleasure horse, for frail,
and competitive or endurance riding. As show horses the breed is rapidly
gaining in popularity because of its beauty and unique way of moving
in the ring. The calm temperament of this horse makes it ideally suited
for working around cattle and for 4-H projects. These horses have a
lot of natural endurance, they are sure footed on rough ground and,
because of their gait, require a minimum of effort by both horse and
rider so that together they can cover a greater distance with less tiring.
Most recently, Rocky Mountain Horses are being used in therapy to help
children, adolescents, individuals and families at Fresh Steps EAP,
Inc.
Click
here to get more information about Rocky Mountain Horses for sale from
Rockies in the Rockies, featuring VBF's I Be Smokin' standing at stud.
