Centerstone FCS, The Lodge in Clarksville, TN is teaming with the department of Children Services by offering equine-assisted team building groups to the Mid Cumberland region. The first team building group was held with the Placement Support Team on 6/30/11. From the feedback we received, it was successful. All participants appeared to have fun and felt that the group was very worthwhile. Their independence, as well as their ability to think outside of the box, made their task a real challenge.

In the end, this group truly was able to start a dialogue and when the task was over, the group really processed their feelings and appeared to be more insightful about their own group dynamic.

Kudos to the final four who rallied at the end. They all braved the heat…and all really were able to Cowboy Up!

At Centerstone, we used animal assisted therapy to help children and youth in our care. We have been using pet therapy for several years in our residential homes (you’ll see some of our pets in the photos for The Lodge). Recently, we have begun equine assisted therapy in Clarksville.

Equine assisted therapy is an experiential form of treatment. Our model requires all of the work to be done with the youth on the ground; riding is not allowed. Youth are given specific tasks to do with the horses based on their care plan. These tasks are designed to help youth recognize problematic behaviors and to increase their communication, patience, self-control and problem solving skills related to relationships with others. The tasks are not nearly as important as the process. Self-esteem is increased every time a child faces his or her fears and figures out a problem.

The relationship with the horse serves as a metaphor for the relationship between the child and the significant individuals in their life. Horses are used because of their size and temperaments. Many children have never been around animals and can be intimidated by the mere size of the horses. The horses act as a living, breathing picture for whatever issue is brought onto the field; anger, fear, frustration, sadness, respect and incompetency, to name a few. Horses react honestly, often mirroring the moods, fears and feelings of the child. The children learn how to approach the horse calmly. Sometimes they paint the horses, and if they scare the horses, their canvas walks away. The children learn to connect and relate to each other as well as to the horses.

We have held many individual, group and family sessions, as well as staff team-building workshops. Each session is different because the horses respond to the moods and emotions of the participants.

Our equine assisted therapy has generated a great deal of support and interest from the community. The facility is located in a neighborhood where local families and neighborhood children can come to pet and feed the horses, and a local day care has brought their children to meet them.

Children, adolescents and families have all provided very positive feedback about the effectiveness of the treatment and the experience they have in this specialized therapy, and we are very proud to be able to offer equine assisted therapy as a treatment modality at Centerstone.

History

Several years ago, Becky Garland, Group Home Coordinator, Kaye Westbrook, Mid Cumberland Foster Care Coordinator, and I began using dogs in a pet therapy program at Weems Academy, Centerstone’s therapeutic alternative school. While completing work on my master’s thesis on pet therapy, I discovered compelling research that had been done using horses.

At an AREA Reclaiming Youth conference in 2008, a therapist from Cal Farley’s Ranch for Boys and Girls gave an interesting presentation on equine assisted therapy. Seeing how effective and fun this treatment approach could be, I began the quest to bring equine assisted therapy to Clarksville. Becky, Kaye and I became certified in July of this year through Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), and our treatment therapy was on its way!

If you would like to observe equine assisted therapy, please contact me at (931) 503-4600 to make arrangements.