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Flying Horses Stable touts equine therapy to restore mental health

La Crosse Tribune (WI) - 6/26/2016

June 26--At Flying Horses Stable, tranquility and healing come from the bond between horse and human, as the equine therapy program helps people facing mental health challenges develop respite and coping skills.

"Each horse has it's own forte," Dawn Johns Swenson explains. "Some are great for people who are feeling especially emotional. We try to match for specific needs, but we also want to expand their worlds."

The program uses the between horse and human to encourage mindfulness, relaxation and focus. Individualized sessions are offered for those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, anorexia, bulimia, anxiety and addiction. The therapy has also proven valuable for those with autism spectrum disorders. Flying Horse Stable offers riding workshops in the summer for groups not in need of intensive treatment.

The stable is owned and operated by Swenson, along with Lisa Carmichael and Swenson's sister, Jewel Root. Swenson's family has resided on the 80-acre parcel of land for six generations.

A former school psychologist, Swenson started the therapy program 15 years ago after reading a book on the subject.

"I believed in this type of therapy," Swenson said. "It felt like I was reading about myself."

Swenson and her team traveled to Arizona to train with the book's author before setting up practice. Carmichael is certified in equine therapy, and Root is a certified by PATH, the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship.

The stable houses nine horses who have been trained to work with the public. Though clients tend to have favorites, Swenson encourages them to work with multiple horses. They have a wide variety of breeds, sizes, and colors on site, who were either retired from racing, donated or purchased.According to the the Institute of HeartMath, a horse's heart has an electromagnetic field that radiates five times the 3-foot radius the human heart is capable of achieving. Some believe that the intersection of these fields creates a calming bond between horse and rider.The stable's 35 clients range in age from 10 to 63, and participate in weekly one-hour sessions. People are referred by medical professionals, often from the Children's Miracle Network or the psychology staff at Gundersen Health System. Depression and anxiety are the most common reasons for referral, but the program has also helped domestic violence victims and groups from eating disorder recovery units.

"For anorexia patients, feeding the horses to keep them healthy reminds them of the importance of caring for themselves," Swenson said. "Kids with ADHD benefit from having a quiet, intimate environment to work in."

Swenson encourages a two-year commitment to the program.

"The effects don't happen overnight," Swenson said. "But people can see the horse is invested in being their partner, and that makes them want to come back and keep trying."

While a few children have been afraid of the horses at first, it usually passes within a few minutes. Some choose not to ride, and participate by leading horses around the arena, cleaning their hooves, grooming, and checking vitals signs. These tasks help increase attention spans, concentration and trust.

"We teach kids the safety zone when dealing with the horses," Carmichael said, "how to approach them and read their physical cues. Learning to respect personal boundaries and not taking rejection personally are important lessons."

Parents cite children's increased confidence and a willingness to verbalize feelings after horse therapy, Swenson said. She recounts the story of a teenage boy who was flanked by a trio of horses: "He said he had never been part of a group before."

The therapy process proves cathartic for both patient and horse, according to Swenson.

"Horses are sentient beings," she said. "They feel your emotions and try to comfort you. After a tough session, we let the horses run around, roll in the dirt and shake things off. For the human, the empathy is a validation of their feelings."

Having that relationship helps the patient move past the hurt and begin to heal.

"We had a boy who was so touched by the experience," Carmichael said, "he cried and said, 'The horses saved my life.'"

"We had a boy who was so touched by the experience, he cried and said, 'The horses saved my life.'" Lisa Carmichael,

equine activities specialist

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(c)2016 the La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, Wis.)

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