Horses and Humans
It’s a cool morning, but the way the fog sits, you can tell it’s gonna be a hot one. As we roll up the drive, we can see the horses flicking their tails in the crisp morning sunshine, already shooing away the ever-present flies.
There is a pony free ranging next to the barn and as we point in astonishment, the farm owner, Rachel says, “Awwww she’s old, she’s not going anywhere.” So, we carry on. The crew knows the routine and shovel’s, wheel barrows and brooms are collected from their spots in the tidy barn.
It is the most joyous shoveling of shit that has ever been done. The support professionals and participants dive right in – Rachel offering gentle guidance and reminding us to leave the dry sawdust behind, just take out the mess. There are jokes and encouragements being thrown around the barn, no one is left out and everyone has a role. Each job on the farm is important, each person and animal on the farm is vital and this fact is well known. The animals need us to be cleaned, get food and exercise but, we need the animals for skill building, regulation and joy. It is a mutually beneficial relationship that we have built over months and it is evident.
One participant asks for “Roy” his “baby”. Roy is a massive and gentle steed that allows us to brush and lean on him. We practice safely walking around the horses, and when someone’s body forgets we can trust that Roy won’t react. Along with Roy comes Sadie and they get the spa treatment. Brushed and saddled and out to the ring – those that want to get up on Sadie can ride her around and experience life on a horse.
Each person, with the support of movable stairs and 2 or 3 support people mount Sadie and bravely walk around the ring with Rachel leading the way. I watch in amazement as they settle into the horse’s gait that the spine lifts and aligns, the hips settle down and the head relaxes. The person on the horse gets the therapeutic benefits of this union…horse and human.
The people that come to the farm have bodies and brains that are different to everyone but horses. The horses don’t really care about the different style of communication or the speed someone moves. In fact, on Rachel’s farm there are a bunch of horses that have disabilities and peculiarities as many of them are retired and rescued. We understand each other here.
We are blessed to live where we do and have access and opportunity to meet horses like Roy and Sadie, to meet humans like Rachel and to support each other, like we do at BOSS.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to join us at the farm! If you are interested on our twice monthly horse group, please see our website www.branchingoutsupportservices.com
For more on Rachel and her farm https://www.blackacres.ca/