OklahomaHorses Magazine Sept 2022

September / October 2022 • OklahomaHorses 19 Experiences for Life (HOPE) available for anyone who could benefit from the service, whether the person has insurance or not. Building a Safe Relationship HOPE uses a diamond-model approach, meaning four individuals play a role in psychotherapy treatment — a credentialed mental-health therapist, an equine specialist certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.), the client, and of course, the horse. With continued sessions, clients learn valuable tools, including how to deal with emotions, develop coping strategies, improve confi- dence and empathy, build resilience, devel- op relationship skills, and practice problem solving and healthy communication. “The overall goal of this program is to instill hope and provide positive support for clients,” said Mullin. “Many of them are down on themselves and don’t understand their purpose in life. By working with the horses, they learn to feel valued as part of a relationship that feels safe.” Two professionals employed at HOPE are Vallerie Sweeton, equine services coordinator, and Shelly McColm, equine mental-health director and therapist. To further explain the work they do with clients, McColm noted that equine-assisted psychotherapy consists of individual or group work using trauma-informed care, a practice that acknowledges the complete picture of a client’s life situation, both past and present, which is needed to provide effective services with the goal of healing. “In our sessions, clients can learn about themselves and receive no judgment from the horse,” said McColm. Sweeton noted that her favorite part of the program is watching clients meet the horses for the first time and participate in mutual choosing. “I love seeing how they connect to a particular horse and how surprised some of them are when the horse chooses them. From there, I really enjoy seeing the rela- tionships unfold,” said Sweeton. At HOPE, clients choose their horses (or vice versa) from HOPE’s herd of 20, which includes miniature horses, quarter horses, Arab crosses, and warmbloods, all of which have been donated to the program. How- ever, the work that follows isn’t necessarily the typical horse-and-rider relationship. Instead, the primary focus is to build a connection between client and horse. That means participants do mostly groundwork with their horses, with occasionally a small mounted component at the end of sessions. McColm said she enjoys the fact that HOPE develops its own curriculum, tailor- ing it to the clients’ individual needs. “I’m able to witness the incredible healing power of horses for folks who are hurting the worst,” McColm said. “I’ve been working for 45-plus years in this pro- fession, but this is some of the finest work I’ve ever been a part of.” Learning To Love Again Perhaps the real impact that HOPE makes is best summed up by the clients them- selves, however. Although clients must re- tain anonymity because of privacy laws, one little girl in the program told a therapist, “My momma wants to thank you, used to when I came home on Tuesday I would be mad and crying. Now when I come home on Tuesday, I am happy.” A preteen client living at a domestic- violence shelter worked with a horse called Pearl, doing guided meditation, grooming, and learning to understand Pearl’s language. That language involved things such as how to know if the horse is relaxed, where she likes to be scratched, and her likes and dislikes. In a conversation with therapists, this girl said, “I love equine therapy. I am so happy when I am here.” An adjudicated youth who participated in HOPE’s 12-week equine-assisted trau- ma-informed care program began sessions very closed off and speaking to people very little. But after building a relationship with a palomino mare named Polly, the youth opened up and asked to fill out an applica- tion to become a peer leader for new par- ticipants coming into the program, stating, “Being with Polly and coming to the ranch has helped me to learn to love again.” Powerful statements such as these show the kind of work HOPE is doing in the lives of young people and adults. When it comes down to it, Horses of Hope Okla- homa is giving them hope for a brighter future. If you would like to learn more about Horses of Hope Oklahoma or know of someone who could benefit from its services, please visit https://modochealing- house.com and http://horsesofhope.com. Lindsay Bippus Real Estate Broker / Owner 12342 E. 86th St. N. | Owasso 74055 (918) 706-3857 dreammakerrealtyok.com Looking to buy or sell a horse property in the greater Owasso area? Hand the reins to Lindsay Bippus at DreamMaker Realty, Owasso’s equine property specialist!