He was introduced to us later than usual as his class started attending four weeks earlier. The young boy came to us with poor verbal skills and struggled to make eye contact. His body language told us he wasn’t ready to participate in the exercises with his classmates. This little boy needed to start slow. So that day I decided to introduce him to my one horse Simba as this chestnut is very quiet and accepting. I took the first few minutes to tell him a little bit about Simba and it wasn’t long before he interrupted, “Can I take him for a walk?”
Simba seemed to have everything under control, so I turned my attention back to the group. I never stopped checking on the boy. All he did was walk Simba around, paused to pet him and walk some more.
In all that time, the boy never spoke a word. After everyone had left the arena, his teacher and I walked over to this quiet little boy. Almost kneeling in front of his horse, Simba and he were head to head. As I leaned down to talk to him, I saw that he was gently caressing his nose.
I asked him how his first day was, and without hesitation, he said in a slow deliberate tone, “I’ve never been…. this happy… for this long… in all my life”.
His teacher and my eyes met. Neither of us said a word. We didn’t have to . . .
what he said spoke volumes.
My Spirit Horse
Through the eyes of the horse, the sound of the horse, the smell of the horse, the warmth of his breath and the sound of his movement…
There… I found Myself, reconnecting with the little girl inside me and becoming the Woman I am now, standing strong and resilient. I found my path…
Nothing can stop me now as the gate is left open for me. Walking the Red Road, running Wild and Free with my spirit horse.
I found Me…
Untamed,
Raquel Wildman (Andrew)
Lone Eagle Ventures
Chelsie’s Healing Journey
How Equine Therapy helped me heal after the loss of my husband. The trauma I had to face each waking moment was too much to handle. I was in a suicidal state of mind.
Marty and Raquel introduced Equine Therapy to me, it was the best thing that helped stay positive. Marty introduced me to one of his horses, his name is “Pepper”. At first I felt scared of him but Pepper seemed to understand me, he wouldn’t leave my side. My interactions with Pepper on a daily basis helped me to build that trusting relationship once again. The daily activities that Marty and Raquel planned for Pepper and I helped my mental state become positive. I did not only ride Pepper but also taking care of him through grooming, feeding and communicating with him each day helped stay positive in my recovery journey.
~Chelsie
KTCEA
Over the four years I have been involved with Marty and Raquel and the Equine Assisted Learning program, I have seen significant benefits to students of all ages. EAL provides a means for students to explore how they see themselves and others. Learning about the horses and working to build a relationship with them, teaches students about their own “character” and skill set. Over time, opportunities to work with the horses have resulted in increased problem-solving abilities and a greater social and personal confidence. I cannot say enough about the benefits of this program – it should be available to all schools, all students!
Wendy Moore (BEd., MALA)
Inclusion Teacher/Counsellor/Specialist
KTCEA
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Miigwech
Lone Eagle Ventures 