Horses help therapists of senior citizens
June 14, 2005
By Maria Aponte
Herald Staff Writer
Durango Herald
 Violet Burkebile, a resident at Sunshine Gardens West in Durango, is greeted by Lee, an Icelandic pony, during a visit from the Medicine Horse Center on Thursday. |
If her friends in Seattle could see her, they would not believe it: Violet Burkebile making friends with a horse. Being from the city, Burkebile had never seen a horse up close. But soon enough she was combing Lee's thick hair and talking to him like a friend.
"They should tell you to brush your teeth so they don't get decayed," Burkebile advised the blond Icelandic horse at her Sunshine Gardens senior complex in Durango.
The Medicine Horse Center, a nonprofit program based in the Animas Valley, provides psychological assistance to several institutions in Mancos and Durango. While some of the center's clients such as Burkebile just enjoy socializing with the animals, other clients such as abused woman or troubled teens meet the horses to help overcome emotional burdens.
Trish Lemke, the organization's horse specialist, says clients reveal their distresses more openly when they interact with the horses.
 Alex, a mustang from the Navajo reservation, takes a carrot from Sunshine Gardens Westresidents Gladys Beck, back, and Vera Bratton, front, as Trish Lemke watches. |
"The horses work almost like a bridge between the therapist and the person," she explains. "The person giving the therapy is not behind a desk."
Lemke describes the experience as "cathartic." Lemke and Sara Brown, a mental-health therapist for the horse center, have assessed the needs of the group at Sunshine Gardens in their two visits. To many residents at the center, the horses brought back old farm memories. But even for those like Burkebile, who were pampering Lee and Alex for the first time, the experience, Lemke said, takes them away and gives them a calming feeling.
"It just lighted them up," said Audrey Louderback, activities coordinator at the senior complex. "It is all about the senses when they go out to meet the horses." Many seniors who normally stay indoors, she said, felt encouraged to go out and socialize when Lemke brought the horses. Louderback avoided promoting the activity as a therapy with horses. "I just said we have horses here."
Clients are not the only ones who heal. The horses are rescued; some have injuries, and others were mistreated or have some condition that prevents them from being ridden. Lee, an Icelandic pony, and Alexander, a brown mustang, are about 5 feet tall. The small size of the horses helps clients feel comfortable and fearless. "They are great for this," Lemke said. "And they love the attention."
The Medicine Horse Center would like to extend its services to children with cancer and other clients with life-threatening conditions. The group started its services in town in April after six years in Mancos. A fundraiser will be held Saturday at the Smiley Building. For more information call Trish at 749-1266.