People learn concepts more effectively when working with horses and other animals because these experiential programs generate situations that closely resemble real life, said Miller. For example, some people set such strict boundaries in their personal relationships that it’s hard for them to let anybody in. Others don’t know how to create or maintain boundaries. That’s where the horses come in. Observing and working with the horses has helped the women to set boundaries – and to enforce them.
Miller has worked with many types of animals in her career, including horses, dogs, llamas and pigs. Each can have a different therapeutic effect on a client. Photo by M arcy Stamper
interaction with the horses, the women learn to read cues, set limits and strengthen their memory and concentration.
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Unlike the other programs at MVRU, the mental health program doesn’t involve riding horses. Instead, the women do a variety
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of exercises with the horses, such as leading and grooming them, or coaxing them through an obstacle course.
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Building confidence Budiselich and MVRU Associate Director Jasmine Minbashian serve as equine specialists for the OBHC program, helping interpret the horses’ behavior and keeping everyone safe. They select horses that will help the women build confidence in setting limits, such as matching the women with a pushy or deferential animal. “The women learn how to ask a large animal to back off,” said Miller. “The feedback I get is, if they could do that with a horse, they could do it with a person.” At other times, Budiselich and Minbashian let the horses take the lead. “I’ve been doing this 30 years, and it’s still fascinating to me which horses will pick which people,” said Budiselich. She has watched as a big, imposing horse approaches a woman who is a bit nervous. “The horse may choose the most timid person — and know how to be gentle. The horse may
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