Not horsing around

A little known association called Equine Mirrors is going to bat for at-risk youth in Sonoma Valley. Using horses, this unique form of animal-assisted therapy helps counselors and their clients become conscious of their interactions with each other and with others in the world.
“Our goal is to give these kids a voice so that they can work through what’s going on in their lives,” said Rebecca Bailey, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of the Equine Mirrors program. “Using the horses changes their typical experience and gets them to open up with each other and their instructors.”
The term “equine mirrors” refers to the way the horses imitate – or mirror – the behavior going on around them. For example, if the humans around them are happy, the horses are happy. But if the humans are rowdy and rambunctious so, too, are the horses.
Currently, students from the Gateway Community School are participating in a series of sessions at a local barn. Located on the district office property, Gateway is a school for students in seventh through eleventh grades that have attendance or behavioral issues or have been expelled.
Every other week a group of 10 to 14 Gateway students gather in the corral to work on a sequence of exercises with Bailey and her Equine Mirrors partner, Dr. Terri Lee Roberson, also a licensed clinical psychologist.
On a recent rainy afternoon, the corral was home to 12 teenagers, four horses and the two instructors. The scene can best be described as controlled chaos. The students roamed freely, the horses followed and no one followed the directions. Bailey watched from the sidelines, finally stepping in to address the group. When asked how they thought the exercise went, most students said they felt frustrated.
Student Anna Marie described a recent game of “Red Light, Green Light.” “We had partners and together, we had to lead the horse forward and then stop the horse and ourselves at the same time,” she said. “It was really hard to work as a team rather than take control of the situation.”
For another assignment, the students had to round up two of the horses and put them in a “box” for three minutes. The box actually consisted of pieces of rail fencing laid on the ground, a visual enclosure of sorts. The group of students decided that, rather than move the horses, they’d move the fencing, thus surrounding the animals – a good tactical move that showed initiative and teamwork.
“It’s the first time many of these students have ever been around a horse so getting them out of their comfort zone is a new experience” said teacher Bill Sweek. “Working together on these drills is teaching them that they need to trust and rely on each other to get things done.”
Peggy Murray is the school counselor for Gateway and has worked with students in the district for more than 17 years. Murray and Bailey have known each other for a long time, so the Equine Mirrors program was a natural progression for both women and the students with whom they were working.
“It’s difficult to get these kids to open up in an office setting,” said Murray. “But with the horses, we can watch the interaction and become conscious of what’s happening in the classroom. We need positive behavior – teamwork, communication, listening skills and respect – while we’re at school. We use the horses as a tool to help students see what behavior works and what doesn’t.”
For Gateway, Bailey offers her services free of charge. “I’m passionate about animal-assisted therapy and believe it can make a difference,” she said. “Helping these students as well as other children and teens throughout the Valley just makes sense.”