Somatics for Horses and Humans by Eleanor Criswell Hanna, Ed.D
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EFMHA Preconference at Green Chimneys New Board Members Measuring Impact of Horse on Humans News from Australia Art of the Horse A Special Interest Section of NARHA VOL 12 • ISSUE 2 • Summer 2008 Somatics for Horses and Humans By Eleanor Criswell Hanna, Ed.D. and Barbara Chasteen Innately curious, generous and kind, horses are invaluable in the horse is a restored awareness of himself, his environment equine facilitated work, where they are often compared to mir - and his relationship to his surroundings, including his fellow rors: reflective of the human’s state of mind and heart. A mirror, beings. A fully integrated horse is able not only to mirror the like a reflecting pool, presents a surface that’s serene and clear. A human condition, but also to model a serene and joyful pres - consideration in choosing effective horses for equine facilited ence in the world. work is whether they are in a state in which they can be pres - ent to a situation and a person, take in information and be able Respond in the Moment to reflectively respond appropriately to the situation. The horse and human participating in equine facilitated mental health activities may experience stress from time to Relaxed or Stiff: Who Can Help? time. The physiological changes caused by stress include elevated Consider two horses. One is clear-eyed and aware. His pos - heart rate, elevated blood pressure and muscle contractions. The ture is relaxed and balanced; he can bend comfortably through effects over time can lead to increasingly contracted muscles, his body, and raise or lower his head to view his surroundings restricted movement and discomfort. Keeping the horse and or the approach of others; he can adjust his position easily. His human comfortable and moving easily is essential for effective movements are flowing, his footsteps precise and coordinated. mental health work and maximum career life. The somatically He is curious and attentive, able to size up a person or a situa - tion and respond coherently. Using Equine Hanna Somatics, Lisa Pruitt is inviting JJ to Look at another horse. His eyes are dully focused inward; contract and slowly relax certain muscles of his left forelimb. his mouth is pinched, tight, ears askew. His back and neck appear stiff and straight as he stands heavily still or randomly paces. He might respond to a stimulus with a sudden jerk, and move off stiffly; he might only dully notice someone’s approach and appears ill at ease or confused when addressed. n Which of these horses will be able to fully a m participate in an activity such as an equine h s u l facilitated psychotherapy session? The answer F a r I is both of them; but the second horse needs y b some help. Equine Hanna Somatics (EHS) is a o t o technique that extends to horses the same h benefits that Hanna Somatic Education offers P to humans. By mirroring muscle contractures and assisting the horse in performing basic limb movements, EHS restores a healthy con - nection from the brain to the body, reducing pain and enabling the spine and limbs to be balanced and coordinated. A direct benefit to Continued on page four. EQUINE FACILITATED MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION Summer 2008 • 1 President’s Letter We also explored how to The commission, which reach out to people doing does not provide training EFMHA'S human development work itself, is not affiliated with Vision Statement with horses in ever increas - EFMHA but does provide A world in which the ingly more professions, made certification for professionals, wisdom of equus moves us tough decisions for our independent of any training to develop and deepen our budget in a challenging organization like us. Our greatest potential. economy, and reviewed the workshops are not only for work of all committees. those wishing to be certified. EFMHA 2007-08 They offer our members and Board of Directors Curriculum Development others new ways to enhance In particular, though, we President safety and professionalism in Trish Broersma, MA, LMT welcomed four new board the many forms of either Ashland, OR members who have been equine facilitated learning or [email protected] appointed for the particular equine facilitated psy - Past President focus on our most important chotherapy. Ann Alden strategic task—the imple - ear Colleagues: Collegial Gathering Sonoita, AZ This issue of mentation of more training [email protected] opportunities for our mem - On another note, on the DEFMHA News first evening of our gather - President Elect demonstrates in some meas - bers, as well as others. Our Jody Enget ing, we welcomed local resi - ure the growing internation - new board Palmer Lake, CO members are dents who might [email protected] al scope of work in equine EFMHA, working have an interest in facilitated activities. We offer Leif Hallberg, Vice President Jan Loveless, our work to Joseph Callan, LCSW a sampling of some of the for a world in Jannalee spend an evening Tampa, FL many faces that this work is which the sharing how [email protected] Redmond, and taking as it is being devel - EFMHA might Continued on page three. oped by people in various Tanya Welsch. wisdom of equus They come from better support professions around the moves us to their endeavors. The Equine Facilitated Mental Health all across the US: world. It is gratifying that so More than 20 Association (EFMHA) is a section of Montana, develop and many welcome the building people responded NARHA. EFMHA’s mission is to of a global community by California, advance the field for individuals who Virginia, and deepen our to our invitation, sharing their work in our something of a partner with equines to promote News. Our thanks to them. Minnesota, with highest potential. human growth and development so surprise in our I hope you enjoy these new long and varied that our members, clients and equines rural area where perspectives. experience in writing cur - can succeed and flourish. Equine- riculum for equine facilitated we all tend to feel like we facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) is In early May, the EFMHA psychotherapy and learning. are pretty much working on experiential psychotherapy that Board of Directors gathered our own. They underscored includes equines. It may include, but in Ashland, Oregon for our In this issue as well as our next issue of EFMHA News, the interest in the benefits of is not limited to, a number of mutual - annual planning retreat. We EFMHA and the desire for ly respectful equine activities such as we will feature short biogra - met in one of the most more training. In addition, handling, grooming, longeing, riding, phies about each of them. beautiful landscapes of the they birthed an enthusiastic, driving, and vaulting. EFMHA has its Pacific Northwest, a valley In the meantime, they own board of directors and bylaws are already diving into the ongoing collegial gathering surrounded by forested hills once a month for sharing of and operates within NARHA guide - and acclaimed by thousands preparation of an impressive lines and standards. EFMHA News ideas and resources, as well who return here every year array of educational offerings editor seeks unsolicited material. as support for challenges for its remarkably rejuvenat - for you, our members. All of EFMHA Professional Membership the offerings are geared we face. is $70 and includes NARHA mem - ing aspects. Buckhorn toward preparing people I encourage all of you to bership and its benefits. Contact Springs, a rustic retreat cen - who may choose to sit for explore the benefits of such a 1(800) 369-RIDE for address changes ter just outside Ashland, collegial gathering in your and membership requests. housed us for four days of either of the tests for certifi - cation in mental health or own communities, however intensive planning that were small or large. Please feel free NARHA • PO Box 33150 education with the inde - enhanced by our rich sur - to contact me if you’d like to Denver CO 80233 roundings. We focused on pendent Commission for (800) 369-RIDE (7433) Certified Equine Facilitated discuss the details of how to the implementation of our launch and enable such a (303) 452-1212 strategic plan, looking at, Mental Health and Fax (303) 252-4610 group. Email [email protected] among other things, the Education Professionals www.narha.org details of how to forge a (CCEFMHEP) Want to Join Us? stronger working partnership www.equinefacilitatedprofess We noted that several with NARHA. ional.org). committees are seeking a few 2 • Summer 2008 EQUINE FACILITATED MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION ( Secretary 2008 EFMHA EQUINE Susanne Haseman EFMHA News Wilder, VT Editorial Board SPECIALIST WORKSHOPS [email protected] Georgetown (near Austin), Texas Treasurer Design/Layout: Ride On Center for Kids (R.O.C.K.), August 5-7 Suzen Dyslin Beckie Smith Windsor, CA Hartville (near Akron), Ohio [email protected] Text: Pegasus Farm, August 22-24 Pam Kaster EFMHA BOARD Laurinburg (near Fayetteville), North Carolina MEMBERS St. Andrews Presbyterian College, October 10-12 Spring Issue Features: Leif Hallberg Lisa Reeves Cost Bozeman, MT [email protected] Summer Issue Features: $450 EFMHA Members Kristin Mason $525 Non-EFMHA Members (The Non-Member fee includes Louanne Kamienowski a one year membership to NARHA and EFMHA.) Mesa, AZ Fall Issue Features: Includes materials, lunches and a snack [email protected] Jan Loveless for the three days. Miyako Kinoshita Focus of Training New Milford, CT Educational Opportunities: [email protected] Eliza Love • Role of the Equine Specialist when assisting or collaborating with human service providers. Jan Loveless, PhD Advisory: • Designing safe, mutually beneficial and effective activities to Visalia, CA Ann C Alden enhance participant outcomes.