Equine Alliance Youth Foundation is a federal registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit charitable organization. We receive no government-state funding and have no paid administration. This means that 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly to support our youth investment programs. Please donate today and help us continue providing these life changing programs.
Testimonials
I work with individuals with a history of childhood abuse
and neglect. For these individuals the capacity to trust others has been
seriously impaired. Many of my clients have been institutionalized due
to their high-risk, defensive behaviors, such as, self-harm, self-neglect,
destructive relationships, stealing, substance abuse, running away, and
fear-based aggression towards adults. These behaviors are ineffective
attempts to find a sense of control (safety). Coming from a neurophysiological,
developmental, body-oriented approach, I look for opportunities for my
clients to learn how find a safe place inside themselves as the foundation
for therapeutic trauma recovery.
Three of my clients (two adolescents; one adult) have been fortunate to
be able to participate at Equine Alliance. Equine Alliance has provided
my clients the opportunity to step outside their usual relational, fear-based
patterns (avoidance, shame, self-harm, aggression) and experience themselves
without judgment, while learning how to build trust with the horses.
My clients do well with the animals at Equine Alliance; they identify
with the horses and the situations from which the horses have been rescued.
Since my clients were betrayed by humans who were supposed to protect
and nurture them, they have a much easier time connecting to the horses
than other humans. The horses are not threatening and do not represent
the possibility of another betrayal.
In my experience, traditional psychotherapy which involves sitting and
talking often isn’t enough to help clients recover. For many people with
trauma, the primary way of feeling safe in the world is to avoid any reminders
of abuse or neglect from their past. Talking about the past is like trying
to position a canoe upstream and paddle against the current. Verbal dialogue
in therapy often produces tension and resistance—a client’s innocent attempt
to protect themselves. In other words, until the client learns how to
somatically manage waves of fear, terror, and rage – talk therapy just
activates the fight-flight-freeze response.
The program at Equine Alliance provides a real life, safe place where
my clients have been able to learn how to self-soothe while learning the
relational skills needed to connect to the horses. The program requires
individuals to learn how to observe, listen, and offer a grounded, reliable,
and patient presence with the horses.
Equine Alliance is a much needed resource in our community. Through the
diversity of experience and skill-building at Equine Alliance, my clients
are developing a sense of confidence in their capacity to feel safe and
valued, recognize their worth, and find meaning in contributing to the
safety and well-being of the horses—who are also learning how to trust.
Helping the horses recover helps my clients recover.
Respectfully,
Michele Simone, M.S., Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFC 41657)
Dear Equine Alliance,
My name is Brianna and I am 14 years old. I am now living in a group home
in San Luis Obispo and would really like help with abused horses for I
know what it is like to be abused and having no one that wants you. When
I was 7 years old I lived in a van with my mother and two younger sisters.
My mom was doing drugs and every day I took care of my two younger sisters
and would have to find food for them. We were all taken from our mom and
split up into different homes until my mom could get clean and get an
apartment but that never happened. So far I have been in 17 different
foster homes and it is really hard and lonely. I don’t know anything about
horses but have always dreamed of having one of my own and would love
to have the chance to help out.
Thank you,
Brianna
Although our youth program was full, we were so touched by Brianna’s letter that we invited her out to the ranch the following weekend. Out of all of the horses at the ranch, Brianna immediately bonded with a rescued, shy, neglected mare named Bella. Brianna approached Bella and the love between the two was evident. Bella would never allow anyone to get close to her but had an immediate connection with Brianna. Since that first day the two were inseparable. Brianna came over every Sunday rain or shine for four years and spent many hours working, training and rehabilitating many horses at the ranch. Brianna is 18 years old now and a full time college student. Our Sundays at the ranch will never be the same without her. Brianna has touched many hearts and inspired each and everyone that has had the pleasure of meeting her. She has grown into a wonderful compassionate young lady who has overcome many obstacles in her life. I received this wonderful letter from Brianna on Mothers Day 2010.
Dear Lori,
You have been like a mother to me and I can’t thank you enough for all
you have done for me. You have always believed and seen the best in me
even though I could not see it in myself you knew it was always there.
I will never forget the time I ran away from the group home and I phoned
you in the middle of the night to come pick me up it was that very night
things for me began to change.
You made me realize that I had to make a decision in my life and stop
using my past as an excuse if I wanted to break the cycle and have peace
and freedom. It was really hard for me to trust or believe in anyone I
was so depressed and angry at the world. You taught me that I am someone
worth loving even when I couldn’t love myself. Now I am living my life
the way it should be lived and have learned to forgive others as well
of myself.
Love,
Brianna
I am the Director of the Kinship Center, Our facility
provides family-based mental health services to children who are in foster
care or who have been adopted. Our clients have unique yet recurring issues
of grief, loss, and attachment. I am writing to acknowledge the measurable
benefits that many of our clients have received since starting in the
equine therapy program at the Equine Alliance Youth Foundation.
One, a 13-year old female, was diagnoses as “…uncommunicative, withdrawn
socially” with low self-esteem and depressed mood. As she has progressed
through the equine program, she is much more verbal and engaged socially.
She is excited about participating in the program and discusses her successes
with visible pride. I have personally observed her overcoming her fears
of attempting new challenges in the program (i.e. riding horses) and witnessed
the increase in her self-esteem as she accomplishes new goals.
Another youth, a 12 –year old male, came to our clinic with marked “lack
of eye contact, flat affect” and “minimal engagement” with others. When
he first started the equine program, he was often oppositional about attending,
requiring a lot of encouragement to put his riding boots on and leave
the house. Now when we pick him up on Saturdays, he is ready at least
an hour ahead of time, as reported by his grandmother. He has gone from
a reticent participant, to someone who engages everyone at the Equine
Alliance ranch. His improvement affect, eye contact and social engagement
have endured outside of the Equine Alliance context as well. It is reported
that he has had a significant reduction in negative interactions with
peers at school, as well as family members in the home.
The Kinship Center would certainly like to enroll many more of our clients
in the equine therapy programs at Equine Alliance.
Sincerely,
Ron Huxley, LMFT
Kinship Center, Director
"Dear Lori, I am writing to thank you, Jamie and the
volunteers at Equine Alliance for the extraordinary level of care and
support that you provided not only for our daughter but also for our whole
family. Had it not been for the intervention of the horses at Equine Alliance
our daughter would not be where she is today, on the road to a new start
in life."
— The Hernandez Family
"There are not enough words in my vocabulary to thank
all of you at Equine Alliance. You’ve given me the greatest gift of all.
You’ve given me my son back."
— Marcia L.
Happy Mothers Day
Your like the mom I've always wanted but never had, You treat me so good
and you make me feel wanted and appreciated. You don't judge me for my
past, you can see through all of my struggles. I just want to tell you
thank you for everything and Happy Mothers Day Lori!
Love Steven
It’s been approximately two years since I noticed a material
change in my daughters behavior. Jamie was a truant and a runaway, failing
out of school, not trustworthy, had addiction to alcohol and drugs, promiscuous
and had physically mutilated her body (cutting). She lied continually
and showed no signs of remorse or accountability for any of her behavior.
I found myself ill equipped and in over my head with my daughter.
I lobbied, contacted and ultimately requested help from any and all services
available in San Luis Obispo County most of which were unaffordable. Transitions
Mental Health referred us to a remarkable youth treatment program at Equine
Alliance. The court, probation and Equine Alliance put the ball in motion.
My daughter reluctantly agreed to participate as her only other alternative
was incarceration or out of state placement in a youth facility.
Jamie started at Equine Alliance with many obstacles to overcome. She
is currently 2 years sober and we are very proud of her. My daughter continues
to flourish in equine assisted therapy and our family feels fortunate
and full of gratitude that Equine Alliance has provided Jamie a safe and
supportive environment where she is on the right track to recovery. I
without any doubt believe that the horses and staff at Equine Alliance
saved my daughters life.
Sincerely,
Michelle B.
Dear Equine Alliance, I just want to thank you for helping
to make what has been not one of the best times of my life, “Not So Bad”
. I found your straight forwardness, kindness and cheerful smiles-a balm
to the soul. And on top of all that your devotion to the horses and kids
was simply amazing! Do they have a Saint for horses and kids?? If not
you guys deserve the vote!
Thank you again,
Ms. Michaels, Court appointed community service worker.
"On behalf of God’s Havens For Children I would like
to thank you for coordinating an educational and fun day for our foster
children. Your continued support helps us to continue serving local children,
youth and their families."
Sincerely,
Jim Davis, MPA, Director
California Central Coast Services
God’s Havens for Children
Equine Alliance Youth Foundation awarded the "Certificate of Appreciation" in recognition of outstanding support given to Kinship Center Family Ties
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