Harnessing the Healing Powers of Horses

A unique program that connects young people to horses is gaining momentum in the Kitimat and Terrace regions, with participants saying it’s helping them overcome personal challenges and has parents recognizing the positive impacts the program is having on their kids’ mental health.

Nicole Hendry, a member of Northern Health’s Integrated Child and Youth Team, and Kirsty Evans Hernes, a teacher with Coast Mountain School District 82 and a certified equine coach, lead the initiative, known as the Equine Assisted Therapy Program. Operated from Copperside Stables near Terrace, with assistance from several local service providers and with financial support from LNG Canada, it offers local youth the opportunity to spend time and work with horses, through grooming, walking and riding activities, all while building critical mental health skills.

Horses are sensitive, social animals that can help people—kids included–confront issues that they might sometimes internalize, such as anxiety, fear and self-doubt. The equine assisted therapy program is designed to provide participants with a supportive and therapeutic environment that harnesses the healing power of equine-assisted therapy, fostering mental health and addiction recovery through meaningful connections with horses and nature.

After seeing success with the program at an alternative secondary school in Terrace, Nicole approached LNG Canada to help expand it to include youth from Kitimat and Kitamaat Village. The equine assisted therapy program is aimed at youth aged 13 to 18, and sometimes younger, and offered on a referral basis from organizations such as the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Haisla Nation Health Centre and certain area schools.

A lot of the process is about teaching the kids how to build and maintain trust with the animals, something they can then use when dealing with people. Sometimes, says Nicole, that means just spending quiet time with a horse they have chosen to work with, and looking for non-verbal cues and responses.

Grooming and walking activities are followed by a group meal and conversations around an open fire. In the afternoons, participants can take their new relationships to the next level: horse riding.

Those interactions and basic responsibilities that come with being around horses can have an immediate impact on a child. “The first time I was scared to go on the horses, the second time I was kind of scared, but I learned to face my fear,” says Jesse Tait, 10. “Now I like to try new things. At first I am scared to try new things, but I always face my fear and now I am not scared anymore.”

Jesse’s parent, Barb Green, echoes his enthusiasm. “Having my son participate in the equine therapy has helped him in ways I cannot,” she says. “I love that he has this opportunity. He has become braver and more confident in everything he does.”

Another participant, 13-year-old Elise Moore, says the program instilled in her a new-found confidence that she can now use in everyday life. “Not only did it make me feel more comfortable and confident on a horse, but also in general. I found being outside and just enjoying the moment made a huge impact on my mood. I remember going home every single day and telling my mom about the amazing day I had, and every little thing we did. It took being calm, patient, and respectful. Which are some things that I later realized don’t only apply to horseback riding, but also in life decisions.”

This marks the first year that LNG Canada has helped support the program, by providing funding for 150 more youth to participate. “The success stories emerging from the equine assisted therapy program are truly inspiring,” says Amy Pike, LNG Canada’s Community Liaison Officer. “Mental and physical well-being are essential pillars of our Social Investment strategy. We’re proud to help create meaningful opportunities that support the mental health of youth in the communities we call home.”

Nicole hopes to expand the program’s reach next year, by raising awareness and finding more sponsors, and attracting more volunteers willing to lend a hand and help out. Given the program’s early success, there’s no reason to think those hopes can’t be realized.