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Equine therapists bring smiles to veterans

Commercial-News - 4/26/2020

Apr. 26--DANVILLE -- "We miss you! We love you!"

Big smiles brightened the veterans' faces when they heard those heart-felt words Friday. Some replied in the same manner, but most just grinned at the sight of their friends -- both humans and horses -- who made a quick visit to brighten their day.

"It's a breath of fresh air for all of us to come out here," said Michael Remole, chief executive officer with Gateway Family Services, based in Potomac.

Gateway is a mental health agency that provides a variety of services from equine assisted psychotherapy to respite, mentoring and tutoring.

Several residents at the Veterans Affairs Illiana Health Care System have bonded with horses since Gateway's equine therapy for vets was started in December. One veteran said, "I feel like I'm in heaven."

The program for veterans ran for 11 weeks before the coronavirus pandemic forced a shutdown of many businesses and services.

The groups of 10 veterans would travel to Potomac to meet the horses and interact in whatever way they felt comfortable. Working with the horses was good therapy.

"We saw significant changes in anxiety and depression -- drastically lower," Remole said. "We saw how relaxed they were when they left."

With the shutdown, however, the Gateway staff missed that relationship with the veterans, as well as with each other.

With guidelines in place, such as face masks and keeping a distance from the veterans, the Gateway team arranged to make a surprise visit with three horses in a trailer and two miniature horses in a smaller vehicle.

That idea was supported by the VA, which makes an effort to keep its residents engaged, despite the recent restrictions.

"In recreational therapy, we look for innovative ways to improve their lives and engage them," recreation therapy services supervisor Travis Winkler said. "We're looking at ways to adapt."

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

Friday's visit especially was meaningful to Vietnam War veteran Chuck Buck of Clinton, who served in the Army. The surprise visit coincided with his 70th birthday.

"This totally caught me off guard," he said, standing outside the Healing Garden. "I'm so happy. It's a good feeling when people care."

The Gateway staff held up signs about how much they missed the veterans and sang "Happy Birthday" to Buck.

Buck, who participated in the Gateway equine therapy program, was happy to see the familiar faces of the staff and the horses.

He presented a photo collage of veterans and horses, titled Connection & Healing, to Gateway staff. The artwork, complete with a horseshoe and a shock of horse hair, won first place in a veterans' art show earlier this year.

Buck said he stays busy coloring and doing art projects, and he sends his artwork to people all over. "I get satisfaction when they like it ... that's good enough for me," he said.

Remole said Buck sends artwork to Gateway, which is then posted on the horses' stalls, especially "his" horse, Kitty. Buck also took a feedbag and turned it into a work of art.

After surprising Buck on his birthday, the Gateway caravan continued to the Veterans Village, where several veterans were sitting outside their community living centers and enjoying the spring morning.

They, too, were surprised to see the Gateway team and the horses. Some of the veterans also are part of the equine therapy program, and exchanged greetings with the therapists.

"We miss you," Gabby Remole, chief financial officer and therapist at Gateway, called out.

Her husband, Michael, and Debbie Mills led the miniature horses up to where the veterans were sitting, staying back a healthy distance.

EQUINE THERAPY

Michael Remole said the project with veterans started out as a pilot program, and was well-received. Its slogan is "Connection & Healing. Horses helping veterans heal," and shows the outline of a saluting veteran and a horse head.

The VA took 10 vets to Potomac every Friday. Due to turnover (some veterans being discharged), Remole said between 25-30 veterans actually had a chance to work with the horses during the short time that the program was in operation.

In the eight-week sessions, the veterans discussed issues in a group setting and then did a mindfulness activity. Each veteran got to pick his own horse and decide how he wanted to relate to the horse, such as riding, brushing, or leading it around.

A baseline measurement of the veterans' heart rates was done. They wore heart-rate monitors, which showed significant improvement during the course of the therapy. The numbers were tracked from week to week.

The veterans also completed self-reports about how they were feeling, such as more or less stressful. They made comments, such as feeling younger when working with the horses and like they were "in heaven."

Gateway uses a model, based on the neuroscience of human and horse brain development, the impact of trauma, and the role of relationships in recovery and healing.

Gateway plans to resume the program once the pandemic restrictions are lifted. In the meantime, veterans can get their "horse fix" -- if only from a distance.

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