Spring is a time of growth and excitement for Horse Wisdom! We have added an MFT, Bob Bornt, who we believe to be an invaluable resource to both our clients, as well as staff. Bob has worked with several hundred soldiers, Marines and airmen and developed innovative therapies for PTSD and TBI. We'll be sharing more on the website and in future blogs.  In addition to being of service to clients, Bob will be providing training in his methods to our staff, and to the peer-mentors who volunteer for our Horses for Heroes (H4H) program.

We are very happy that beginning this session, our H4H prgram has expanded and will be providing services to the Wounded Warriors Battalion and Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic at Camp Pendelton. 

Next week, we'll be attending the Navy Combat & Operational Stress Control Conference, here in San Diego, 'Taking Action, Measuring Results'. We are eager to meet others involved in this work, as well as hear the latest research and information available.
It is wonderful to see the openness to new treatment modalities, which is where we come in!

Enjoy your spring! ~Windy Stopnitzky


 
 
 
Next week will be the last Horses for Heroes for this session. It has been a remarkable journey for both staff and participants. This session has been with female veterans. What has been striking is their willingness to share what they've been through and experienced, and thier ability to address their PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) head on.  Also, interesting has been learning about the unique prespectives of women in the service, specifically, the pressure they put on themselves "to measure up/cowboy up/tough it out", etc.  I hadn't really thought about it before!  It has definately been a theme throughout this session and has provided our staff with an opportunity to address these special needs. 
We are grateful to all of the participants whose lives intersect ours and the gifts they leave with us.
Respectfully, Windy
 
 
I realize this topic may be controversial but believe it is an important subject to bring to light . Like so many things, we often go along without questioning the modern "wisdom" of our culture.  Think of the progress that has been made in the last few decades in terms of child rearing, and of understanding childhood psychological development (the latter wasn't even part of the parental lexicon a generation ago!). These societal shifts couldn't have happened without benefit of serious boat rocking from the likes of Dr. Spock, and others, who, whether you agree with or not, started the conversation of what it means to parent & teach effectively.

The idea of each of us as parents being responsible for the emotional and pyschological well being of our progeny is a fairly new one. Perhaps it is a luxury previous generations didn't have. And, I ackowledge there are people for whom such discussions are still a luxury as their attention is focused on survival. For the rest of us though, I like to think we want all of the tools and the knowledge at our disposal so that we can make informed decisions about what is best for our kids.

It is towards that end that I would like to share Alfie Kohn's work, as well as that of others in upcoming blogs.

'Punished by Rewards' is the book written by Alfie Kohn in which he posits "that praise can do more harm than good". He gives 5 reasons to reconsider what has become common practice and accepted good parenting/teaching skills. In part, he says;

"What kids do need is unconditional support, and love, with no strings attached. That's not just different from praise -its the opposite of praise. "Good job!" is conditional. It means we're offering attention and acknowledgment and approval for jumping through hoops, for doing things that please us."

When I first read the book a couple of years ago, it was hard for me to let go of old ideas and to rethink one of the main tenants of my own parenting skill set! My kids are grown, but in working with other people's children now, I do strive to stay in awareness of what I am saying and why.

To read Alfie Kohn's paper on the Eagala website, go to:
http://www.eagala.org/contents/AlfieKohn5ReasonsNotToSayGoodJob.doc
To order the book:
http://www.eagala.org/readingsContent.htm

I welcome your comments and input, we are all here to learn!

blog post by Windy Stopnitzky
 
 
In 2009, we saw the groundwork (pun intended!) laid in 2008 begin to bear fruit with our first programs and the building of working relationships with other organizations. A lot of time was spent in meetings with potential collaborators and supporters which provided a wonderful opportunity to learn about the needs in the community and how Horse Wisdom could be of service.
It was a time of incredible growth in visibility, and in the programs offered. Most importantly, the horses did what they do best; they touched peoples lives!

For 2010 we will continue our 2009 programs and expand into more programs for youth, which I am very excited about!
One long term goal of Horse Wisdom has been to have overnight summer camps and we are working hard to make that a reality for the coming summer.

Another exciting program is our hosting of two working students from Uganda this summer. We are developing a Life Skills course that they can take back with them which will be structured as peer training in their orphanage and community upon their return.
This course will be based on herd behavior and dynamics, without benefit of the horses actually being present. I am thrilled to be collaborating with Carolyn Resnick on what I believe will be an important contribution in the field of personal development which will enable us to share 'the way of the horse' globally!

In closing, I want to thank all of those who have supported Horse Wisdom in any way over the past two years! It has been a remarkable journey, one I sense is just beginning, and is so much sweeter for having you ride along!

blog post by Windy Stopnitzky
 
 
I spend a lot of time considering the best approaches to work with youth & what it is we want them to take away from their sessions. What are the most important things we need to teach and want to instill in order for kids to have happy, meaningful lives?

One of the first things that come to mind is the importance of building self and self esteem. Kids who have a strong sense of self are less affected by peer pressure, are less prone to depression and are more likely to do well academically. The list of benefits is long and almost always follows them into adulthood.

Research indicates that self esteem can be engendered from outside of the peer group (thankfully!), as many of us who have had that special mentor in our lives can attest. As adults, we can offer ourselves as a supportive, non judgemental presence, not just for our own children, but to those whose lives intersect ours.

Ideally, we want kids to see their intrinsic value, their unique gifts and their ability to stretch beyond what they think is possible in order to build confidence in their capabilities.

We also want them to know it's OK to feel  anger, disappointment, rejection, acceptance, love, etc., and to be with how that feels in their bodies so that the emotions can be acknowledged and then let go of. This is especially true during adolescence when so much of what is happening physically affects mood and emotions for them.

Our culture seems to be in a constant state of stimulation, through electronic gadgets, television, or a constantly full schedule of sports, etc. I believe that providing the space for kids to slow down and be contemplative is crucial to the process of becoming self aware and centered young people.

The ranch environment is so wonderful for that! Just being with the horses and other animals in nature is in itself therapeutic! Session activities can further enhance the experience though. An example of an activity to quiet the mind would be to have the young person align their breath with that of the horse they have chosen to work with. Very soon, the effects of breathing together become obvious as both horse and human relax. Or not. If the person isn't truly relaxed, the horse will not be either! Most are intrigued with the idea of their ability to have such a profound affect on a 1000+ pound animal! I admit I still am!

posted by Windy Stopnitzky
 
 
This blog will serve as an outlet for news about Horse Wisdom, for topical discussion on Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning, and for a broader dialogue about holistic approaches to healthy emotional development and living.