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\n[\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”2px|0px|37.9062px|0px” fb_built=”1″ bb_built=”1″ _i=”1″ _address=”1″][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_margin=”10px|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|18.9531px|0px” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0″][et_pb_text admin_label=”News Story” _builder_version=”3.29.3″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” _i=”0″ _address=”1.0.0.0″]<\/p>\n
On a small farm tucked away near the coast of South Carolina, horses are helping sexual assault survivors and others who have experienced traumatic events reconnect with the world.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a yellow lab and golden retriever mix is helping patients keep calm during hospital visits to Prisma Health in Columbia.<\/p>\n
Horses and dogs are the two most common forms of animal assisted therapy for many who experience various forms of trauma and anxiety.<\/p>\n
Susan McKinney, who runs the Barnabas Horse Foundation with the aid of a team of psychologists, opened her horse stable after several family tragedies. She said the horses, some of which she has rescued, helped the family heal.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything we do on the farm is about teaching our clients how to have healthy, connected relationships. First with themselves,\u00a0then with their horse. Then they take that out into what we call \u2018Humanville\u2019,\u201d McKinney said.<\/p>\n
McKinney’s sanctuary offers therapeutic experiences in many forms including “sensory walks” or quiet rides on the horses’ backs that gives the feeling of physical connection. She explained that a horse’s pace and the ability to smell and touch anything in front give the rider the feeling of re-connection with the world.<\/p>\n
The stable location is kept secret because some of McKinney\u2019s clients are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and other crimes. She says this is a \u201chappy place,\u201d and her horses are the ultimate key in her clients\u2019 healing process, noting a horse’s natural fight, flight or freeze instincts will mirror whether they feel safe around someone.<\/p>\n
Equine-assisted therapy is all about a strong relationship and trust, McKinney explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could tell me all day that you\u2019re doing fine, and inside you could be in such turmoil. A horse is gonna call ‘baloney sandwich’ on it, and they\u2019re gonna move away from you,\u201d McKinney said.<\/p>\n
Often an instant connection is important too. Bethany Clark, a pediatric outpatient physical and specialty therapist at Prisma Health in Columbia, spends her work days with a furry sidekick.<\/p>\n
Chiver, a 3-year-old yellow lab and golden retriever mix, helps keep her patients calm during visits to the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s almost like they go into fight or flight. They see us and it\u2019s like, \u2018Oh, no. Another person in scrubs. I don\u2019t want them touching me.\u2019 There\u2019s a lot of anxiety,\u201d Clark said. \u201cWith Chiver and with all dogs in the work place, there\u2019s been a lot of research to show it kind of helps them calm down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clark said having Chiver around not only calms her patients but motivates them to work on their physical therapy exercises. For example, if a patient is climbing stairs, Chiver will climb the stairs too. If Clark instructs a patient to do wall sits, Chiver will sit against the wall along-side the patient.<\/p>\n
Clark said that members of the hospital staff benefit from Chiver’s presence as well as the patients.<\/p>\n
“He picks up when people have bad days, and he is straight to them and sits next to them and is like, \u2018I\u2019m gonna hang out with you today because you need it\u2019,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n
While horses and dogs require different relationships for the animal assisted therapy to work, McKinney and Clark agree that connection is key to the healing process.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and all of the stress factors,” Clark said. “When you kind of just have a quiet moment where you can connect with another being, it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n
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This October, Prisma Health celebrates Chiver’s third service anniversary.<\/p>\n
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