What happened: A Jupiter Farms nonprofit is helping people heal, build confidence and connect with others – with some unlikely therapists doing much of the work.
Background: This week’s ‘Hometown Hero’ is using rescued horses to help chldren, adults, and veterans overcome challenges. “You know the bond with the horse, the connection with the horse, just helps you grow and heal.” That’s something Ashley Colwell wanted to bring to more people.
She founded H.A.L.T. , or horse-assisted learning and therapy, four years ago, bringing together her background as a speech pathologist with her love of horses The nonprofit provides speech, occupational and physical therapy, using horses to help people of all ages learn, connect and grow.
“So, if the horse were to stand up, that gait is very much like the human gait,” Ashley explains. “That's why it works so well with people getting on the horse and feeling that movement because it's the closest to ours.” See also: Meet Your Neighbor: The Moores mark 77 years of marriage Ashley says the results can be remarkable.
“One of our little boys actually made his first imitations on a horse, which is you know one of the initial steps to communication so that was really great,” Ashley says. “Another woman came in with dementia, and she had had horses in her past and had been around them, but wasn't communicating, wasn't really opening her eyes and one of our old mares put her head on her shoulder and just tears flowed down her face.
So, what they can do is just so healing and amazing.” And while the people who come to H.A.L.T.
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Source: official sources including CBS12 News.
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