The Horse Cure: True Stories: Remarkable Horses Bringing Miraculous Change to Humankind

ASHLEY was locked in closets as punishment, and physically and sexually abused, resulting in an angry and violent child who threatened her adoptive family—until she met Cocoa and Radar, the horses that helped her learn to trust again.

BRENDA was diagnosed bipolar and lived through humiliating domestic abuse, but three horses—Delilah, Wiscy, and Diesel—helped her establish a sense of self-worth, hope for the future, and ultimately, the will to go on.

NICK was angry, suicidal, and a veteran with combat PTSD, who now says, “Horses literally saved my life.”

Inspired by her own childhood trauma when she spent seven days in a coma, awakened to a severely compromised body and brain, and rebuilt her life with the help of a horse, Michelle Holling-Brooks founded Unbridled Change, a non-profit Equine-Partnered Therapy organization that helps match horses to individuals in need. Here she shares amazing stories of the people she’s worked with and the “horse cure” that changed their lives.

Survivors of trauma, loss, illness, abuse, stress, and depression can face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But today, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that horses play a crucial role in therapy for those struggling with significant psychological and emotional challenges. Horses respond to angry, inhibited, heartbroken, defiant, terrified clients in many different ways, often breaking through defensive barriers via their physical presence, or by pointing to areas of psychological distress not immediately apparent. The horse’s response guides the treatment team, as well as the client, in the healing process.

"1129785695"
The Horse Cure: True Stories: Remarkable Horses Bringing Miraculous Change to Humankind

ASHLEY was locked in closets as punishment, and physically and sexually abused, resulting in an angry and violent child who threatened her adoptive family—until she met Cocoa and Radar, the horses that helped her learn to trust again.

BRENDA was diagnosed bipolar and lived through humiliating domestic abuse, but three horses—Delilah, Wiscy, and Diesel—helped her establish a sense of self-worth, hope for the future, and ultimately, the will to go on.

NICK was angry, suicidal, and a veteran with combat PTSD, who now says, “Horses literally saved my life.”

Inspired by her own childhood trauma when she spent seven days in a coma, awakened to a severely compromised body and brain, and rebuilt her life with the help of a horse, Michelle Holling-Brooks founded Unbridled Change, a non-profit Equine-Partnered Therapy organization that helps match horses to individuals in need. Here she shares amazing stories of the people she’s worked with and the “horse cure” that changed their lives.

Survivors of trauma, loss, illness, abuse, stress, and depression can face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But today, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that horses play a crucial role in therapy for those struggling with significant psychological and emotional challenges. Horses respond to angry, inhibited, heartbroken, defiant, terrified clients in many different ways, often breaking through defensive barriers via their physical presence, or by pointing to areas of psychological distress not immediately apparent. The horse’s response guides the treatment team, as well as the client, in the healing process.

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The Horse Cure: True Stories: Remarkable Horses Bringing Miraculous Change to Humankind

The Horse Cure: True Stories: Remarkable Horses Bringing Miraculous Change to Humankind

The Horse Cure: True Stories: Remarkable Horses Bringing Miraculous Change to Humankind

The Horse Cure: True Stories: Remarkable Horses Bringing Miraculous Change to Humankind

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Overview

ASHLEY was locked in closets as punishment, and physically and sexually abused, resulting in an angry and violent child who threatened her adoptive family—until she met Cocoa and Radar, the horses that helped her learn to trust again.

BRENDA was diagnosed bipolar and lived through humiliating domestic abuse, but three horses—Delilah, Wiscy, and Diesel—helped her establish a sense of self-worth, hope for the future, and ultimately, the will to go on.

NICK was angry, suicidal, and a veteran with combat PTSD, who now says, “Horses literally saved my life.”

Inspired by her own childhood trauma when she spent seven days in a coma, awakened to a severely compromised body and brain, and rebuilt her life with the help of a horse, Michelle Holling-Brooks founded Unbridled Change, a non-profit Equine-Partnered Therapy organization that helps match horses to individuals in need. Here she shares amazing stories of the people she’s worked with and the “horse cure” that changed their lives.

Survivors of trauma, loss, illness, abuse, stress, and depression can face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But today, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that horses play a crucial role in therapy for those struggling with significant psychological and emotional challenges. Horses respond to angry, inhibited, heartbroken, defiant, terrified clients in many different ways, often breaking through defensive barriers via their physical presence, or by pointing to areas of psychological distress not immediately apparent. The horse’s response guides the treatment team, as well as the client, in the healing process.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781570769368
Publisher: Trafalgar Square
Publication date: 05/15/2019
Pages: 184
Product dimensions: 5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Michelle Holling-Brooks has been a certified professional in the field of Equine Assisted Therapies since 2000, and is a lifelong equestrian. A life-threating illness in her early teens inspired her commitment to her work and the founding of Unbridled Change, a non-profit equine-partnered therapy organization, in 2008. Holling-Brooks has over 20 years of training with a number of organizations in the field including: EAGALA, PATH, and Natural Lifemanship. She is certified in Mindfulness and Life Coaching, is a Reiki Master, and has specialized training in the areas of trauma, PST, and attachment work. Michelle resides in Boones Mill, Virginia.

Photographer Ann-Janine Morey is Associate Vice Provost for Cross Disciplinary Studies at James Madison University and the author of four books. She is certified as an equine specialist for delivering horse-assisted mental health therapies, and was a co-founder of a nonprofit that used horses in therapy sessions with veterans and at-risk youth.

Table of Contents

Preface Why Horses? vii

Introduction The Horse Power of Stories: Equine-Partnered Psychotherapy and Coaching AJ Morey 1

1 Schedule A: The Horse That Started the Journey Michelle 15

2 Cocoa and Radar: Learning to Trust Ashley 31

3 Delilah to Diesel: Taking off the Mask and Asking for Help Brenda 75

4 Bear: I Will Not Leave You Gwen 117

5 The Big-Boy Herd: Learning to Run and Play Mason 125

6 Cookie and Squire: Finding Your Voice Jake 133

7 Diesel in the Box: Trusting Yourself Ben 141

8 It Takes a Herd What We've Learned 151

About the Author and Photographer 161

Appendix A Resources on Equine-Partnered Psychotherapy 163

Appendix B Horsemanship Resources 167

Bibliography 169

Acknowledgments and Gratitude 171

Index 175

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Finally, a book that captures the quiet and not so subtle power of the horse to human connection. This is a must read for anyone who loves horses and wants to understand the growing field of equine assisted psychotherapy. Masterfully written, a refreshing perspective...” — Rebecca Bailey, PhD, Director of Transitioning Families, Advisor of JAYC Foundation, author of Safe Kids, Smart Parents

“Out of her own challenging healing journey, Michelle has crafted a powerful account of her personal recovery and restoration to function with the help of horses. Her experience drove her to study further what I language as Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy. Michelle’s book offers meticulous case notes on a variety of patients navigating the trail to health with the help of Michelle’s seasoned herd and professionally trained human staff. I especially appreciate how she weaves the various professionals into her client sessions for the purpose of developing a whole picture of the whole person. The significance of relationship building with first a horse and then one’s self is emphasized. The engagement of an individual’s desire to change involves mental, physical, emotional and spiritual intention; the horses provide the fuel and catalyst for shifting perspectives. As one of Michelle’s clients said, ‘you can’t make this stuff up’. Reading accounts of successes is very rewarding.”
Barbara K. Rector, MA, CEIP-ED; Adventures In Awareness, LLC; Equine Director, Hacienda at the River IN THE PRESENCE OF HORSES

“Yet another ‘equine therapy story book?’ This is way more than that. The Horse Cure immediately became required reading for my therapists and horse professionals here at our equine therapy program, to support and share ways of working with clients affected by trauma. The Horse Cure is an intelligent, thinking person’s guide to Equine Therapy, for those who need both theory and practice of how this work works. Michelle’s own journey is poignant, and I’m delighted she’s written this amazing book, for practitioners and lay-people alike. Bravo!”
Shannon Knapp, author of More Than a Mirror: Horses, Humans, and Therapeutic Practices , and Founder/Equine Specialist at Horse Sense of the Carolinas, Marshall, NC

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