Healing Hearts with Horses

By KRISTIN DANLEY-GREINER
Herald-Index staff writer
Posted at 10:06 on 03/01/2006

In the country east of Runnells, miracles are happening regularly on Deb Hoyt’s horse farm. At Hoyt’s rural Runnells property, horses and ponies are being given a second chance at life, as are children who are utilizing the therapeutic benefits of interacting with horses. In its first year of existence, the Horse Heaven Rescue saved 22 horses and ponies from unfit conditions, placing them with new families. Hoyt said that in some cases, the equines were removed from homes where the creatures were neglected.

“In some instances, people were unable to financially care for the horses anymore, especially if they had health problems or injuries,” she said. “Several have been nice people who can afford the horses, but weren’t really very knowledgeable in horse care and training, and they ended up with horses with training problems. These horses have come here dubbed as ‘killer horses,’ because in the wrong hands, they would be killer horses.”

Six of the horses Hoyt and her team of volunteers have rescued have had to be euthanized, because they were too sick and debilitated to recover from the neglect they suffered. “Many horses come here due to an injury that limits their riding abilities. We then try to help that horse recover as much as it is able,” she said. “Most are able to handle ‘light riding,’ and we try to sell them with full disclosure of their limitations. It definitely benefits the horse, because many would have been put down if they had not come here, so for them, every day is a bonus day.

“We are quite picky about where the horses go, and have a two-year contract with buyers, if we believe the horse still had remedial needs. If the horse does not work out, that horse is to come back here, and to date, we have only had one come back,” Hoyt added.

The equine rescue program also benefits people who may not have had the opportunity to capitalize upon their love of this majestic animal.

“For some of the kids, they would never have been able to buy a horse if it weren’t for the program,” Hoyt said. “If they keep the horses here, I make it very reasonable for them and then I can work with the horses’ problems while I help the kids learn how to ride.”

Riding lessons happens to be a second program Hoyt offers at her horse farm, called Learning Lessons, which are available to underprivileged and foster/adoptive youth interested in horses. “Learning Lessons” teaches the youth about horses, eventually landing them in the saddle for lessons tinged with a therapeutic component. Hoyt has a soft spot for foster and adopted children, having spent the past 17 years raising biological children, foster children and adopted children.

Hoyt also reaches out to youth through horses with the Healing Hearts with Horses program. This program utilizes equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) to benefit at-risk children — in fact, Hoyt’s 25-acre farm is the only place in Iowa with 2 EAGALA level 1 certified teams available to provide EAP to group homes or families.

The EAP approach is similar to “ropes” courses, Hoyt explained, by taking a team out of its element, then having team members work together to solve a problem. One lesson taught is called “Life’s Little Obstacles,” where each client pinpoints an obstacle standing in the way of his or her goals. The obstacle can be written on a piece of paper that is attached to a jump, then the client is to get a loose horse over the jump, or obstacle.

“If you are a horse person, you know this is going to be hard from the get-go. You provide the ‘team’ with tools in their community — ropes, poles, etc–and can use them as metaphors for their obstacle, then you give them instructions,” Hoyt said. “They are not allowed to touch the horses or talk, with just five minutes to plan their approach.”

Recently, Hoyt worked with the Children and Families of Iowa girls group home in Des Moines.

“I have seen things happen that I could not believe. If the kids respond to the horses — some do and some don’t — there is real magic. My favorite is letting them go ‘talk’ to ‘their horses,’” she said. “A couple of the girls from the group home would tell me right when they got here they needed ‘time’ alone with their horse, that they’d had a bad day, a particular problem, etc. Horses are the best listeners and they never say anything back. To see those girls, arms wrapped around their horse’s neck, tears pouring down their faces, baring their souls to our gentle steeds, it’s priceless.”

While the demand for Horse Heaven Rescue, Learning Lessons and Healing Hearts with Horses programs runs high, funding to support these programs does not. The Christian-based non-profit group behind the three programs relies on donations and volunteers to help all of those who benefit from the program, whether they are two-legged or four-legged.

To help shed light on the programs and generate financial support, Hoyt held an open house last month at the horse farm, which—despite the frigid temperatures — drew a good crowd. This month, another open house will be held, which is tentatively scheduled for March 19 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hoyt farm. At the open house, kids can ride the horses, get their faces painted, snack on goodies and learn about the programs, including how people can help out.

“I am looking for apprentices to help me do the work, so we can provide more services to more clients. We are also looking into therapeutic riding, as there is no one in this area and I have people wanting to come here rather that drive to Panorama and Adel,” Hoyt said. “To date, I have used over $30,000 of my own money, waitressing and taking out business loans and a line of credit on my home to run the programs. If we do not get funding, I cannot continue. As far as I know, I am the only horse rescue in Iowa other than the Humane Society and the Animal Rescue league.”

Hoyt also knows all too well that if you want to get something done, like offering these beneficial programs, there’s no better time than the present.

“I have been doing these for a long time, about eight years, and was just getting more and more horses and kids wanting to come. I had cancer and I guess you realize that if you are going to do something, you’d better get going — you are not immortal and if you are going to have something to show for this life, now is the time,” she said.