Our Equine Program at New Beginning Ranch is proud to partner with Mastery Horsemanship
of Corvallis, Montana. This Program will provide our clients with the finest in equine
therapy.
Led by master horseman Don Jessop, participants will
experience the joy of being around horses, from the most basic horsemanship
encounters with safe horses to more advanced horse training and riding – even
dealing with difficult or abused horses at times.
As an authority in animal behavior, Jessop often
travels the country helping people with their horses while improving upon their
leadership skills. His natural, motivational attitude has inspired many people
to achieve more in their studies and feel more confident – and has earned him
the nickname “The Breakthrough Guy.”
Jessop studied behavioral science with several leaders
in the field, including Pat and Linda Parelli, the late horse master Ray Hunt,
famed dog whisperer Cesar Millan, world-class dolphin trainer Lynn Eisenhart,
peak performance coach Tony Robbins, and “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind”
author T. Harv Eker. Now, Jessop is capable of assisting his students as they
work through any problem or work toward any dream while mastering their
relationships with people and horses. His teaching and horsemanship are
drama-free, and he shares information with purpose and humor.
In addition to being a clinician, educator, coach and
leader in the horse industry, Jessop also is the author of several books.
Primarily, his book “Leadership and Horses” outlines what master trainers and leaders
in any industry do to get instant rapport and respect with their audience and
followers, allowing for smooth transitions to evident progress. All the
principles Jessop teaches naturally cross over into normal life situations,
even without horses.
Jessop, a Montana native, also works in the field of
self-improvement as a speaker, author and coach.
To learn more about Mastery Horsemanship and Don Jessop,click here
Many people have asked "What happens in equine therapy? I've heard of it, but I don't get it".
The Value of Equine Therapy: The Art of Connection
At New Beginning Ranch, the Equine Therapy program
has proven to be extremely valuable to our men – and very popular. Our clients
work with horses at least once a week.
Some of the men take to riding quickly. They are
then able to ride with an instructor in a larger arena and, if appropriate, on
one of the many trails in the gorgeous mountains surrounding the Bitterroot
Valley.
It is virtually impossible to “hide our stuff” when
working in close proximity with a horse. As prey animals, horses are incredibly
sensitive to our emotional/relational selves. Horses mirror back to us issues
that we need to look at for sustained recovery. Client experiences with horses
magnify these issues that, unless changed, will inhibit their journey into
recovery.
The experience of one of our former clients illustrates
this point.
He was a very smart, young man, but he struggled to
connect with others, which is a common issue among addict/alcoholics. This
young man covered the pain of isolation with a brash sense of accomplishment
and arrogance. His first experience with his horse in the round pen mirrored
those issues.
He kept saying, “I’ve ridden before, I know what I'm
doing,” all the while ignoring offers of assistance. After numerous attempts to
connect with his horse, she fearfully ran away from him. She kept moving away,
refusing to let him get near her.
Finally, he stopped trying to approach her and just
stood there. He started crying and said, “I don't know why this horse doesn’t
like me.” When he was asked about his relationships with people, he said, “This
is what always happens when I try to get close to people. They back away.”
He was told, “You’re very smart and sure of yourself,
but that doesn’t help you with connect with horses or people. When you began
grooming her, you brushed her with only the bare minimum of effort and never
spoke to her at any time. She picked up your impatience and lack of any attempt
to connect with her and she responded with distrust and by moving away.”
The lesson of the importance of connection was a
major turning point for him on his recovery journey. His peers had been giving
him similar feedback, but when a 1,200-pound horse backed away from him, he got
it on a whole different level.
By the time he graduated, he and his horse were a
great team, and he was very different with peers, asking for help, listening,
helping others and stopping his constant correction of others.
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