WADSWORTH, Ohio —  An equine facility in northern Ohio uses horses and clinical specialists to conduct therapy.

What You Need To Know

  • The farm in Wadsworth works with people from all walks of life

  • Recently the therapy team began working with first responders

  • The sessions often start by joining the horses and allowing both the patients and the horses to connect with one another 

  • Specialists say the horses can help fast track therapy. 

At Hope Meadows, the horses are used for more than just riding. Mental health specialist Lisa Borchert said the animals play a giant role in therapy.

“The horses are also part of the treatment team," Borchert said. "We’ll engage (the horses) as much as possible."

The treatment team at Hope Meadows consists of a mental health specialist, an equine specialist and the horses. Each person or animal plays a different role in therapy. 

“What we really say is what might traditionally take six to eight sessions in therapy, we can really get to in one or two sessions,” co-founder Michelle Togliatti said. 

At the beginning of the sessions, patients are encouraged to join the horses in the ring.

“Once inside (the ring) you all become one with the herd,” equine specialist and co-founder Anne Kichurchak said.  

Specialists then encourage patients to connect with the horses, in turn allowing the horses to return that connection. Props are also used during the sessions, each one symbolizing something different.

“The life vest just represents some recreation, trying to have that balance between work and life” said Cleveland Police detective Chris Gibbons. 

Gibbons is assigned to the employee assistance unit that provides resources to officers.

“We try and create programs to help improve (police officers) day-to-day work, their home life and whatever issues they might have,” Gibbons said.

He said places like Hope Meadows can help.

“It's hard to describe how difficult being a police officer is,” Gibbons said. 

Gibbons said equine therapy can be assist his officers in the field.

“If an officer is going into a stressful situation, you can approach with calmer energy and then hopefully be more effective and safer for everyone involved,” he said.

Gibbons said the program is already making a difference.

“We survey participants after they they join us, and the feedback's been great," he said. "(Officers) continue to use the practices.”

“The key is to support (officers) emotionally, mentally, psychologically, spiritually, and to improve their their wellness, their life, and their response to people on the street.” 

For more information on Hope Meadows, click here.