EQUIJOURNEYS: The Two-Legged Support Equine Assisted Psychotherapy And Learning (E.A.P.A.L.) | ||
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To Those Who Have Dared to Believe, Dream, Inspire, and Challenge This page has proven to be both the most joy-filled and difficult of all the pages on the website. I know that there are more people who have inspired me and stood behind me than I could ever list, and every day I meet someone new who wants to give something of himself or herself. In some parts I am speaking in general and in others I name specific people, so I want to say, "thank you," up front to each person who has smiled, said an encouraging word, taught me, put up with me, given me a moment of your time, and so much more. Thanks for allowing me to share a part of this life's journey with you. There is no such thing as being a small part in someone's life. My family and friends are always a constant source of encouragement. The people I list on this page are those who have inspired me and taught me and believed in me. They are also people who have invested themselves into EquiJourneys. My "partner," the Equine Specialist who shares her time, her home and all her horses with me is Martha White of Classic Bloodstock. Details about Martha, her work, and her horses are on THE EAPAL TEAM page. Her generosity, expertise and genuine, one of a kind, selfless heart makes EquiJourneys an even better programthan it has been previously. The Cornerstone of EquiJourneys is the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Above all, He has given each of us more than we can repay - and did it as a gift, asking nothing in return. The root of perfect love, unconditional forgiveness and complete healing is in Christ. While we will not force "religion" on any person, and respect the beliefs of each individual, we live our lives and continually build upon the foundation of what Jesus has given us all: GRACE. During the turmoil of my junior and high school years, God put people in my life who helped keep me from total self-destruction and on the path He had planned for me in a future that truly would be beyond what I could imagine. One person, one family, took me into their lives and loved me without reason and believed in me in spite of all the chaos and rebellion I went through. They trusted me enough to let me be a part of the lives of their children, and they have never turned me away. Much of my faith, my ability to love, and my desire to change the livesof troubled youth came from this unconditional love and commitment they extended to this angry and confused girl who was trying to be so tough. Gary and Mona, and my "little brother" Taylor - thank you so much for being the best human representation of Jesus and His Grace I have ever encountered, and for always being there - even when I was shaking my fist at the sky and the world. Please know that mine is a life you have changed. To meet Gary Sills, visit Sienna Valley Community Church in Missouri City, TX (in southwest Houston). | |||||||||||||||
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therapy adolescents teenagers children familyequine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy | equine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children family communication skills equine assisted psychotherapy life skills anger self-esteem self-confidence equine assisted psychotherapy behavior disorders mood disorders personality disorders eating disorders depression anxiety addictions recovery equine assisted psychotherapy social work Arabian horses breeding showing hippotherapy equine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children family communication skills equine assisted psychotherapy life skills anger self-esteem self-confidence equine assisted psychotherapy behavior disorders mood disorders personality disorders eating disorders depression anxiety addictions recovery equine assisted psychotherapy social work Arabian horses breeding showing hippotherapy equine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children family communication skills equine assisted psychotherapy life skills anger self-esteem self-confidence equine assisted psychotherapy behavior disorders mood disorders personality disorders eating disorders depression anxiety addictions recovery equine assisted psychotherapy social work Arabian horses breeding showing hippotherapy equine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children family communication skills equine assisted psychotherapy life skills anger self-esteem self-confidence equine assisted psychotherapy behavior disorders mood disorders personality disorders eating disorders depression anxiety addictions recovery equine assisted psychotherapy social work Arabian horses breeding showing hippotherapy equine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children family communication skills equine assisted psychotherapy life skills anger self-esteem self-confidence equine assisted psychotherapy behavior disorders mood disorders personality disorders eating disorders depression anxiety addictions recovery equine assisted psychotherapy social work Arabian horses breeding showing hippotherapy equine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyequine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyequine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyequine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyequine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyequine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyequine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyassisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyequine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyassisted psychotherapy animal therapy adolescents teenagers children familyequine assisted psychotherapy horse therapy animal therapy counseling equine assisted learning and growth equine assisted growth experiential therapy cognitive therapy equine assisted psychotherapy animal therapy | ||||||||||||||
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An Overdue Thank You... How could I ever thank every person who has been an inspiration to me and believed in me when I couodn't even imagine believing in myself? Many may not even realize the part they played and continue to play. I have met some of the most influential people of my life because of horses, and I could not possibly list them all. However, I would like to mention a few, not just as a thank you, but also as an encouragement so those who read this may know that this journey is not one made alone. Each person I from whom I have learned, listed here or not, played a significant part in changing the life of a girl - making her dreams become reality: There are the best friends and my family - those who may not have loved the horses in the same way, but loved me enough to be a part of it. Four specific friends come to mind specifically: Todd, Holli, Robyn and Kim - without each of you, I cannot imagine being whole. My family - the people who stood by me in the best and worst of times, loving me when I was fighting them. The people who have taught me all things horses and made sure I was not alone in my journey: Julie Rhodes, Craig Burns, Kasey Sutton, Shawn Crews, Jim and Carol Deegan, Jim and Judy Sirbasku, David Gardner and family, Paul, Darla and Jenny from Rock Creek, Dee Springer of Galleywinter Farms, and the many others with whom I worked and played during those invaluable years in Waco. (Juli, Paul, Shawn, and Leah - remember that what happens at the Event stays at the Event!) I am also grateful for the time and selfless hearts of Kim and Regina in Galveston, for David and Lois Harrison of Oakhollow Equestrian Park in Houston, and to Candace and Eduardo Callegari of Callegari Equestrian Technologies of Cyrpess, Texas. These are the people who have made my dreams possible today and have offered more than just business services when they reached out to me. A very specific gratitude and unconditional love will always live within me for Craig and Juli Burns (now Juli Rhodes), and Juli's children Kasey and Jeremy. This family adopted me during my years as an undergrad at Baylor, and allowed me to be a part of their lives very much as part of their family. Juli was my supervisor at Rock Creek Arabians/Arabiains LTD, training mentor and friend. She and her husband, Craig, taught me how to care for horses from nutrition to veterinary care, and how to train both Rafiq and Shafak (a mare I purchased the summer after my sophomore year). Their daughter, 8 year old Kasey, became my riding partner and I consider her as a sister even now, 12 years later. As I look back, I believe that my relationship with Kasey was the primary inspiration for me to expand my work with adolescents to include children. Even as I speak with her now, she is a constant source of encouragement to me. Dee Springer also adopted me, as well as allowed me to train horses under saddle at her ranch, Galleywinter Farms, and sold me my second horse, Shafak. I faced some very difficult times of loss during the years I lived in Waco, and I don't know how I would have pulled through those times without the love and support of my family, and that of these friends. Today I have such amazing people in my life - so strong and so dedicated to each other and to anyone who crosses their paths. My family continues to be at the top of my list, of course - with constant and consistant encouragement. The Rademacher family - consisting of a mother and father who share their amazing children with me, and the children who are truly young women with hearts of gold. My fellow horse-loving friends who also have a passion for sharing that love with others, encouraging me and each other as we move through life: Katherine, Rae, Kathi, Jonna, Candace, Eduardo, and my newest partner in this equine adventure, Martha (see THE EAPAL TEAM for more information on Martha, her role in EquiJourneys, and her horses). During the turmoil of my junior and high school years, God put people in my life who helped keep me from total self-destruction and on the path He had planned for me in a future that truly would be beyond what I could imagine. One person, one family, took me into their lives and loved me without reason and believed in me in spite of all the chaos and rebellion I went through. They trusted me enough to let me be a part of the lives of their children, and they have never turned me away. Much of my faith, my ability to love, and my desire to change the livesof troubled youth came from this unconditional love and commitment they extended to this angry and confused girl who was trying to be so tough. Gary and Mona, and my "little brother" Taylor - thank you so much for being the best human representation of Jesus and His Grace I have ever encountered, and for always being there - even when I was shaking my fist at the sky and the world. Please know that mine is a life you have changed. To meet Gary Sills, visit Sienna Valley Community Church in Missouri City, TX (in southwest Houston). | |||||||||||||||
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Our Two-Legged Support Team The best place to begin is to take a look at the people who make EquiJourneys possible today. The most vital component in any outreach and treatment program is the people who do the work, give their time, and invest their hearts. My teammate, Martha, helps me whether we get paid or not - giving her time, her home, her four-legged family, and her energy. As with most journeys in life there are always people who are also a vital part of any endeavor, and I feel it is important to point the people out who inspire, and believe so much in this work that they offer their time, their skills, and their hard-earned sweat to make this work possible. The love of two separate families has made so much more possible in my life and in the heart of EquiJourneys. It seems this would be the best place to start when taking a look at the people behind the program. My Family My Dad often tells me that his meaning in life - the reason he works and lives - is to make sure his children's dreams come true. His actions, and those of my Mom, confirm that this is the truth. I not only have emotional support, I have parents that BELIEVE in me so much that they constantly make sacrifices in lifestyle to better the lifestyle of their adult children. They do all this with a smile on their faces. In times of doubt and frustration, my family has pulled me through. They won't give up even if I do. When I think the glass is definitely half-empty, they find ways to show its half-full. I grew up with the security of unconditional love and forgiveness, and it is as strong today as it was when I was a child. I have a special friendship with each of my parents, and my Dad is now very involved with my horses and the activities in which we compete and play. He was with me when I first found Rafiq and the amazing job at Arabians LTD, and he flew all over the place with me in the search for the *perfect* horse for a variety of roles. He was with me when I first saw Krystallynne and he went to Wisconsin with me to buy her. Whle there are so many horses available in the Houston area, and even more so in Texas, Dad and I just instinctively knew that she was the one. I have only owned 3 horses in my life - and with each one there was a feeling of certainty that each one was the right one at the right time - felt by both of my parents and by me. They are the most giving people on this planet! And no - I'm not at all biased.
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An Unexpected Loss That Revealed An Unexpected Family In losing the beloved EquiJourneys filly, Kyrstallynne WLF, in 2004, I found a family - I have been surrounded by extraordinary people - generously offering assistance and compassion, horses and far beyond - a place I can call home. Special thanks to Bryan and Melinda Jeffries, Gary Fernandez, Martha White, Candace and Eduardo Callegari, Shawn Crews, Jim and Judy Sirbasku & friends at Arabians LTD, Penny Gute, Michael Byatt & the staff at Michael Byatt Arabians, David and Marian Gardner, Becky Rogers & the folks at Kehilan Arabians, the Deshazer Family, and to the many others who reached out to me and considered me a friend before we have even met. I must thank the friends and family who have guided me through these difficult days: Much thanks to my family - my mom, my dad, my brother, my sister-n-law, my grandparents, and so many more; to my friends - Martha White, Jonna Johnson, Kathi Ruppe, Rae Callaway, Candace and Eduardo Callegari, Kasey Sutton, Katherine Chmielewski, and the Rademacher Family. To the many others who I have certainly neglected to name, thank you for your generosity and compassion. | |||||||||||||||
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More Two-Legged Support from Volunteers & A Few of Their Four-Legged Friends! As you can see from the pictures on this site... we are abundantly blessed to be surrounded by people who will not hesitate to be generous with their time and their horses. I have not caught everybody on camera, and I cannot imagine creating a complete list, so I will update as I meet new people, get pictures, and as gifts come in of any sort! To begin, I would like to thank Kathi for always being willing to give her time to anyone who has any need. I also want to thank a group of people at the Callegari barn who are consistantly encouraging and helping each other and other boarders whenever the need arises - we call it the "Wednesday Night" group and it consists of Kathi, Karen, Melissa, Cyndy, Becky, Candy, and their supportive families. Special thanks to Tony for sharing Kathi (his wife) with us all! Also, relatively new to the barn and instantly friends are Cristina and Bobby. They are always happy to hang out and lend a hand and provide constant positive energy and smiles. Another selfless friend I wish to specifically thank is Rae of Tall C Arabians in Cypress, Texas. She has been supportive and has always offered her horses and home to me for my own healing and to reach out to others. She has always made sure I have a horse to ride, especially when Rafiq is having leg problems that prevent him from safely being ridden at the time. She continues to be willing to make my dreams a reality, offering her top endurance mare as one I can use to share with children to whom I teach riding lessons. Thanks to Rae, I do not live a "one horse" life. Specifically, there are three people who not only share their time, but that of their horses as well. Rachel, seen in pictures throughout this website. She may be a teenager, but she has quickly developed a natural horsesense that many spend their lives trying to learn but can never grasp. Rachel, plus her parents and younger brother, are always willing to stop and share their horses and time with anyone who passes by. Peppy and her suprise filly, "Peppy's Lil Secret," have made a name for themselves as mascots. Lily truly was a surprise as she popped out just as Rachel and her family had arrived for the day. What we all thought was a grassbelly turned out to be a gorgeous filly. She is very much a miracle - Peppy took a couple of days to get milk, and was suddenly underweight as Lily actually WAS her belly. Under the attentive care of Rachel and her family, Peppy and Lily are filled out and top notch on the athletic scale. Both are naturally muscled and their coats shine from all the love they receive. No horse in the barn has a better diet or glows as much as this mare and her foal. I hope to add new pictures soon as Peppy and Lily continue their transformations into amazingly beautiful and athletic horses. Rachel is proof that age does not matter in training - she has just naturally imprinted Lily from the beginning to put up with the weird two-legged creatures, and she is always looking for more love and attention. Rachel is already a trainer, now with two horses that show her skills are at work! The next person is Jonna... a friend who has always been supportive and encouraging, and has now added one of her horses to the EquiJourneys gang. "Buddy" is a Quarter Horse gelding that can easily be mistaken for a warmblood because of his size. He lives up to his name with a sweet disposition that just begs for a hug. He never gets cross with anyone and seems to have a special way with kids. Jonna has provided me with a horse I can use for a few kids who would otherwise miss out on the horse experience. Though I have not caught them on camera, expect to see them soon! Jonna has also offered her personal time as a partner in the equine assisted psychotherapy and equine assisted learning processes when using the team approach. The third person is the newest person, and she instantly wanted to be a part of EquiJourneys and any effort to help out kids who may need a friend or something that can bring a smile to their faces. Morgan, who also is a teenager, has already risen in the ranks of her high school's FFA (Furture Farmers of America) club, owns a beautiful paint mare named Cheyenne. She is going to be showing Cheyenne in halter and under saddle, but is also willing to donate some of her own time and her own horse to a few more kids who may not have had a chance to experience horses. She took an immediate interest in the ideas behind any type of equine assisted growth program and will be an active part of our Equine Assisted Learning program, helping her peers and others have positive experiences with horses. Look for pictures of Morgan and Cheyenne as I catch them in action soon! | |||||||||||||||
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A Shout Out... To anyone considering getting involved with horses, and the combination of working with horses and people in a growth, learning, and healing capacity... please find a way to join in! There is a great need that we are only barely able to meet, and the more people involved, the more people get reached! Please feel free to contact me, Shannon McCullough, by phone or email, and I will help however I can in finding an equine assisted psychotherapy and/or equine assisted learning program near you! There IS a network of practicioners, and, thanks to EAGALA and similar organizations, we have been able to come together and share ideas and resources. Each part a person plays is crucial to each program and each person who receives the gift of the horse experience. Whether you are willing to spend an hour a week, provide tack or horses or both, be a therapist who joins an equine specialist or vice versa, or even provide a location from which a program can operate - no gift is small. Thank you! | |||||||||||||||
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