Horses show off their therapeutic qualities (From Dorset Echo)
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Horses show off their therapeutic qualities
10:51am Tuesday 6th February 2007 in News
HORSE SENSE: Equine therapist Don Lavender with New Forest pony Chester Picture: Brian Jung/BJ2790
TWO Kingston Maurward horses took centre stage at a demonstration on how they can help people overcome addictions.
Top American equine therapist Don Lavender worked with the 17-hands-high Percheron horse Tallow and his smaller companion Chester - a New Forest pony - for the demonstration to show how the animals can help heal people with problems ranging from unhappy relationships to addictions and behavioural problems.
The demonstration evening was organised by Josephine Sellers, owner of Dorchester's Body Mind Spirit, who said the event was a sell-out.
Ms Sellers, who is a qualified equine-assisted psychotherapist herself, said: "Horses are like a big diagnostic tool. They are herd animals that live for the moment and so are extremely sensitive to what's around them."
She added: "I've worked with people who have been addicts and been helped by this and then gone on to train and use it."
Those attending the demonstration at Kingston Maurward College's equestrian centre were able to see the benefit of using horses in therapy.
Ms Sellers hopes to run a course in August to train people as therapists.
