Chris Goodall, LISW-S
Chris has 20 years of experience as a social worker, 15 years of which have included providing Equine Assisted Services to clients with a range of needs including addiction and serious mental illness. She has trained in a number of evidence-based psychotherapies that can be applied in the office or the arena and is a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator. She is currently a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) and part of the Human Equine Relational Development (HERD) Institute.
Emmie’s Story
Emmie is an appendix quarter horse mare registered with The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). She lived the fancy show horse life during her early years, entering futurities and traveling to shows. Eventually, she found her way to a local college where I teach. Just like people, not all horses take to college life, and at the end of 2021 she was looking for a new home. One of my students suggested that I take her to a therapeutic program. I agreed and she was adopted by Hopewell, my then place of employment. Emmie is 10 years old and still quite able to work a job. Hopewell’s program is typically a home for retired horses. Thus, when we recently needed a new herd member, I knew exactly where to look. Hopewell has graciously agreed to give Emmie a chance at a more active therapeutic career by becoming the newest member of our herd. We are excited to welcome her to the team.
There is a story between the lines of this short introduction. It’s a story that may resonate with anyone that has experienced burnout, the realization that they are in a career they no longer love, or anyone who may be searching for a place to belong. Emmie was born into a world where success is measured by your performance at the largest competitions . This world assumes that you will train hard, travel often, and constantly be asked to be “on.” There is a lot of expectation in the horse show world, and often very little time to be a horse. While some horses do enjoy this environment, others burn out like an MBA grad racing to the top of the corporate ladder. Horses that burn out in the show ring may find themselves shipped off to college. Another demanding career, college asks horses to work in at least two different subject areas with anxious students facing the stress of balancing horses and life, all while trying to ace a midterm. College graduation isn’t the only pathway to success. Just ask at all the college dropouts turned entrepreneurs that have made millions.
When I first met Emmie, she was a half a semester away from retiring from college life. She was burnt out, and it was evident in her relationships with both the students and horses. Horse behavior is communication. Watch this video for more on recent research about the connection between behavior and pain. One of the lab classes in my course looks at how to assess whether or not a horse is appropriate for a therapy program. A student asked if we could work with Emmie and turnout buddy. The class was about an even division of students for or against this idea, and most were pretty quick to choose a side. I was intrigued, so, of course, we worked with Emmie and her turnout buddy that evening. Emmie came out and followed the other horse around for support. The gist from those that lacked trust in Emmie said that she was nervous, afraid of most things, bites, and recently had thrown a student. After a few minutes of acclimation, I allowed the students to enter the ring to work with the horses. We did an activity and we assessed the horses. Emmie wandered the ring, smelling everything and visiting everyone. This horse was curious. She enjoyed being scratched and petted by those that were comfortable.
That evening became the beginning of the students unlearning everything they thought they knew about Emmie and getting to know her as a horse, on her own terms. Emmie quickly became the favorite for the class. She worked with us most weeks, and we watched her confidence grow. By the end of the semester, she let students put cones on her back, acted as the confident lead horse in a session that involved loud noises from mother nature, and developed a loving relationship with everyone in the group. At no point did she attempt to kick or bite anyone, horse or human. She thrived in liberty sessions where there were no expectations or demands placed upon her, and she could decide whom to approach and when. You can tell when someone finds the career or a group where they belong. It is evident in our bodies and allows us to be our authentic selves and follow our passions. I knew from that first session that equine assisted services was where this horse belonged. Emmie is a natural for this work, and I am so happy that she is joining our herd.
