Horsin' Around
Top: Anna Schwartz, PhD, RN, equine therapist and nurse practitioner, led four breast cancer survivors through a short version of equine-assisted therapy. This therapy is a growing field in the equine industry and is used to treat people with a variety of health, learning, developmental and behavioral problems.
The dust slowly settled as the six mares came to a standstill on the east side of the arena. There they stood being assessed by the five women who shared their space. These big, powerful, and intimidating creatures could cause them harm if all didn't go as planned.
"We are using the horses as a metaphor for these cancer survivor's fear of their disease," says Anna Schwartz, PhD, RN, equine therapist and nurse practitioner. "These women might have a fear of horses and that's okay because they need to work through this fear like they did when facing their cancer."
Schwartz's equine therapy workshop was brought to MU through a dream visualized by Gayle Lierheimer, BSN ‘01.
Lierheimer faced her own cancer battles during her lifetime. But before her death in 2006, she focused on serving as many people as she could, both through her nursing career and her faith.
After attending an equine therapy workshop in 2005, Lierheimer was determined to bring this type of soul-healing practice to mid-Missouri. She spent the last year of her life working with nursing researcher Jane Armer creating the groundwork.
"Gayle wanted this type of program here in mid-Missouri," Armer says. "By holding this first workshop we have made her dream a reality. It also fulfills a personal goal of mine to honor such a wonderful woman and good friend."
To start the exercise, Schwartz asked each woman to select the horse that instinctively called to them. Then she asked them what these particular animals reminded them of in their own lives.
"This horse reminds me of my challenges because it came back to me twice just like my cancer," says Laura Shrum of Columbia, Missouri. "Although no matter how big the challenge my appear, you can overcome it."
A nurse and nurse researcher by chosen profession, Schwartz has always been connected to horses throughout her life. Working with animals, especially horses, and trouble youth started her down this research trajectory. Quickly she realized that horses could also hold the power of healing for cancer survivors.
Although the number of sessions differs from person to person, Schwartz uses the interaction with horses to open a dialogue using the issues they are trying to overcome.
"There is a lot of anxiety at first when many individuals start working with the horses," Schwartz says. "To be successful you have to be centered and quiet on the inside. Horses can sense fear and they are very responsive when interacting with us."
Throughout the hour-long workshop, Schwartz had the women participate in various exercises. The last exercise they had to work as a group and without talking to guide a horse over a rail in the arena.
"Instead of changing the horses' pattern, I change what I was doing," Schrum says. "That type of maneuvering relates to the challenges in my life because I've had to adapt to different situations."
With one successful workshop under their boots, Armer is seeking more funding to make this an annual event.
"My mom would be ecstatic right now knowing that her dream of helping so many cancer survivors is becoming a reality," says Kara Cabezas, Gayle's daughter and 2004 alum. "My mom knew through personal experience that this type of workshop helps people heal in ways they aren't even aware of during the exercises."