Equine Therapy Goals
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Historically many men have not had their needs met by organizations such as The Armed Services, Veteran Services The Mental Health Sector, Oranga-Tamariki Ministry for Children, Ministry of Justice, Corrections Department and The Ministry of Education.
Equine Therapy is a new and innovative approach to relax, expand, to encourage enough interest, to step outside the clients’ zone of comfort’ and challenge themselves with something new, different and interesting.
By taking responsibility for the care of a trusting horse (a big animal) and building a bond based on trust, touch, care and respect the client is stepping from a passive position to a much stronger place where they are controlling their own destiny.
For the past thousands of years horse and men have worked in unison and this has saved both the men and horses mental health creating a special bond that has been recognized for all those many years. Mechanization allowed us to forget how important this bond was and still is.
It has been trailed overseas with great success and we aim to help men with PTSD to use this therapy to help themselves on the path to wellness.
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Health and Safety Horse Care
Showing kindness, and awareness of the needs of the horse and tending to these.
Spending lots of time grooming the horse to build up a bond with the horse. Touch is a great way to bond with a horse.
When riding a horse teaching the rider to be the master by kindness and by understanding the horses personality. (ie, are they a lead horse or a follower?
Horses are pack animals and they have their own pecking order or rank. The rider needs to respect this order to maintain the horses trust and wellbeing.
No whips or sticks are to be used on the horses. The rider needs to earn the respect of the horse by trust, kindness and firmness. The horse is totally reliant on the rider.
Horse riding is a risky pleasure. Helmets are available to wear. This is optional for adults.
Campfires
All campfires must be strictly controlled at anytime of the year. Water or a fire retardant must be handy at all times and used if necessary.
It is up to the staff to decide if the risk is too great. If so no fires will be lit.
Bush Skills
Staff have back country bush and outback horse riding skills. They will actively encourage Ptsd victims, to learn these from them with time taken around the campfire evenings to share and enlarge their knowledge. The program is based on Military background, and to build the brotherhood friendship for the future
The Equine Field Rehab Team
James Sedgwick
James Sedgwick is a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in a variety of mental health areas, James is currently working in an acute crisis response team and regularly sees the impact of post traumatic stress and childhood trauma on men living in New Zealand.
James acts in an advisory capacity and as an active team member for our equine unit.
Terry Kingi,
Trustee
Peer support team member.
Horse Wrangler
Male survivor , Ex serviceman NZ army, and 50 years working with Horses, in film productions, Show Events
Logistic Manager in Heavy transport field, Events Manager, Producer and Director of the 100 years 100 horses Anzac Day Rides for the last five years in New Zealand and Australia,
so with his team of horses that work in many events Through out New Zealand , he is using them as part of the Equine Rehab Program, for PTSD and Trama of front line working, like fire. Ambo, Police , and SAR,
Interdiction Video
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Wesley John LESEBERG ,
Trustee
Horse Wrangler
Police Officer with 17 years in law enforcement, including assisting citizens, investigating accidents and conducting routine patrols. Exceptional report writing ability. Police Officer versed in dealing with a wide range of difficult situations with a level head and calm disposition. Dedicated Police Officer who practices safe security measures and conflict resolution techniques to handle crisis and emergency situations. Quick thinking Police Officer skilled in assessing risks and making critical decisions under extreme pressure. Police Officer highly effective at taking leadership direction from superiors, as well as mentoring junior officers. Believes that a willingness to learn and an emphasis on teamwork are essential qualities of successful law enforcement officers. Reliable Police Officer dedicated to saving lives, increasing community safety and decreasing crime rates, Wes also runs the Equine Rehab Unit In Gunadagai, NSW
Casey Hart,
Trustee
and
Peer support team member
We also Run Leadership Courses for the young lads in Equine management and Packhorse trail riding setup
we are working with other partners within the NZ QA
NZQA Standards
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Donations to the Anzac Mount's to help to keep this volunteer program going,
All the members are volunteers
KIWIBANK 38-9023-0860629-01 ANZAC PROJECT
erewhon@amuri.net
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123-456-7890
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Mental Health Technical Advisor
Simon Burges-Short
Social Work Clinical Lead Te Tai o Poutini / West Coast
In my role as the Clinical Social Work Lead for Te Whatu Ora Te Tai O Poutini I have had many interactions with clients suffering PTSD and the effects of this on their wellbeing and those around them. Part of my role is facilitating a support group for men. Many of who struggle from day to day because of past trauma, often leading to behaviours that are self detrimental or harmful to others.
The Equine Therapy which has been facilitated by the ANZAC Mounts Rehabilitation Unit has been amazingly beneficial to those clients I have referred to the equine therapy service over the past 4 years.