Freedom Reigns...
Formed in 2004 and co-founded by Marshel (Butch) and Ann Warren and became a Colorado Non-Profit in 2008. In 2009 we became partners with New Life Thoroughbred Rescue located in LaPorte, Colorado.Through unconditional love and acceptance, and with the help of the horse, we facilitate Discovery, Hope, Healing and Personal Recovery.
While incorporating specific activities and using the EAGALA Model (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association), and working with horses, we facilitate private and group sessions to individuals who are seeking healing and a deeper awareness of themselves. (See the www.eagala.org to learn more about this model and the association).
Our main focus is to individuals who have lost someone and are walking through their grief – with the help of the horse, individuals continue the process of grieving. “Horses are wonderful teachers and companions.
They are non-judgmental, present, and free of expectations. The quiet strength of horses, coupled with human compassion can be just what the mourner needs. In the dynamic horse/human relationship, powerful things take place.” (as stated by M. Dawson). We will be offering special events this summer, as we partner with Michael Dawson, founder of Horses Healing Grief. See Michael’s website at: www.michaeldawsoncounseling.com
Our secondary focus is to teach the ‘8 Principles of Horsemanship’ to children ,teens, adults, and families, who want to learn about horses, develop a deeper understanding of the horse… therefore developing a deeper understanding of themselves. These sessions are usually taught on a Saturday and by appointment.
How Do Horses Help?
•The horse is a social animal and therefore, acts as a mirror and metaphor for many common human issues.
The horse is a social animal and therefore, acts as a mirror and metaphor for many common human issues.•Horses facilitate self-awareness in a deep and profound way. They have no expectations, prejudices, or motives and therefore, offer humans many opportunities not easily found elsewhere.
Horses facilitate self-awareness in a deep and profound way. They have no expectations, prejudices, or motives and therefore, offer humans many opportunities not easily found elsewhere.•Horses respond to our spoken and unspoken messages, and our interactions with them can be powerful and intuitive. As our awareness increases, behavior changes, and the horse mirrors this change.
Horses respond to our spoken and unspoken messages, and our interactions with them can be powerful and intuitive. As our awareness increases, behavior changes, and the horse mirrors this change. •Horses bring beauty, grace, personality, and honesty to the process.
Horses bring beauty, grace, personality, and honesty to the process.•The program then transfers these new insights, skills, and successes gained in the arena into the participant’s everyday life.
The program then transfers these new insights, skills, and successes gained in the arena into the participant’s everyday life.EAGALA Sessions
Freedom Reigns Utilizes:
•Equine Assisted Learning
Equine Assisted Learning•Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy•Experiential learning programs that promote social skills, build self-confidence, improve relationships, communications, and resolve conflict
Experiential learning programs that promote social skills, build self-confidence, improve relationships, communications, and resolve conflict•Educational horsemanship programs to develop skills and interests
Educational horsemanship programs to develop skills and interests•Private and Semi-Private Groups / Topics and Issues
Private and Semi-Private Groups / Topics and IssuesEquine Assisted Learning:
Experiential learning utilizing horses can assist in the development of:•Mutual trust, respect, empathy, and unconditional acceptance
Mutual trust, respect, empathy, and unconditional acceptance •Identifying and changing negative thinking patterns
Identifying and changing negative thinking patterns •Improved self-esteem, confidence, success, and responsibility
Improved self-esteem, confidence, success, and responsibility •Problem solving and conflict resolution skills
Problem solving and conflict resolution skills •Positive leadership skills
Positive leadership skills •Boundary setting and teamwork
Boundary setting and teamwork •Healthy risk-taking, self discipline, and self-control
Healthy risk-taking, self discipline, and self-controlEquine Assisted Psychotherapy
Participants experience the benefits of Equine Assisted Learning and have the opportunity to address
other issues including:•Attachment, depression, anger
Attachment, depression, anger•Anxiety, boundary difficulties, self-esteem
Anxiety, boundary difficulties, self-esteem•Substance abuse, domestic violence
Substance abuse, domestic violence•Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
Physical, emotional, and sexual abuseSpecial Scheduled Events
Day Camps (One Saturday per month / 4-5 hours / ~ $40-$50 charge per child / 2 children per horse)
The 8 Principles of Horsemanship
•Safety
Safety•Respect
Respect•Knowledge
Knowledge•Understanding
Understanding•Confidence
Confidence•Trust
Trust •Leadership
Leadership•Relationship
RelationshipUsing a progression of teaching the 8 Principles above, and incorporating different activities, the participant will learn many things about the horse and themselves:
•How to be safe around horses
How to be safe around horses•What makes a horse ‘tick’ (fight/flight and prey/predator)
What makes a horse ‘tick’ (fight/flight and prey/predator)•Care of the horse (feeding, veterinary needs and important health issues, etc.)
Care of the horse (feeding, veterinary needs and important health issues, etc.) •Groundwork (we need to gain their respect on the ground, before they will respect us in the saddle),
Groundwork (we need to gain their respect on the ground, before they will respect us in the saddle), •Body language (theirs and ours),
Body language (theirs and ours), •Much, much more
Much, much moreOur main purpose is to show Christ’s love in everything that we do. Our desire is to operate and function in the Fruit of the Spirit – “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control”.
Gal. 5:22. Psalms 119:32 – “I run in the paths of your commands, for you have set my heart free.”
