I was working with a 66-year-old woman today who has dementia. As a younger woman, she had a horse of her own and rode often. Today, she worked with our precious Tank. Every task was broken down into slow, step- by- step directions with point prompts and repeated verbal directions. It was a struggle. My patience was strong and I felt good about what I was able to give in this moment. Once the woman was astride Tank, her body took over. It was like she hadn’t ever stopped riding. I walked next to Tank, helping him feel confident in the directions his rider was giving her. I stayed quiet, allowing the rider to quiet her brain and enjoy the movement of Tank. As we walked, I thought about a recent documentary I had watched focused on the use of horses for mental health. The lesson I took away was a difficult one. ” You can’t fix it, you can’t save anyone.” “They don’t need to be saved or fixed.” Tough words for an empathetic like myself. Reminding myself, I can only provide a happy moment. Our ride ended and my rider dismounted. She led Tank back to the cross ties and the tedious process of untacking began with the same slow, step-by-step directions. We gave Tank his treats, spent some time looking at pictures of the woman with her horse “back in the day,” and then it was time to go. As I walked away, I heard the woman say to her husband, “That was fun!”
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