Equine Therapy A Mission For Owner Of Howell Horse Farm

HOWELL, NJ — There are many reasons people find themselves at HorseSense farm in Howell, says owner Loree Mahalchick.

The HorseSense Therapeutic Center on Easy Street off Route 547 offers a particular type of help for people who may be suffering private pain or who may have special needs that make emotional connections a challenge.

The farm's horses and other animals provide a way for children and adults to open themselves to healing through what she says are the remarkably sensitive responses of a horse.

Horses, Mahalchick, says, offer unconditional acceptance of how humans are feeling - and "they mirror people's emotions," she said.

That can often help a person who is suffering become aware of their own emotional patterns.

For example, she said a mother who lost a child was in a therapeutic program there. She wasn't aware of how she was pushing people away, but the horse she was working with was.

She was able to begin to change when she saw that response, Mahalchick said.

"You can't fake it with a horse. They can feel it, sense it," she says.

Mahalchick works at her program primarily two days a week, she said. She also works with her daughter, Tiffany Mahalchick Pastore, an equine vet in town, the other days. Her husband Tom, recently retired, works behind the scenes in all aspects of the farm, she said.

The therapeutic experience is individual and never requires riding a horse, if a person isn't ready for that, she said.

Author visit, clinic is Sept. 9

But those interested in observing healing techniques will have an opportunity to do so on Sept. 9 when a special clinic will he held at the farm.

Tim Hayes, the New England author of "Riding Home: The Power of Horses to Heal" will hold a program on the subject that day.

The hands-on clinic - that also provides certain therapeutic riding instructor credits - just sold out. But for $25, people can still sign up as auditors and observe the session, Mahalchick said. The session runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hayes is an adjunct professor of Behavioral Sciences teaching courses in Equine Therapy at both the University of Vermont and Northern Vermont University. He holds a BA in Psychology from The University of Vermont class of 1967, according to his bio.

The forward of the book contains praise from actor Robert Redford: “The lessons you’ll take away from this beautiful volume of healing and love between man and nature will stay with you for a long time. And who knows, maybe it will open a door to healing for you or someone you love," writes Redford, known for "The Horse Whisperer" movie.

Finding levels of comfort with horses and smaller animals

Mahalchick says working with an individual's comfort level with horses is essential.

For instance, a child or adult on the autism spectrum might fear mounting a horse. So "ground work" is used to gradually connect with what can be a daunting 1,200-pound animal.

"You see horses in the field when you drive by, but when you see one up close they are huge," Mahalchick observes.

So people in her program can groom the horse, halter it, walk it, take it to the paddock - all with her right there.

For those who want to ride, there is a deck so it's easier to get on the horse, she said. Again, she is with the client all the time.

Her farm also has a menagerie of other animals that people can connect with.

Children with autism, for example, often warm up to the horses by first visiting an alpaca or one of the mini donkeys or the mini horse on the farm.

Her family of three mini donkeys are Natasha, Pabloe and their baby Mia, who just turned a year old recently.

Then there is Little Foot, the black cat, who also is pleased to meet visitors, Mahalchick said.

Mahalchick, who has had the farm in Howell for 13 years and before that worked on a 300-year-old farm in Rahway, is PATH certified, she said, referring to the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. And you can locate other programs in the area through PATH International also.

For more about Mahalchick's background and experience, visit her site here, where you can also check out fees for ground work or for riding.

For more information, visit https://www.horsesensenj.com/contact.