Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 1 88 F O R T H E L o v e O F . . . ANOTHER OUTSTANDING MONTANA NONPROFIT. C H I N O O K H O R S E S T HE GREAT AMERICAN WRITER HERMAN MELVILLE, author of Moby Dick, proved he knew horses nearly as well as whales when he said, "No philosophers so thorough- ly comprehend us as dogs and horses." That comprehension shows itself in remarkable ways—horses will sidle up close, nuzzle you, even lovingly nip at you. Anyone who has ever experienced a horse's affection knows how warm and reas- suring that can feel. Abigail Hornik, the founder and executive director of Chi- nook Horses, a Billings-based non-profit, is passionate about the therapeutic possibilities of bringing together gentle horses and wounded people. After moving to Montana from New York 20 years ago and marrying a native Montanan, she started a company specializing in home accessories with a Western and equine theme, but she discovered as well that she derived great joy from working with horses and children. In 2013 she closed her company and decided to focus on finding a way to bring the healing love of horses to people who need it most. According to their mission statement, Chinook Horses "provides opportunities for individuals and families to en- gage, learn, and thrive outside of the classroom and tradi- tional therapeutic environments by practicing equine-assist- ed activities regardless of their ability to pay." Founded in 2015, Chinook Horses has since helped over 275 children, teens, and adults—and currently, 80% of those helped received financial assistance through individual donations, grants, and fundraiser revenues. Each session includes, in addition to the clients and hors- es, a certified equine specialist or a specialized education professional. Equine therapy has a long history going back to ancient times. The first known mention of the practice was in 460 B.C., when philosopher Hippocrates wrote about the bene- ficial effects of "hippotherapy," so named because "hippo" is the Greek word for horse. Later, in the 19th century, German psychologists recommended horse-riding as a possible treat- ment for ailments like hysteria and hypochondria. Indeed, studies show that spending time with a horse can reduce blood pressure, reduce the presence of the stress hormone cortisol, and promote the production of oxytocin, a hormone and neurotransmitter sometimes called "the love hormone" that is accompanied by feelings of connectedness and well-being. In fact, the benefits are myriad. Abigail tells us, "Chinook Horse's equine-assisted learning programs include Social Thinking Groups for children with learning differences such as autism, sensory processing disorders, and attention defi- cit disorder. Children ages 5-18 benefit by learning flexible thinking, body awareness, and emotional self-regulation.

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