Distinctly Montana Magazine

A physical bond starts with touch—the sniffing of a soft muzzle—and the look of large gentle eyes. KIMM SCHEELER life toward animals after a near-death experience. Lee deRham had persistent back pain, and only craniosacral therapy released it. April Johnston had broken her back and learned about structural integration. When I ask people, "How do horses heal you," the most frequent answers are feeling love, learning to be present, and how to establish a connection. But heal- ings go deeper than that. Love and faith between the person and the horse enable people to overcome feeling wounded, condemned, and rejected. For instance, a woman who had rescued an abandoned horse, had lost her mother when she was very young and the woman never felt cared for. The woman felt the horse was more open and affectionate than she was. When the horse died from cancer, Susan grieved for her as well as for the little girl inside her who had not grieved the loss of her mother. When Bobbie Crossguns (Equine- assisted Integration) was three, she was run over by the wheel of a car. Her right bronchial tube was smashed. In the hos- pital, she learned to observe nuances in facial expressions, body language, and needs. During this time she always loved and trained horses. to do training and manage her horse farm full-time, offer clinics and week long retreats during some of which people will sleep in tipis. Maggee and assistant help an Eagle Mount rider. Her patients include severely emo- tionally disturbed people, ex-convicts, addicts, war veterans, and children. She shows them how to be in a safe relation- ship with a 1,200-pound horse, begin- ning with the soothing act of brushing the length of its warm body. A physical bond starts with touch—the sniffing of a soft muzzle—and the look of large gentle eyes. Emotional rapport comes when the human realizes how unconditional horses are in caring. Even an hour leads to increased confidence. She videotapes a client's progress so they can see where their or the horse's body shows stress. For information about the amazing programs at Eagle Mount in Bozeman, directed by Maggee Harrison, see www. distinctlymontana.com. Bobbie CrossGuns' guidelines are: Be present Bobbie with her staff. Have an open heart Find truth Find wisdom in objectivity These make good life lessons too whether applied to a love or business partner or friend. While working as a lawyer for the state of Montana, she practiced "equine-assisted integration." In 2012, she plans 50 Valerie Harms is the Editor of this magazine. DISTINCTLY MONTANA • WINTER 2011 DIANA PROEMM

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