In 2024, I was interviewed on Warwick Schiller’s Journey ON Podcast. One of the topics covered as part of this meandering conversation was the Building Internal Resilience through Horses research project. BIRTH as we would subsequently call it represented a collaboration between The Mane Intent, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and researchers at Trent University that was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Lisa Condes, Executive Director of Harmony IN Horses in Sheridan, Indiana heard the Warwick Schiller podcast and took note.
Lisa and her husband Scott founded Harmony IN Horses, Inc. to foster hope, empowerment, and healing for youth navigating complex trauma caused by childhood abuse and neglect. Through its transformative equine-assisted learning, community mentorship, caregiver support, and immersive nature activities, this non-profit is focused on cultivating environments where lifelong healing and growth flourish.
Seeing a shared interest in addressing trauma and building resilience, Lisa reached out earlier this year to see if I would consider travelling to Indiana to offer equine-assisted learning facilitator training in Building Internal Resilience Through Horses. In April, a three-day training was hosted at Lisa and Scott’s farm for a group of mental health and equine professionals representing different social service agencies. We worked with the couple’s beautiful herd that included three mustangs: Genesis, Mojo and Seraphina – all originally born wild – as well as with their two mini horses: Angel and Kiki. For some of the workshop participants, this was their first experience connecting with horses and in particular, this special herd.
“The Building Internal Resilience Through Horses training with Jennifer Garland, RP, was a powerful experience that prepared and equipped us to launch Horse PowHER and Poder Femequina. Jennifer’s knowledge, compassion, and trauma-informed approach gave us the tools we needed to confidently offer these programs to young women in our community. The training also helped build lasting relationships among five community partners—who are now working together to bring healing and support to youth who need it most,” says Condes.
The workshop provided a wonderful opportunity to explore future connections and collaborations. Harmony IN Horses now has two new offerings informed by the Building Internal Resilience through Horses program:
- Horse PowHER, with a focus on building resilience following trauma. This is an innovative, trauma-and-violence-informed, community-based program offered to young women (aged 13-22 years) who have experienced interpersonal trauma – including child maltreatment, witnessing or experiencing domestic violence, or intimate partner violence. The program is delivered in small-group format and includes 13 equine-assisted learning sessions, supplemented with psychoeducation and expressive arts workshops.
- Poder Femequina is also being offered for Spanish-speaking young women and facilitated by Spanish speakers to ensure participants can process and express themselves in their preferred language and cultural context.
I am grateful for this opportunity to share what I’ve learned in the past 10 years working with horses in this capacity and to see the continuation of Building Internal Resilience through Horses in a new territory. All the best to Harmony IN Horses and the clients they are supporting.
To learn more about our Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitator Training (Informed by the Building Internal Resilience through Horses Research Initiative) which is available in a one-on-one or group offering, go to Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitator Training Certificate | The Mane Intent
