Connected Horse workshops help empower seniors with memory loss

Susanne Kaletsch snuggled up to Covergirl, closing her eyes and resting her head against her soft brown muzzle.

The unconditional bond between human and horse was apparent as Kaletsch, 81, and six other memory-impaired seniors from The Watermark at San Ramon took part in Connected Horse’s mini workshop at Leah Felize’s Five Star Equestrian center in Pleasanton.

Paula Hertel, who has a master’s degree in social work, and Nancy Schier Anzelmo, with a master’s in gerontology, founded the nonprofit in 2015 when they went into research at Stanford University and U.C. Davis for two years to look for ways to bring people diagnosed with dementia and their care partners/family members together to do equine-assisted learning at local barns.

The research taught them that their program model would likely help reduce feelings of depression and burden, improve sleep and help create a better sense of social support for the seniors. They launched their first workshops in 2017. To their knowledge, they are the only equine nonprofit that works in this way with both elders and their families.

On a recent weekday, with the help of volunteers, the seniors gave horses sponge baths, brushed them and led them around the stables. They even got to listen to the horse’s heartbeat, emphasizing the open heart connection between them and the majestic beasts.

“There’s well-being for the horse, for the individuals who participate and for their relationship that’s on a journey together,” Hertel said.

She’s seen seniors develop a strong sense of confidence and connection as they interact with the horses. They often remark that their later years aren’t what they thought they were going to be as they deal with memory loss, but find comfort in spending time with the animals.

“Horses know how to be in relationships, if a participant is open to being connected with them, the horse wants that connection. They don’t care what your title is, how old you are, what diagnosis you have, they just see this open heart, and they’re there, nonjudgmental, loving and patient,” she said.

According to Hertel, the facilitator’s job is to hold neutral space so they don’t interfere with the interaction between the participants and horses. She said sometimes the biggest thing to remember is stepping back to observe while knowing the senior’s emotional memories will last forever.

“It’s a family challenge, it’s a disease that happens to one person, but it affects the whole family system, and we want to help support and give hope to them. The diagnosis doesn’t have to define who you are, it just becomes one part of who you are. Your journey can continue and there can be positivity, growth and connection through that,” Hertel said.

At the end of the workshop, she debriefs with the participants and has them share their experiences.

“I love horses, my favorite part was just being here, I feel warm, thrilled and so happy,” Susan Stevenson, 83, said.

For former school principal Marion Parker, 90, being around the horses was a very new thing. She said she found it interesting to be in their space and see how they function. Her daughter, Carla Fields, of Alamo, was initially worried that she wouldn’t like it and might want to leave.

“Today was an unexpected joy, the crew was able to get my mom to engage and participate,” Fields said.

Watermark Community Life Director Josephine Dugoni assisted as the seniors spent time with the horses and made sure they were safe around the large animals.

“Just seeing the smiles on my resident’s faces made it all worthwhile,” Dugoni said.

Hertel, a longtime equestrian herself, has looked back at the non-verbal connection of humans and horses over time through their many uses in transportation, agriculture, sport and even war, and knew that the partnership with the seniors was right.

“Our dream is that someday a doctor will write a prescription and say just go out to the barn,” Hertel said.

Connected Horse will be having their “Lassos with Love” annual fundraiser at Five Star Equestrian in Pleasanton on Sept. 7 from 4:30-8:00 p.m. Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.