Did you know Buckland campus’ Equine Assisted Therapy program expands beyond Ranch youth?

The E.A.T. program is one of the reasons Ranch Ehrlo stands out above many other treatment centres. During the school year, youth from the Buckland and Corman Park campuses participate in the program on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. In the summer months the Regina/Pilot Butte youth and their families make the trip up to the Buckland for the summer horse camps that range from a two-day retreat to a weeklong camp.

But since last spring, the E.A.T. program has been offering sessions to the Prince Albert Treatment Centre’s “Mom and Me” group every six weeks. The group is for mothers with addictions, and works to reunite the mothers with their children.

“We get new moms and kids every session,” explained E.A.T. program leader Amanda Snell. “They participate in an E.A.L. (Equine Assisted Learning) session focusing on building trust and communication, and a lot of confidence building – mostly with the mothers.”

Though each session is only 90 minutes, Amanda says there has been entirely positive feedback from the Mom and Me participants, who typically come for their equine session at the beginning of their programming.

“We get cards, and the staff from the treatment centre and their director have been really excited and thankful. They said that the mothers and the children don’t stop talking about it throughout their entire treatment.”

Participants learn many valuable lessons during an E.A.T. session that they are able to apply throughout the course of their treatment – lessons in trust and confidence in themselves and one another, leadership, and communication are invaluable in the lives of “Mom and Me” members.

Amanda says that there is a visible difference in the participants, even from the beginning of a session to the end.

“You can really tell the difference. The relationship between the mothers and their children is strained, and you can see the confidence break down – especially in the moms. But once their done with the session, they’re smiling again and they’re moving on.”

Overall, the program expansion is seen by Buckland staff as an excellent way to integrate Ranch activities within the community of Prince Albert.