opening gates

Overview

Opening Gates is an equine therapy, mental health counseling, and learning service. It is a unique method for dealing with children, adolescents, adults, and families dealing with mental health issues. Shara Wiesenauer is an Indiana-licensed mental health counselor and horse specialist. Specialized programs are designed to promote growth and learning for individuals and groups through equine-assisted counseling in the natural setting of the farm.

Opening Gates, Inc., a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501 (c) (3) is a fully licensed equine-assisted counseling and learning program designed to provide unique outpatient mental health therapy. As a certified member of the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, it adheres to its core vision of setting the standard of professional excellence in how horses and humans work together to improve the quality of life and mental health of individuals, families, and groups.

Our therapy horses are retired and/or rescued horses with different life experiences and personalities. Each client will be paired with a therapy horse selected for him or her after an interview with our counselor. No experience with horses is necessary.  All counseling is done “on the ground” under the supervision of the counselor and a horse specialist.

EAC/EAL

Equine-assisted counseling (EAC) combines a horse, a counselor, a horse specialist, and a client to address treatment goals.  The client is paired with a horse selected specifically for him or her after an initial interview.  The counselor gives the client (or clients, if group therapy) tasks, such as having the horse move completely around the client without touching the client.  After the task is completed, feelings, insights, and behaviors are processed or discussed. Clients, especially children, are willing to not only attend counseling sessions but are excited about the sessions.  Just being with a horse is therapeutic.  The horse is working as a facilitator.

Equine-assisted learning (EAL) uses horses to teach clients about themselves.   Horses don’t judge our motives, they communicate non-verbally, and they are sensitive to our behavior.  Because horses are prey animals, they are always alert to their surroundings.  Because horses are herd animals, they use body language to communicate.  They can mirror or reflect an individual’s or a group’s emotions through this body language.EAL helps individuals understand themselves and others through participation in activities with the horses and then processing or discussing the feelings and behaviors.  These reflections lead to insights which can be applied to real life situations.

EAL can help individuals to:

• Become team players
• Develop problem solving skills
• Improve leadership abilities
• Improve communication skills
• Encourage good relationships

How The Programs Work

How The Programs Work

The state-licensed counselor interviews the clients and pairs each client with a horse or horses.  Under the supervision of a horse specialist, the clients are given tasks, such as moving their horses to a particular area without touching the horses.  This enables the clients to learn about the horses and themselves.  After the tasks are completed, the group discusses their insights, feelings, and experiences.

A bond develops between the horses and the clients.  The clients learn to trust these large animals with big eyes, curious noses, and alert ears and, although the horses don’t use words, they communicate.  All interaction is done on the ground; no riding occurs in our equine-assisted counseling.  The clients may lead, groom, hug, and pat the horses.  They often whisper or talk to the horses.

We offer counseling services for Individuals, Families, and Groups.  We also offer learning programs for school or business groups

Group Programs

Stable Girls

A Group of adolescent girls working on self-esteem and behavioral issues. Groups meet for twelve weekly sessions working in the natural settings of arenas and stables with horses under the guidance of a counselor and horse specialist.  Our clients are referred by school counselors, private mental health therapists, and child services.  These clients are considered at-risk, and have issues at school, at home, or in the community.  Their issues include self-esteem, self-image, anger, anxiety, stress, and abuse.

Cowboy Up

Group of adolescent boys working on pride development and behavioral issues. Groups meet for twelve weekly sessions working in the natural settings of arenas and stables with horses under the guidance of a counselor and horse specialist.  Our clients are referred by school counselors, private mental health therapists, and child services.  These clients are considered at-risk, and have issues at school, at home, or in the community.  Their issues include self-esteem, self-image, anger, anxiety, stress, and abuse.

H.A.L.T.E.R

Group of elementary-aged children working on communication, teamwork, social anxiety, and other related topics. H.A.L.T.E.R, or Horses Altering Lives Through Education and Recreation, is a social skills program for elementary school-aged children.  The group focuses on communication, teamwork, social anxiety, and other related topics.  Through group work, children learn to cooperate and build important life skills.

Pasture Limits

A group for parenting issues.

Hold Your Horses!

A group anger management program for adolescent girls and boys.  The group meets for 10 weeks, working with horses under the guidance of a counselor and horse specialist.  These clients work toward learning to manage their anger in a more adaptive way.

Learning Programs

Pony Pages

A tutoring program for special education and elementary students in reading and writing.  Upon completion of the program, students should show improvement in reading fluency, reading comprehension, and writing.  An improved attitude towards literacy is also expected.

Counting Ponies

A math tutoring program for special education and elementary students.  Under the direction of a licensed teacher, students work on skills such as mathematical thinking, fact practice, and computation – all the while having fun with the horses.  No referral is necessary.

Leading a Horse

A group learning program for small groups of teenagers who will focus on leadership skills using our therapy horses.

Teamwork Training

Learn to work as a team and a cohesive unit.

Volunteers

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age to participate in this program. The therapy component of this program is confidential, and only HBF/OG staff is allowed to participate in counseling sessions.

Volunteers in the learning component of this program assist by preparing horses, props, and the arena before sessions start. Also, volunteers may assist during learning sessions by supervising and/or helping clients. These volunteers should be willing to commit to a minimum of two hours per week and a specified, consistent period of time each week.

Anyone over age 18 must provide his/her own current Police and Child Protective Service checks if you wish to work with the learning program as you will be interacting with children.

What You’ll Learn & Do

• Prepare horses for lessons

• Bring horses in from pasture

• Horse grooming

• Tack Fundamentals

• Cleaning stalls before and during lessons

• Preparing and cleaning tack before lessons

• Assist our “Little Riders during ride time of their lessons

• Supervise students during the groundwork time of their lessons