It’s hard not to pay attention to a 1,200-pound
animal in your space. They respond in a way
that makes you see what’s going on inside you.
Ranch can’t afford this type of therapy.
“They’re foster kids, underprivileged kids,
unemployed veterans with PTSD, and
crime victims,” she says. “They often don’t
have a healthy means of support.”
She says as a nonprofit, Blended Spirits
scales its fees based on income and
offers scholarships when it can, thanks to
community support such as Fairview’s
Church of the Cross taking the ranch on
as a special project this summer and from
matching donations during Erie Gives.
Doc Odell on Akeno
Long says situations like this can create
breakthrough moments, giving students
the opportunity to find ways to recognize
and overcome their insecurities. Long says
she guides students through the situation,
hoping the lesson hits home—and watches
for signs that the student needs her
intervention.
A second student working with Elijah
was able to get the horse to move in the
direction she wanted him to go and to
get him to stop at her command. Her
confidence made it easier for her to control
the animal and build trust—even enough
for the horse to lift his foot for her as if she
were preparing to clean rocks or dirt from
his hoof before a ride.
RoseMarie Lackey, Director of Youth
Ministries for Erie City Mission, says
the lessons kids learn at Blended Spirits
Ranch align Urban University’s mission
to drive them toward their goals. “Sandy’s
teaching style empowers them,” Lackey
says. “Working with horses puts you in a
vulnerable situation, and you need to ask
how you are mastering that.”
She adds that lessons such as overcoming
negative thoughts apply when the students
work with horses at Blended Spirits, but
also in their peer and family relationships.
“The goal is that they feel differently coming
out of the round pen than when they went
in,” she says.
PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY
In addition to sessions that focus on
leadership and personal growth, Blended
Spirits Ranch Equine-Assisted Therapy
Center offers a wide range of additional
services. Long has multiple certifications
in EAL and EAP, and she leads sessions
with at-risk youth and adults, veterans,
trauma victims, and corporate teams.
A veteran
with Bugzy
A veteran and family
Blended Spirits Ranch has provided
services to Sarah Reed Children’s Center,
Bethesda Children’s Home, Perseus House,
Hermitage House, Office of Children and
Youth, Veterans Center, the Crime Victim
Center of Erie, Erie City Mission’s Grace
House, the Autism Society of Northwest
PA, and Erie County Veterans Court.
Blended Spirits also offers individual
sessions.
Long adds that the ranch is expanding
to work with Crawford County CYS and
has had requests for services from agencies
in Allegheny County. She also works with
therapists Cheryl Forero, LPC, of Meadville
and Megan Chong, LPC, Edinboro, for
one-on-one sessions.
Blended Spirits Ranch offers a riding
program, although Long is quick to point
out, “We’re not a show barn.” The riding
program supports the ranch’s mission to
build self-esteem and confidence in kids,
including those who are underprivileged,
have special needs, or are trauma victims.
Long shares that most of the people
who need the services of Blended Spirits
DIFFERENT LESSONS FOR
DIFFERENT DAYS
Long has developed a set curriculum
of lessons she uses in eight-week sessions
with groups at the ranch, but she watches
for opportunities to present the right topic
at the right time. If she plans to address
overcoming temptation, but senses tension
among a group of at-risk youth, she may
instead focus on conflict resolution.
“Sessions are client-driven,” she says.
Robert “Doc” Odell of Meadville, a
volunteer at the ranch who met Long eight
years ago at a veterans event, says, “Over the
eight-week sessions, you see them change
in their attitude, their spirit, and their
thinking. It’s amazing how they transform.”
Blended Spirits Ranch also stays on the
cutting edge, looking for new techniques
to help people overcome the challenges
in their lives. Long notes that she and
Chong recently traveled to Vermont to
become certified in equine-assisted eye
movement desensitization and reprocessing
(EA-EMDR) therapy. It is a treatment for
trauma and PTSD, and involves revisiting a
traumatic event while an extensively trained
therapist directs your eye movements. Long
says it is effective for resolving emotional
difficulties caused by traumatic events. It is
used to help children and adults overcome
problems and symptoms caused by
unsettled memories and experiences. “It’s
extremely powerful,” she says. “We’re so
excited to offer this.”
For more information on Blended Spirits
Ranch, call 814.449.5657, email Long at
[email protected], or visit
blendedspiritsranch.org. n
WEST COUNTY
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FALL 2019
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