The Spirit Horse mental health program in Portgual Cove is partnering with Countrytime Equine in Glovertown to help people experiencing COVID fatigue.

The Canadian Red Cross has provided funding to create the new program.

Erin Gallant is the Program Director with Stable Life which runs the Spirit Horse program.

Sue Sweeney-Janes operates Countrytime Equine Emergency Services and reached out to Erin by chance the same week that staff training was planned at Stable Life.

The rest, says Erin, is history.

Sweeney-Janes called to say they were getting a lot of requests from people who are hurting and looking for the services they offer. That’s when Gallant told her to come in and take advantage of their training program.

The Equine Assisted Program “Coping with Covid Fatigue” is open to both youth and adults who are struggling with COVID-19 stressors.

Gallant says the therapeutic benefits of working with horses are well known, even for those who say they’re afraid of horses.

She says they have a “magical way” of making you feel better, similar to cats and dogs, but they appear even more in tune to a person’s emotional state and have a calming presence.

Read on VOCM here