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RE: [RC] [RC] horse v. psych (occupations) - Juli Jakub

I can relate!!! When i was a teenager horses saved my life...I was a very depressed, angry teenager and I one point I feebly attempted suicide even. My Mom's cure...a horse that I had to work to get and work to keep. Kept me too busy and out of trouble! I still own horses. I have never been without. They make me smile and even when I feel myself sliding into a ho hum depression they can lift me out of it! It is worth the money especially since I refuse to do the therapy thing. My husband always says that when I am in a bad mood the best thing to do is send me to the horses and I come back better. I think the psychological value of horses is something that humans are just touching the tip of in psychotherapy. I hope that the current trend continues in mental health care as I see alot more use of animals especially horses.
Juli

<html><DIV>
<P>Juli Jakub</P>
<P>The Air of Heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.</P>
<P>~ arabian proverb</P></DIV></html>




From: "Julie Pearsall" <morris921@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [RC]   horse v. psych (occupations)
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2006 08:03:49 -0500

I've read some of the "occupations" e-mails and got to thinking. My horse isn't so much a luxury as she is a cost effective mental health investment. I have a couple of minor mental health issues, including depression. I WAS paying a psychiatrist $150 for HALF an hour of therapy every other week. That came to $300 a month for one hour of 'help.' I definitely wasn't feeling $150 better at the end of those sessions.

I figured the cost of owning and riding 'Bucket' (don't laugh- she eats a bucket of oats, poops a bucket of poop, and one day she'll kick the bucket....it fits.) For one year, including board, vet bills, transport and riding in 5 or 6 events a year, I came up with a figure of roughly $300 a month. I live in an agricultural county in the Finger Lakes, central NY, so board is reasonable.

Any way.... if I ride three or four days a week, for three hours each time, times four weeks a month, my cost is $25-$33 an hour for excellent mental health benefits. I ALWAYS feel better when I spend time with 'The Bucket,' as my husband calls her. If I include spending a weekend with her for a ride......those hours cost about $10 each.

My J-O-B is teacher. I'm currently subbing, which means flexible hours AND flexible pay. I need to work five days a month to keep my mare. The rest goes into household bills and the college fund for our 14 year old son. My teacher husband retires in two years, which means retirement pay ...... read LESS. We don't go on vacation, except to visit family. Bucket is my vacation.

Can anybody relate?

Julie ......and Bucket, the anti-depressant horse.

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Replies
[RC] horse v. psych (occupations), Julie Pearsall