Sandra Tebbe says her issues with struggle and loss were made easier by her therapeutic work with horses. It’s what inspired her to start Project Horses Opening People’s Eyes, or Project H.O.P.E., giving her the opportunity to share the healing power of equine therapy with people who previously had no access to the service. Sandra has been a professional clinical counselor for more than 20 years and, since 2008, she and her husband, Allen Tebbe, have devoted time to reaching out to those suffering from issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, family loss, bullying or coping with special needs. “There have been cases where children had not yet opened up to anybody, and on occasion, they turn to the horses and relate to them,” Allen says. The ability of horses to sense human emotions and reflect how people are feeling is part of what makes them able to aid in therapy for children who are dealing with pain or distress, the Tebbes say.
Project H.O.P.E. Equine Assisted Therapies, 16195 West Poe Rd. 419-469-0415. www.projecthope-equinetherapy.com. —NA
