Fall - 2022

Fenton gained an innate understanding of horse culture early in life, owning horses as a child in her hometown of Bishop, California. “While practicing as a marriage and family counselor, I became certified in Equine Massage Therapy,” she says.That’s when she hit upon the idea of using horses in therapy, recognizing the healing power of merely being in close proxim- ity to these highly intelligent beings. She found those relationships helped to alleviate the ten- sion of what can be a stressful occupation.That realization led her to the idea of a collaborative that put patients together with therapists and horses. “It started with just me and one horse. Today we have 40 part-time therapists and a total of 35 horses in three facilities.” The horses—and miniature horses, ponies and donkeys—each have their own stories to tell and are all rescues, donations or surrenders. Many have troubled and traumatic pasts.“Some were abused, some are elderly and unable to do the work they were used for,” Fenton says. For instance, Frank, a stunningly handsome former racing thoroughbred, suffers from anxiety.“He is typically paired with a client with a similar clinical presentation.” Chili was loaded onto a truck on the way to slaughter. A compassionate woman saw that she was so ill she wouldn’t survive the trip, rescued her, brought her back to health and subsequently donated her to EHC, where she now happily grazes and receives excellent care, both physical and emotional. Mother and son donkeys, Rita and Beaux, are the perfect duo to work with family therapy clients. None of the horses at EHC are now ridden. “In nature, horses are prey animals,” Fenton explains, “and we are hunters, so the natural instinct is for them to view us as a threat.” It (Left) Elvis was rescued from a hoarding situation, where he was found with sev- eral dead horses. He has recovered and now aids in therapy. (Right) A show horse, Maximus was surrendered to EHC when he was no longer able to perform. (Below) Terrence Wright, pictured with Jaslyn Fenton (Jennifer’s daughter) who grooms and tends to the animals dietary supplements. 138 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 2