TORRINGTON – It is the rare human being that has the patience, work ethic, experience and knowledge to work with horses. 

Often times when we see any sort of depiction of  horseback riding, we tend to forget the monumental effort it took to train the animal to cooperate in such a way. Whether it be in film, the Kentucky Derby or just a Wyoming local going for a morning breeze, it would be wise to point out how much time, patience and effort it really took to make it happen.

Training a horse to be ridden is no easy feat.

As all of us in Wyoming should understand a horse is a powerful, magnificent and highly intelligent animal which commands the utmost respect from us as human beings.

They do not submit to what we need from them if we have not spent countless hours building a relationship that is based on mutual trust and respect. We certainly cannot force them to do anything they do not want to do.

When a horse is adamant they do not want to do something, they will at first let us know peacefully. If they feel consistently pressured or forced to do something they do not wish to do, they will then let us know physically. And absolutely when a horse feels they have had enough of something, the consequences can be severe if they place a kick just right.

Those things being said, it would be more than fair to compare similarities between horses and in fact people. Going even further, it’s looking at the beneficial relationships that can be built between the two in the long run.

Steve Smith has been a quiet, yet powerful force for such relationships at the St. Joseph’s Children’s Home for the last seven years here in Torrington.

Fulfilling a unique role as the Director of Equine for nearly the last decade, Smith has been combining work with traumatized horses and children for the last thirty years.

Originally from Bridger Valley and having worked all over the world in countries including Spain, Switzerland and Italy, Smith has created an exceptional psychotherapeutic program at St. Joseph’s Children’s Home; one that Smith feels has long lasting positive effects for all kinds of people in need.

“At first I decided to hire with the prison systems,” Smith began. “I didn’t quite like it because there weren’t any specific services really, as far as schools and stuff like that. With Wyoming being a small state, when an inmate gets out there’s really not a lot for them. So I ended up going to Juvenile Detention, and they hired me specifically for an equine program to develop. Through trial and error, I came up with a program that was very solid. I got certified at the OK Corral Series by a gentleman by the name of Greg Kersten. He’s kind of the godfather of equine assistance psychotherapy.”

It wouldn’t be long after working at Juvenile Detention that Smith would eventually find his way to Torrington at the SJCH. Originally starting his work as an Education Assistant, Smith would eventually bring that exact same equine program to the facility.

According to Smith, he has found a solid home with fantastic results for both children and their families. 

“It’s always been a really cool tool to use,” Smith continued. “I’ve been at St. Joes for seven years having fun with the kids and horses. The program hasn’t changed much as far as how I operate. It’s confrontational yet therapeutic. A lot of people don’t get that. There’s a misconception of equine or psychotherapy like you’re down there to pet ‘fluffy’ or a support dog, and it’s really not. It is confrontational, and it’s the experience of learning.”

According to Smith when it comes to working with the children every day, as well as providing care and attention needed for the animals, there is no better combination than the two.

And when done just right, even a grown adult in middle age can reclaim a bit of youth.

“Seeing the progress is seeing the desire whether it be the kids or clients,” Smith stated. “When you offer a tool the lightbulb goes on, that lightbulb can be utilized for their success, and I get to be a kid again. When it goes on, they get it. You can sit there and explain to someone the ins and outs of equine, but if they aren’t a subscriber to it or have preconceived notions, just talking isn’t going to work. When you put them in that situation and they do not have someone telling them they are doing it wrong or right, that light will go on. Then they see it and why people act the way they do, or because of their own trauma.”

Something Smith has learned, or even connected after so many years of working with both at-risk children and horses is how vital a certain approach can be when trying to communicate with another being.

Once again a horse can communicate only non-verbally, and when they feel threatened or disrespected they will certainly let an individual know quite swiftly.

Smith firmly believes if people actually communicated with each other similarly to how we work with horses, so much simple social progress could be made.

“I think we fail to recognize just how far we push people really,” Smith said. “With horses people see that, and without being prompted to change their approach they change their approach. In today’s society people don’t care. They don’t care to pay attention to each other, and that words and actions might negatively affect one another. When people engage in equine psychotherapy, have that trauma and get a response then they change their approach. The question is why can you change your approach with an animal but not a person? Horses can’t use words to hurt us. A lot of this is basic human needs, which has been lost in a lot of people; just basic respect. 

Do we ask why they are going to kick you before they kick you?”

As Smith took it upon himself to make sure the two St. Joseph’s Children’s Home equine horses had their proper feed for the morning, the Equine Director had some final words as to the meaning of it all after nearly three and a half decades into the kind of work very few have the drive or patience for.

“The simple fact remains that if you are invested in change, then those tools provided by equine stick with you. It’s pretty simple. You have to be invested for change. Without that there is no long term. Essentially equine and the long term benefits would be to develop relationships. You have to want that. It is just respect whether it be in the animals, or people in our world. If you see the way horses settle disputes, it’s pretty primal.

“We are very fortunate in this area to have this type of tool at our disposal, and St. Joes has been incredibly proactive and open minded enough to embrace it,” Smith added. “Not just by working with kids, but also staff development. It’s not just trying to work with kids, but it’s a tool that can be used with everybody. It brings us back to center, or as close to center as we can be.”