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To greener pastures: women recovering from eating disorders find healing, hope and horses at Remuda Ranch

American Fitness, July-August, 2004 by Dawn Colclasure

Look up remuda" in the dictionary and you'll rind it defined as a group of substitute horses. Yet to Jena Savage, remuda will always be the name of a ranch that has helped heal women struggling with eating disorders. "Through my eating disorder, my dad developed a vision for Remuda Ranch, where thousands of women and girls have received hope and help to recover from their eating disorders and lead healthy, productive lives," says Savage, who was diagnosed with anorexia at the young age of 10. Although she recovered before the creation of the ranch's program, Savage became an active part in helping patients and is currently the ranch's director of marketing.

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Remuda Ranch, located in Wickenburg, Arizona, began as a guest and working cattle ranch in 1926. After Savage was diagnosed, her father Ward Keller, the founder and CEO of the program, saw a need for an effective, faith-based program to help women overcome eating disorders (e.g., anorexia and bulimia). After noticing what a crucial role horses played in his daughter's recovery process, he transformed Remuda Ranch into the therapeutic environment it is today by offering equine therapy in 1990. "The cowboy who gathered cattle on the open range would take with him a 'remuda,' the group of horses used to provide a change of mount, a fresh start for the cowboy each day on his continued journey and work ahead," explains Sarah Simpson, director of equine services. "Today, remuda horses continue to provide a fresh start for women on their journey and work ahead in recovery."

When the program began, the ranch's staff consisted of 30 trained professionals. Currently, it consists of approximately 500 full- and part-time employees. Staff members are available to aid patients around the clock. The ranch has successfully helped over 5,000 women and adolescent girls as young as 12. In response to a growing trend of anorexia and bulimia among preteens, the ranch opened a new treatment facility in June. This new inpatient preteen program, similar to the program offered for older girls, is specifically geared towards girls ages eight to 12. "We hope that with this new program, we will intervene early enough in the process to make an impact before the disorder becomes more severe," says Keller.

Unlike most ranch-based therapy programs available to women with eating disorders, Remuda stands out as a faith-based center which also offers counseling, nutritional assistance and specialized therapy programs in body image, trauma, art, recreation and challenge courses. It also helps them overcome concurrent disorders, such as chemical dependency and depression. The program also offers excellent after-care and follow-up treatment after "graduation." "Remuda's program is successful for many reasons," Savage explains. "Each patient is treated by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals and all treatment components have a Biblically-based, Christian foundation."

One challenge they have faced is helping patients accept and work with horses. "Many patients are initially fearful of horses," Simpson notes. "This fear may be one of many they have, including a fear of responsibility and commitment." If a patient cannot actively participate with a horse in the equine therapy program, she can participate in ground activities, such as grooming, leading and harness driving. "Patients may also carry guilt, anger and stress, which cause low energy, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Horses, because of their genuine response and affectionate nature, provide a less threatening commitment opportunity. We have found that this commitment to their horses gives patients a new focus outside of themselves, which encourages them to nurture and build mutual trust."

Using horses as a means of therapy is not a new concept. Animals have helped people cope with trauma and disorders for many years, ranging from assisting people with disabilities, serving as rescue animals in cases of disaster and acting as companions for the aged and bedridden. In addition to helping women overcome eating disorders, horses have also been used as part of animal-assisted therapy programs (e.g., in prisons and weight-loss programs). "Horses are sensitive, gregarious creatures that respond generously to love and attention," Simpson says. "They are relational animals that have the natural ability to mirror what our body language is saying. As a result, the patient is able to gain insight into her own nonverbal communication and behavior patterns."

"Many people don't really understand why animals have this impact on humans," says Dr. Aubrey Fine, a licensed psychologist and professor in the College of Education and Integrative Studies at California Polytechnic University in Pomona. An expert on animal assisted therapy, Fine has worked with animals and people for 30 years and authored Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice. "In some cases," Fine postulates, "it may be due to the fact [that] some individuals have an anthropomorphic conception of the animals, which basically means ... people see the animal in humanistic terms." Fine is not surprised horses have successfully helped women overcome eating disorders. "[Interacting with the horses] promotes nurturing skills and empathy," he affirms. "Probably one of the greatest things it can provide is social and emotional support. For some clients, the animal acts as a social lubricant. The animal can ease the stress of the initial phase of therapy and help establish the core of therapy."

To greener pastures: women recovering from eating disorders find healing, hope and horses at Remuda Ranch

American Fitness, July-August, 2004 by Dawn Colclasure

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