ABOUT TFO FARM
"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." -Winston Churchill
Our British friend from recent history, Mr. Churchill knew the mental, physical and spiritual health benefits of "horsing around," even before the researchers started their investigations into what they now call Equine-Assisted Services or as we call our program:
Foundations of Recovery - Horses in Ministry.
FoR-HiM
The E.A.L. Practitioner's Short Bio
Debbie Peterson, Equine-Assisted Learning & Recovery Coach
DEBBIE HOLDS THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATIONS
and has over 35 years of experience in the field of Equine-Assisted Services
Debbie is a life-long enthusiast and student of the horse. Her horses share her passion for the work they do together at Too Far Out Farm LLC in Crawford County, PA. The herd is well-equipped and specially-trained to partner with humans in the field of Equine-Assisted Learning (E.A.L.).
Deb began her journey of helping horses help people in 1991 through volunteerism at a small horse rescue farm in McKean, PA. Before equine-assisted learning and equine-assisted activities & therapies were a well-known thing, she found herself re-training formerly abused horses and connecting them with hurting people!
Years later in 2006, she volunteered at Therapeutic Riding Equestrian Center
(now known as Hope on Horseback). Under the mentorship of their executive director, Kimberly Danylko, Debbie eventually earned her certification as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) through
PATH International. PATH is the premier organization and world-wide leader for the advancement of professional equine-assisted activities and therapies.
Deb's credentials also include formal training by CCAR's Recovery Coach Academy. Additionally, she is a Certified Recovery Specialist through the Dept. of Drug and Alcohol Programs of Pennsylvania. Deb is also trauma-informed, trained in Trust-Based Relational Interventions(R), and uniquely equipped to facilitate E.A.L. classes, which seek to teach valuable life skills for all ages. She is also qualified to serve as an Equine Specialist in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (E.A.P.) sessions with a licensed professional.
Deb also holds certifications in Equine-Assisted Learning & Psychotherapy (E.A.L. & E.A.P.) from the OK Corral Series(R). The O.K. Corral Series(R) educates, promotes, and supports professionals, such as Deb in the practice of equine-assisted work. Her authentic equine-assisted work honors and integrates natural horse and herd behavior as a model for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of humans using the equine-assisted philosophies.
Deb's personal life and recovery experience, as well as her decade-long career in the field of secular social work prompted her to relentlessly seek out a better, more natural way to help people through challenges in life. Her pursuit was both very personal and very effective. She discovered THE Way.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
~John 14:6 (NLT)
Debbie may be reached by phone or email:
PATH Certified
Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Our staff pursues ongoing training and adheres to the strict industry standards of PATH International. TFO Farm's highly qualified CTRI instructor is well-equipped to facilitate proven equine-assisted therapeutic activities.
We are not licensed therapists, clinical psychologists, nor medical professionals, although, we may partner with a licensed professional in the horse arena, as part of a client's overall treatment plan.
Equine-Assisted Learning & Psychotherapy
We specialize in mental health recovery, as well as addiction recovery and we employ trauma-informed programming through the use of creative, customized, and highly effective equine-assisted learning (EAL) and equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) models, infused with proven biblical recovery & leadership principles.
Highly Effective Equine Partners & Peaceful Environment
The TFO Farm herd is especially suited for this work. Horses communicate authentically, facilitate honest connection, enforce boundaries, and mirror emotions. Interactions with horses in a thoughtful equine-assisted learning environment helps improve self-awareness, proper boundary-setting skills, mindfulness, etc.
What is Therapeutic Horsemanship?
The term, therapeutic horsemanship is the phraseology that we at TFO Farm collectively use to refer to the various therapeutic modalities known as: EAL (Equine-Assisted Learning), EAP (Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy), EAAT (Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies), and hippotherapy. These equine-assisted modalities are merely experiential ways to tap into the healing power of the horse. The mind, body, and spirit can be nourished, renewed and yes, even healed over time, through interactions with horses, especially when infused with professional facilitation, proven biblical recovery principles, team-building & leadership life skills. Although we are not licensed therapists, the services we offer can be very therapeutic.
Why horses?
Modern technological advancements may have replaced many of the load-bearing functions that horses once performed, however, true & living horsepower has heart. Machine nor computer nor any feat of human ingenuity and engineering can replace the horse's value as a teacher of authenticity and mindful presence.
Partnerships between horses and humans effectually pioneered, built and settled new frontiers on earth and helped refine most of the world's civilizations. Even though some may argue that these beasts of burden have out-lived their usefulness for the further advancement of society, I say the truest strength of horses has yet to be discovered by those who struggle with any malady known to mankind. God created the noble steed for such a time as this!
For all we've gained in today's technology-driven world of instant messaging and instant gratification, artificial intelligence, lightning-speed Internet and on-demand entertainment, we've also lost some essentials. It is time to reclaim the God-ordained power of the horse to restore frazzled minds and bring troubled souls back to center. What modern machines and sophisticated technology cannot provide, horses can, by means of the simple pleasure of finding serenity through direct connection to one of God's created wonders. The horse.
Sincerely,
Debbie Peterson
CRS/CTRI/EAL & EAP Certified "Boss Mare"
Meet the Too Far Out Farm Herd!
