IN THE COMMUNITY

A LASTING IMPRESSION

Determined not to let the mental well-being of our elders fall through the cracks, Lasting Strides Equine Assisted Learning volunteers their time (and horses) to senior home visits – making sure our elderly know they are still valued members of society.

BY JENN WEBSTER

“Junior” is a crowd favourite among the Lasting Strides herd. At 36-yearsold and standing at only 11.3hh, Junior puts seniors at ease who are a little more timid about horses approaching them.

Lasting Strides Equine Assisted Learning, located east of Calgary, AB, is dedicated to offering a place for people of all ages and abilities to find peace and purpose. This small horse farm works with at-risk youth and young adults through equine-facilitated wellness programs. Using horses as teachers and partners, Lasting Strides offers a variety of sessions aimed at personal development and confidence building. They have helped people overcome grief or low self esteem, deal with anxiety and bullying and have assisted people living with mental illness. Lasting Strides also offers corporate team building courses and young rider development programs.

Led by founder and owner, Jade Dykstra, the main focus of Lasting Strides is to “…help people cope with their struggles, find their purpose, and live their lives to the fullest.” So when it began to emerge that seniors were struggling with the isolation and other effects of COVID-19, Dykstra knew her horses could help in this situation as well.

“This spring, we saw the need for joy in the senior’s homes as they were filled with fear and loneliness and fear of COVID outbreaks,” said Dykstra. In May, she reached out to a senior’s facility on the edge of Calgary and inquired about bringing horses to visit, once restrictions eased. Then along with two to three horses, Lasting Strides visited the Prince of Peace Manor on May 29th and the Prince of Peace Harbour on June 26th, and again on September 11.

“There are so many ways to show the seniors we care, even at a distance,” she said. “It is so crucial that we don’t forget their mental health in this isolated world.”

Trailering in two to three equines each time, Dykstra explained the reactions from some of the seniors they visited with were priceless. “The horses totally know their job, so they have a perfect blend of being entertaining (trying to play with walkers, sniffing around for cookies, flirting with their reflections in the window) and being snuggly and sweet,” she said.

“They are so good at knowing which seniors need a soft nuzzle, and which ones will appreciate their more nosy antics. The seniors wear smiles the whole time and tell us endless stories of horses they had growing up. The memories light up their eyes while they stroke our horses’ noses and we absolutely love hearing every single one of their stories.”

Each of the senior home staff, as well as Dykstra and her staff all wore masks, which allowed the seniors to come pet the horses. As all of the horses at Lasting Strides are trained to be sent towards people and objects on the lead line, it allowed the handlers to social distance from the seniors fairly well and let the horses do all the up-close visiting.

Unfortunately, some seniors weren’t able to come outside to join the group for visits, but as the horses and their handlers passed by the buildings and looked up, they could see many smiling and waving faces from the windows. “There is just something about the majesty of the horse that strikes joy into everyone who lays eyes on them. There isn’t enough joy in their world right now and we are honoured to have the privilege of igniting something in their hearts again,” Dykstra stated.

“Gem” is a 12-year-old palomino Quarter Horse mare that Lasting Strides adopted from a local horse rescue 10 years ago. She is expressive and curious and is the barn’s “go-to” horse for offsite events.