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id a y l l a H i r o L n o A Profile o By Celine D
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Lori Halliday Mother, Wife, Equestrian Caregiver
s I walked through the door of the barn I was overwhelmed by the inticing odor of hay and manure. I ventured further into the barn, the wooden boards creaked with each step I took. I heard a loud neighing from a horse and I could barely make 2
out a soft voice that said, “It’s okay, it’s okay, everything will be okay.” When I took another step, I saw a middle aged woman dressed simply in jeans and a flannel with her hair tied back. Lori Halliday was gently stroking a horse’s mane while cooing into its ear. Both Lori and the horse were only fo-
cused on each other’s energy, and I stood there in awe because I felt the connection they had between them. The connection between shared energy and mental illness is mended together by therapy. Lori Halliday was surrounded by mental illnesses when she grew up. Many of her fam-
ily members suffered from mental illnesses but Lori did not wish for the same fate. Using equestrian therapy, Lori defended herself from mental illnesses and taught herself to stay strong using her energy within. Using horses to help others cope with mental illnesses and inner problems, Lori decided to spread her practices. She now runs an organization called
Horse and Heart in the Santa Cruz County. This organization is a beneďŹ cial alternative for conventional talk therapy, it teaches leadership and empowerment, and it is located on Halliday’s ranch. The main focus of Horse and Heart is to expose those with mental challenges to a normal lifestyle. A normal lifestyle could mean Lori’s goal is to make them feel nor-
mal in a way that they have not yet experienced. She is shaping the lives of others in a positive way. Those who possess mental disabilities may not be able to have the same resources as those without mental disabilities. Lori Halliday grew up in a Filipino household in Missouri so she was accustomed to two different cultures which allowed her to become more
open minded about cultural differences. Her childhood helped her become the thoughtful and selfless person she is today. She has spent most of her adult life caring for others such as her daughter and the people around her that come to her services. Lori Halliday was surrounded by mental illnesses when she grew up. Many of her
family members suffered from mental illnesses so she decided to dedicate part of her life to helping others overcome their mental illnesses. When Lori was in college, she got into a car accident. She informed me that it was a 10 car pile up all due to someone who wasn’t paying attention on the road. She hurt her cervical spine, but at the
age of 19 she said the injury was subtle. During her adult life, however, it got worse and the rest of her spine responded to that collateral damage. Lori told me that her use of channeling her inner energy helped her heal. Spiritually, Lori was very connected to the living things around her such as the nature and horses. This greatly affected her
“She’s very heartfelt and sensitive and really wants to help everyone but at the same time she’ a warrior. So she will do and get things done and won’t stop until the result is there.” -Andy Halliday
healing process and eventually her back got better. Lori and her daughter, Ella, have a very strong bond. Lori told me that one of the main reasons why she got into the realm of horses was because Ella showed much interest in them. When Lori and her family first moved to the Santa Cruz Mountains, her daughter was shocked to learn that one could own horses on their property. With Ella’s interest in horses, Lori decided to purchase and train them to fit her lifestyle. This lead Lori to eventually owning multiple horses. Lori then proceeded to
start a ranch which grew into a beautiful program that helps those in need. Growing up around family members with mental illnesses, Lori decided that she did not wish to see anyone fall into that category so she created an organization to help
nection is filled with compassion and understanding that is rare to find. I watch her care for her horses and she is so loving and kind. I think of her as being strong like a horse and being as calm as a horse. I see the way horses care for their calves and it’s very similar to how Lori cares for
her daughter, Ella. She is understanding and full of love. M uch others with equeslikes horses, Lori is trian therapy. Her very in touch with path stemmed from her inner self and the love of horses and those around her. is completely full of energy that comes Ella describes her from within. mother as, “a beautiful ray of golden sunshine.” Their con-
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Works Cited Halliday, Andy. Personal Interview, 5 October 2015 Halliday Ella. Personal Interview 19 Sept 2015 Halliday, Lori. Personal Interview Sept 2015 Halliday, Lori. Personal Interview 5 Oct 2015 Robbins, Mike. “Be Yourself, Everyone else is already taken” Joey-Bass Books and A Wiley Imprint, 2009, non-fiction novel Schwartz, Tony and McCarthy, Catherine. “Manage your energy, not your time.” Harvard Business Review, Oct 2007, web article. Vital, Delve, Internalized, Phenomenon, Authenticity Longman Dictionary 2015 web
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