Woman finds her focus in Equestrian Therapy
Saturday, October 30, 2010
By Josh Woods -- Staff Writer
A paper Tracie Lytle's child brought home from school in 1999 changed her life. Written on it was information on a
unique Special Kids Network program that combined the two things Lytle enjoyed most in life - advising others and
horses.
She knew what she had to do.
Lytle quickly joined mailing lists and made phone calls to obtain more information on equestrian therapy. She enrolled
at Penn State DuBois in 2000, initially in occupational therapy and later in human development and family studies. She
switched to HDFS when it became evident that was a better fit for her goal.
To her recollection, she related every paper and every assignment to equestrian therapy. Lytle earned a bachelor's
degree in HDFS, and enrolled in certification programs related to equestrian therapy at Wilson College in
Chambersburg.
"I've been self-counseling kids and adults forever," said Lytle. "I thought it was interesting that you could counsel
someone and incorporate a horse as a tool to do that."
Her goal of teaching ET blossomed in 2002 when she met her future husband, Bob.
"I had mentioned to Bob what I wanted to do with equestrian therapy, and he had a farm with horses," said Lytle. "In
January of 2003, he told me I could put a business here at the farm.
"That's when I realized ... he's serious about this. I bought my first horse in May of 2003, the next two in August (2003)
and then three more in November (2003)."
Bob's daughter and her friends served as Lytle's "guinea pigs" - willfully participating in her first attempt at ET. In
2004, Borrowing Freedom was officially born.
"When I moved to Pennsylvania I was always very open with my kids," said Lytle. "It got to the point where they started
sending their friends to me who had questions about things like puberty. I'd have 10-12 kids at my house - it was like
group therapy.
"But that's me ... I've always been the one to give advice. Growing up I was always the advice giver at my school,
whether it was a friend or a relative."
Since its inception, Borrowing Freedom has administered equestrian therapy for $45 an hour at the Lytles' farm in
Glen Richey. Parents or guardians can request ET, or doctors who give an individual a specific treatment plan can
request it.
Equestrian therapy enhances a client's full participation at home, in school and in the community. It may be used to
address psycho-social issues and mental health needs that result in any significant variation in cognition, mood,
judgment, insight, anxiety level, perception, social skills, communication, behavior or learning.
Some of the mental health conditions addressed by ET are anxiety, psychotic and mood disorders, behavioral
difficulties, autism, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, receptive or expressive language disorders,
depression and post traumatic stress disorder.
Lytle has a deep connection with her horses - a connection that is channeled to her clients.
"You wouldn't believe the intelligence of horses," she said. "They pick up on illnesses and personal issues.
"I had a girl come here who had a lot of anger issues. She got on my horse and it wouldn't move. She started yelling
and screaming at it and doing everything she could to get it to move. All of a sudden, it was like a light bulb went off.
She looked at me and said, ‘this what I do to my mother.' As soon as she calmed down the horse moved."
Lytle said the program has allowed her to aid kids, adults and elderly individuals. She has counseled people with
behavioral problems, victims of domestic violence and victims of sexual abuse.
Borrowing Freedom's mission doesn't end with equestrian therapy. Lytle's creation encompasses trail rides, horseback
riding lessons and an annual corn maze, as well. Trail riding enthusiasts have traveled from outside of the state's
borders to ride on Borrowing Freedom's trails.
"A manager at Tractor Supply really helped us get going," said Lytle. "We shopped there all the time, and the
manager at the time suggested we offer horse and pony rides at the store to promote what we were doing. He thought
what we were doing with therapy was a great idea, and it really helped us to get the word out there."
But, Borrowing Freedom's story has yet to reach its fairytale ending. An indoor arena and an insurance agent remain
on Lytle's wish list. An arena would allow therapy to occur during the winter months, and someone to facilitate billing
insurance would increase enrollment. A similar equestrian therapy program in Slippery Rock with the capability to
accept insurance has an extensive waiting list, Lytle said.
For now she's content to help others to the best of her ability.
"I don't know if it comes from the heart, the gut or from God," said Lytle. "Wherever it comes from, I've been able to
help a lot of people.
"It's awesome to see how a client proceeds through the program. To see someone go from not knowing what they're
doing to galloping around out there ... it's amazing."
Saturday, October 30, 2010
By Josh Woods -- Staff Writer
A paper Tracie Lytle's child brought home from school in 1999 changed her life. Written on it was information on a
unique Special Kids Network program that combined the two things Lytle enjoyed most in life - advising others and
horses.
She knew what she had to do.
Lytle quickly joined mailing lists and made phone calls to obtain more information on equestrian therapy. She enrolled
at Penn State DuBois in 2000, initially in occupational therapy and later in human development and family studies. She
switched to HDFS when it became evident that was a better fit for her goal.
To her recollection, she related every paper and every assignment to equestrian therapy. Lytle earned a bachelor's
degree in HDFS, and enrolled in certification programs related to equestrian therapy at Wilson College in
Chambersburg.
"I've been self-counseling kids and adults forever," said Lytle. "I thought it was interesting that you could counsel
someone and incorporate a horse as a tool to do that."
Her goal of teaching ET blossomed in 2002 when she met her future husband, Bob.
"I had mentioned to Bob what I wanted to do with equestrian therapy, and he had a farm with horses," said Lytle. "In
January of 2003, he told me I could put a business here at the farm.
"That's when I realized ... he's serious about this. I bought my first horse in May of 2003, the next two in August (2003)
and then three more in November (2003)."
Bob's daughter and her friends served as Lytle's "guinea pigs" - willfully participating in her first attempt at ET. In
2004, Borrowing Freedom was officially born.
"When I moved to Pennsylvania I was always very open with my kids," said Lytle. "It got to the point where they started
sending their friends to me who had questions about things like puberty. I'd have 10-12 kids at my house - it was like
group therapy.
"But that's me ... I've always been the one to give advice. Growing up I was always the advice giver at my school,
whether it was a friend or a relative."
Since its inception, Borrowing Freedom has administered equestrian therapy for $45 an hour at the Lytles' farm in
Glen Richey. Parents or guardians can request ET, or doctors who give an individual a specific treatment plan can
request it.
Equestrian therapy enhances a client's full participation at home, in school and in the community. It may be used to
address psycho-social issues and mental health needs that result in any significant variation in cognition, mood,
judgment, insight, anxiety level, perception, social skills, communication, behavior or learning.
Some of the mental health conditions addressed by ET are anxiety, psychotic and mood disorders, behavioral
difficulties, autism, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, receptive or expressive language disorders,
depression and post traumatic stress disorder.
Lytle has a deep connection with her horses - a connection that is channeled to her clients.
"You wouldn't believe the intelligence of horses," she said. "They pick up on illnesses and personal issues.
"I had a girl come here who had a lot of anger issues. She got on my horse and it wouldn't move. She started yelling
and screaming at it and doing everything she could to get it to move. All of a sudden, it was like a light bulb went off.
She looked at me and said, ‘this what I do to my mother.' As soon as she calmed down the horse moved."
Lytle said the program has allowed her to aid kids, adults and elderly individuals. She has counseled people with
behavioral problems, victims of domestic violence and victims of sexual abuse.
Borrowing Freedom's mission doesn't end with equestrian therapy. Lytle's creation encompasses trail rides, horseback
riding lessons and an annual corn maze, as well. Trail riding enthusiasts have traveled from outside of the state's
borders to ride on Borrowing Freedom's trails.
"A manager at Tractor Supply really helped us get going," said Lytle. "We shopped there all the time, and the
manager at the time suggested we offer horse and pony rides at the store to promote what we were doing. He thought
what we were doing with therapy was a great idea, and it really helped us to get the word out there."
But, Borrowing Freedom's story has yet to reach its fairytale ending. An indoor arena and an insurance agent remain
on Lytle's wish list. An arena would allow therapy to occur during the winter months, and someone to facilitate billing
insurance would increase enrollment. A similar equestrian therapy program in Slippery Rock with the capability to
accept insurance has an extensive waiting list, Lytle said.
For now she's content to help others to the best of her ability.
"I don't know if it comes from the heart, the gut or from God," said Lytle. "Wherever it comes from, I've been able to
help a lot of people.
"It's awesome to see how a client proceeds through the program. To see someone go from not knowing what they're
doing to galloping around out there ... it's amazing."
Borrowing Freedom
Tracie & Bob Lytle
440 Lytle Road; Glen Richey, PA 16837
Farm Phone: (814) 236-0803
Tracie's cell # (814) 590-9146
Email: lytles_farm@yahoo.com
440 Lytle Road; Glen Richey, PA 16837
Farm Phone: (814) 236-0803
Tracie's cell # (814) 590-9146
Email: lytles_farm@yahoo.com
Coyote...we raised
him since he was 2
months old. He is
Paint and Rocky
Mountain and he is
now 7 yrs old.
him since he was 2
months old. He is
Paint and Rocky
Mountain and he is
now 7 yrs old.
The white horse is
Babe and the horse
lying down is Tank,
(Registered name is
Sir Lenny, and he is a
halflinger.)
Babe and the horse
lying down is Tank,
(Registered name is
Sir Lenny, and he is a
halflinger.)
Website designed December 25th, 2010 @ 1:38am EST by Tracie Lytle
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |