The Rev. Ellen Kohn-Perry is quoted in this article.
[The Star-Ledger] Horses can be healers in many different ways.
Henrietta Pesce, who started Equine Time with her friend, Sharon McColgan Mitchell, learned that while therapeutic riding opportunities abound, there weren't many horse-related options in this region for "women who were going through, or had been touched by, breast cancer."
After an introductory gathering in Bedminster earlier this month for people to become acquainted with the concept, last week they began a six-part series of sessions enabling women with other medical issues as well as breast cancer to be "in the moment," focusing away from their health problems while connecting with horses, but not riding them.
They call it, "a centered activity and learning experience."
The introductory meeting at Mercedes Rolandelli's River Edge Farm included outreach to representatives of community resource groups in the Somerset and Morris County areas who could refer people to the program.
One of those attending was Ellen Kohn-Perry of Mendham, an Episcopal priest who has not had a recurrence of cancer for nine years.She is involved in the Pathways women's cancer support program.
A rider in her youth, she said, "If I had this when I was going through treatments, it would have been phenomenal. There's something so wonderful and peaceful about taking care of an animal. You can create a bonding relationship that helps you fight what you're going through" at an emotional time.
It's comforting, she continued, "to just have a space where...you can't think about anything but what you're doing. Having an opportunity to forget you're going through treatments, forget that your body has been ravaged, forget you're scared about the future -- you don't know if you're going to live or die."
