Posted: Oct 31, 2003, 16:27 IT TAKES TWO FARM New Perpsectives

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Windham, Maine
Crystal Stover, Owner
207-893-0025
It Takes Two Farm

“It Takes Two Farm encompasses a number of programs designed to provide children and adults the opportunity to experience the unconditional love, connection and the reciprocity of a relationship with an animal. We believe that an individual does not exist separate from his/her environment. Changes in self-concept and behaviors only occur through the countless interactions that an individual experiences with his/her surroundings over time.”

Many of the students who participate in the programs at It Takes Two Farm have had “significant challenges physically, developmentally and/or emotionally in their lives. They have developed belief systems about themselves and their world which have interfered with their ability to feel good about themselves and how they relate to others.”

The programs at It Takes Two Farm “provide individuals with a safe and supportive environment to… develop a more positive self-concept and practice new skills.” They offer a variety of programs including traditional horsemanship lessons, therapeutic farm sessions, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and individualized sessions and groups. They also offer camps and special activities during the summer and school vacations. “Therapeutic farm sessions involve working with all the animals on the farm towards a therapeutic goal (for instance, patience, empathy, anger management, etc.), and the Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is typically a short term therapeutic session mainly using horses.”

Both, Crystal Stover, owner, and Nancy Blanchard, LCSW are certified level 1 through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. The farm and instructors are also members of North American Riding for the Handicapped, and Stover is one of their registered instructors. She is also a Behavioral Specialist I.

For sessions during the winter months, they use the indoor arena, which is in the final stages of completion. They have 9 horses, 5 goats, 3 sheep, 2 bunnies, 2 dogs and 20 chickens, and the students help with the care taking of the animals.

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