Meygan came to CTRA in 2011 with a referral for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Before starting at CTRA her father reports that Meygan was “failing in all aspects of social behaviour.” She struggled to make friends, demonstrated antisocial behaviours, and disliked school. Her family felt frustrated by their situation, explaining that “everything we had done up to this stage was a failure. Other parents treated us like outsiders.”
At first, Meygan was apprehensive and nervous around the horses, requiring a volunteer to lead. For Meygan’s father, the positive transformation began when she “started to understand the common factor between her and the horse. Within no time, our daughter was smiling and actually enjoying riding her horse.” “If you met her now,” her Instructor Irene reports, “you couldn’t tell she has anxiety. She’s extremely outgoing; always asking questions and excited to try new things.”
Since starting with CTRA, Meygan’s life has changed dramatically. She has made many new friends and does very well in school. Her family is extremely grateful for the progress she has made. “Our daughter has changed,” explains her father. “She has friends now, which is huge. Her anxiety is very minimal and she is socially accepted everywhere she goes.”
“It is like there is a switch,” says Irene. “No matter what is happening in her outside life, she comes to the barn and nothing else matters. She is a whole new kid.”
On her favorite horse “Leo,” Meygan recently competed in her first Sea-to-Sea video competition. Meygan enjoyed the competition and is now eager to work on improving her scores. For Meygan’s family, the goal is simple. “She loves her horse and smiles every time she is there,” explains her father. “The most important thing is that it makes her happy.
