Respect for horses a path to healing at recovery ranch

Equine animals have roamed the earth for more than 40 million years. Homo sapiens have been around a scant 300,000.

The image of power, pride, and soulfulness that horses represent has deep meaning. They hold a unique place in our history, stories and myths. Yet, it has only been 6,000 years since we began domesticating them. How they think and behave is still a legendary mystery to us. Most of us.

Ginger Gaffney is a respected horse trainer, and the author of Half Broke: A Memoir. It’s the story of her time working with horses and residents at an alternative prison facility-- a New Mexico ranch run by the Delancey Street Foundation.

Gaffney says she is shy: “I grew up an extreme introvert, and like many introverts, I felt an early comfort and kinship with animals. As far back as I can remember the language of movement has been my native language. Whether I am in a round pen or a crowded room, I’m scanning the intimacies of bodily movement.”

Here, she tells the story of “the most dangerous horse situation I had ever encountered,” and the chance at redemption the ranch embodies.

“Our average resident has been a hard-core drug addict for 16 years, abusing alcohol and multiple drugs and has dropped out of school at the 7th grade and has been institutionalized several times. Many have been gang members; most have been trapped in poverty for several generations. Rather than hire experts to help the people with problems, we decided to run Delancey Street with no staff and no funding. Like a large family, our residents must learn to develop their strengths and help each other. It’s an approach to changing lives that is ‘against all odds.’”

The story of what the people and horses who find themselves at this ranch can achieve serves as a remarkable lesson of recovery.

Gaffney was joined by former Delancey Street resident Ayla Jarvis:

“Ayla Jarvis was born into a family of organized crime. Dealing with the stresses of a dualistic life, hiding her family’s truth from friends and teachers, she became addicted to drugs as a teenager. In and out of rehab and juvy, nothing abated her drug abuse. Her early 20s was spent in and out of prison and rehab.

This pattern continued until she made her way to Delancey Street. Her first year there she met Ginger Gaffney and began her work with the horses. She was plagued with self-loathing and could not connect with living beings. The horses started to transform her, and the rigors of the program taught her new habits. Through tough love from others and the help of horses, Ayla became a leader in the program mentoring other young women. After five years Ayla graduated and now runs a successful farrier business, a beekeeping business, goes to college, and is a full-time wedding planner. She learned all these skills at Delancey.”

Ginger Gaffney and Ayla Jarvis spoke at the Seattle Public Library Central Library on February 25, 2020. Elliott Bay Book Company co-presented the event. KUOW’s Sonya Harris provided our recording.

Please note: This recording contains brief, unedited language of an adult nature.