Life & Work with Mickey Kissell of Prescott Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mickey Kissell.

Hi Mickey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My passion for Equine Assisted Therapy started back in 1993, when I brought our Pony “Cassie” to my son’s kindergarten class for show and tell. We lived in an area where there were not very many horses, so the kids really loved seeing, touching and riding on her. One of his classmates had Cerebral Palsy and was in a wheelchair. I walked Cassie over to see him, and she dropped her head into his lap, the little boy sat up in his chair and hugged her head with the biggest smile on his face. The little boy’s mother was there and began to cry, saying she has never seen a response like that from him. That moment was so powerful for everyone there, but especially for that little boy and me! After that day his parents would bring him over to my house, with mom on one side of the horse and dad on the other to help stabilize him, I lead him around my back yard as he talked, laughed, and gained strength throughout his body. This was the start of my Equine Therapy Journey.

I am just an old Cowgirl, for years I Barrel Raced, Team Roped, Sorted Cattle and did Mounted Shooting, so how was Equine Therapy such a thrill for me you might ask? Well, to see the effect a horse can have on a human is truly amazing. It is scientifically proven that horses have an electromagnetic field projected by their heart, that is five times larger than that of a human being, and projects positive energy that radiates from them directly to humans’ hearts, just by being near them. Research shows that people experience many physiological benefits by interacting with horses, including lower heart rate and blood pressure, decreased stress levels, decreased feelings of anger, anxiety, and tension, and better feelings of being calm, relaxed, empowered, building confidence, patience, and self-esteem.
When I first heard about PATH, Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) in 2013, I needed to find out more about them, so I volunteered at the nearest facility to my house, which was an hour and a half away. Then I moved to Prescott in 2018 and volunteered at “Horses With Heart”, a Premier PATH Riding Facility for riders with disabilities. I was a side-walker, horse leader and coach. The people were so incredible and supportive that I fell in love with every aspect of equine assisted therapy, and with the help from an incredible equestrian, teacher, my mentor and friend, Jan Grise, and my equally awesome confidante Kate Adams, gave me the confidence to become a Certified Riding Instructor for Riders with Disabilities. My first Certification was very difficult for me; I studied and practiced for the week-long workshop and tests from “CHA” Certified Horsemanship Association. The intense program taught me so much and I was so excited to have passed and become “CHA-IRD” Certified (Instructor for Riders with Disabilities). I was thrilled also to have Kate as my Arena Assistant; we had so much fun coming up with new games and ways to teach riding skills to riders who may not grasp a simple verbal directive. The gratification of seeing your riders aging from four to eighty-four with various levels of disabilities, and the impact riding had on their lives just magnified my desire to want to do more. Later that year I worked on becoming PATH Certified as well, studying, riding and teaching at “HWH”, I would call and run things by Jan, if I was missing anything in my lesson plans, how to keep my students engaged during my lessons, and not to mention the high Standards of PATH’s Program. But I managed to pass the grueling tests and receive my “PATH-CTRI” (Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor).
My passion for teaching became even stronger, I got to witness little miracles every day occurring with my clients, and I wanted to learn more about the mental health effects of Equine Therapy. So, the following year, once again, I hit the books and took the tests, then finished another long workshop and tests to receive “PATH’s – ESMHL” Certification (Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning). This opened new doors for me to work with Veterans with PTSD, and to help them overcome the traumas they have endured. My Dad was an Army Veteran so being able to help these Heroes means even more to me. From there my journey continued and I was offered the position of Equine Director at Mingus Mountain Youth Treatment Center, a specialized inpatient behavioral health facility for adolescent girls (ages 12-18) needing intensive trauma-informed care for complex mental health and behavioral issues. Along with the Mental Health Therapists, Psychologists, Case Managers, Nursing Staff, Educational Programs and Dorm Staff, I run the Equine Therapy Program, with my wonderful helper, ten amazing Horses, two Wild Mustangs, two Miniature Horses, and two Miniature Donkeys. We all work together offering life skills training to help our clients heal from trauma, abuse, and exploitation.
In our Equine Assisted Therapy Program, we have our clients help with every aspect of taking care of the horses, from feeding, cleaning stalls, grooming, riding, and also intense One-on-One therapy sessions with the horses, an Equine Specialist, and a Mental Health Professional. The positive and measurable results in our clients indicate a significant improvement in their thoughts, emotions, and behavior, when they are physically around the horses, when they return to school and also when at their dorm. There is a progression in the activities the clients do with the horses, they usually start with groundwork, with the horse helping them find inner thoughts and unlock any negative feelings. Next, it’s about connecting with the horse to achieve peace and comfort. Soon the clients are on the back of the horse without a saddle learning to trust. Then the clients are mounted in the saddle with strategic obstacles, props, and movements to achieve confidence and measurable progress toward their treatment goals.
At MMYTC we also put on a Founder’s Day Rodeo each year in October. The clients participate in the rodeo events such as Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, an Obstacle Challenge, Dummy Goat Tying, and Steer Roping. There is a Poem and Art Contest and Rodeo Clowns, along with a Rodeo Queen and Princesses from every dorm. This past year we even had our amazing Native Group of clients perform a Song and Drum Ceremony at the Rodeo in honor of Emily Pike. Her story enacted “Emily’s Law” and a “Turquois Alert” to help find missing Native girls. All staff, clients, family, and friends come to cheer on the contestants to see who will win the silver belt buckle in each event. Following the rodeo is a BBQ lunch, mechanical bull riding, western obstacle course, and games for a fun filled afternoon! I am so proud of our girls who participate in the rodeo, with only weeks to learn how to ride a horse in each event and perform on rodeo day. They overcome their fears and anxiety, and gain confidence and pride.

I also continue to Instruct classes and volunteer at HWH on my days off from MMYTC.
I love working with the horses and getting to see the progress and achievements in each and every client. The passion that started in me so many years ago with the little boy in a wheelchair, has only amplified in the work I get to do each and every day… I am Blessed!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well I had a rough start, when I first became a member of PATH Intl. in 2014, I thought I was ready to become a Certified Riding Instructor. I signed up for the course, started studying and even registered for the workshop. But God had other plans and it must not have been my time, because not just once, but twice, the following year again I had an emergency and had to cancel my reservations. Then I moved to Arizona and everything fell into place! I bought some land, built corrals, and moved my animals to make a fresh start, and build a new ranch. I remember one night looking up to see if there were any riding facilities in my area, and I was so excited to find out that not just a riding facility, but a PATH Premier Riding Facility “Horses With Heart” was less than 20 miles away. I knew instantly in my heart that my time has come, and I was where I was supposed to be.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When people ask me about Assisted Equine Therapy, they usually have no idea what we do with the horses and how they can help our clients with their trauma. My first response is that horses are such sensitive, intuitive and responsive animals. They will pick up on your emotions, heart rate, and feelings before you even touch them. Once engaged with them, they seem to have the power to see into your soul, unbridle your feelings and give you a calm relaxed state of mind. Sometimes just having our clients talk to a horse as they walk them around, allows them to open up to the horse, and tell them something they have never told anyone else about the trauma they’ve hidden away deep inside. Afterall horses are the best listeners, they are able to help our clients unlock those feelings and thoughts in a gentle way, empowering them to open up more freely and talk to their Mental Health Therapist, so the healing can begin. I love to have our clients ride bareback on the horse so they can really connect and feel the horse’s movement. I have put together a couple of books with poems and short stories for the girls to read to the horses while riding. It is so gratifying to see the progression of a client who is really scared to be on the horse and holding on for dear life, then as we walk and they start to read, they feel the horses soothing motion, relax, let go of the bareback pad, and soon they are sitting up tall holding on only to the book, and reading to the horse.
What might set me apart from other people is that I am creative and think outside of the box, always trying to make my sessions fun and relatable to the skill, or emotion we are working on that day. By being flexible with my sessions, not just to what I have planned for the day, but how the client is feeling in the moment, what I see needs to be addressed, and quick to modify, motivate, or calm the client. I always give my clients individual time, even in a class of four riders, I make sure to individualize their session for them, their abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and to help them gain confidence in themselves, and with what we are working on.

I am most proud of my two sons; they have grown to become such remarkable men! My oldest has a wonderful wife and two amazing kids. He established his own Company and has customers across the USA. My Youngest son is a Deputy Sheriff and engaged to wonderful gal as well and hope to start a family soon.
I am proud of myself for how far I have come in following my dreams and passion for Equine Therapy. I didn’t get discouraged or listen to the negativity when things got hard, I just bucked up and pushed through to find a way to make it work.
I am equally proud of my clients, how each time they come out to the horses with me, whether they are riding, or working on the ground with the horses, they develop skills that they can utilize in other aspects of their life, increase their wellbeing, focus, tranquility, and self-esteem.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
My favorite podcast is “Bible in a Year” with Father Mike Schmitz. I have listened to it every day on my way to work for the past 5 years. It relaxes my mind and gives me confidence for whatever I may face throughout the day, knowing God’s with me!

One of my favorite books is “The Man Who Listens to Horses” by Monty Roberts. It gave me insight to how horses are feeling about what is going on around them. I’ve always had a natural calming, trusting way with animals, ever since I was little, but there’s always a unique approach to most things, if you take the time to read, listen, and want to learn.

Contact Info:

• Website: horseswithheartaz.org and mmytc.com