From MaryEllen Salamone and Christianna Capra
Veteran’s Day  11/11/11

Yesterday, Christianna and I spent the day at Fort Dix in New Jersey.  We were invited to be a part of a wellness conference for soldiers, their families and their caseworkers.  We listened to story after story, and I left with a pit in my stomach that I am sure will stay for some time.

Caseworkers and administrators that work with our returning soldiers highlighted the dilemma we already know exists.  They struggle to offer help to soldiers and families who suffer from the effects of trauma, who have become substance abusers, who have ended up in divorce, who face joblessness… but who won’t ask for help because asking for therapy is a sign of weakness.  And weakness is not a part of being a serviceman and warrior.

Today in papers all over the country covering Veteran’s Day, the statistics were confirming.  The jobless rate for veterans is 12.1%, exceeding the national average of 9%.  Those most affected are young veterans returning from war..who passed on a higher education to serve our country.  And if you read further you would find another story covering a recent death in Vermont.  An Iraq war veteran in his 20′s, came home, found himself struggling from the war and without a job.  He attended an “Occupy” event in Burlington, Vermont and they found him the next morning. Dead.  He committed suicide this past Tuesday evening.

Young vets who are traumatized and hopeless kill themselves.  The suicide rate among vets between the ages of 20 and 29 exceed the number deaths sustained in battle.

Yesterday, I spent time talking with a caseworker who works with off-base families of reservists.  His caseload includes two families who continue to grieve the deaths of their husbands/fathers in Afghanistan last year.  Each family has two girls around my daughter’s age who cannot get past the death.  He went on to talk about how hard it is for children to come to terms with a war related death, a parent who died in a violent attack.  How the child feels different, how the image of the death never leaves.  And I cried, that hit too close to home.

My children lost their Dad on 9/11..he was killed, violently, because he was an American.  While he did not die serving our country, he died because he was a symbol of our country.  I cannot compare the loss to that of one who volunteers to put his life on the line to protect this nation, but I have learned the hard way that loss is often the price of our freedom.  My kids know this all too well.  So do these poor girls.

This social worker, and so many others lined up to work out arrangements to be able to offer the programs of Spring Reins of Life to our military and their families.  We spoke to administrators who run family programming at Ft. Dix and they are working to arrange to have us bring our horses to the base to offer services on-site.  Alternatively, we offered that we would seek to lease out temporary space at one of the area horse farms so that travel is not an obstacle to providing the help that is needed.  The Commander in charge of healthcare at the base sought us out to thank us for our willingness to bring this alternate form of therapy to the soldiers, it was obvious yesterday that animal assisted therapy works.

Our table was placed next to the table hosting the therapy dogs.  Many soldiers came in the room, browsed all the tables of organizations offering assistance, but asked few questions.  But nearly EVERY soldier stopped to spend time with the dogs and look at our pictures of the horses.  One told us the story of the dog he “adopted” in Iraq and how hard it was leaving him..and his friends there when he left.  Animals have a way of opening our heart and our emotions.  They are the key to open the door to help for those who will not seek the intervention they need.

Personally, I cannot wait to help these guys, these families, these children.  Saying “thank you” to a vet somehow is not nearly enough, being thankful through our actions is far more appropriate.  We are a new non-profit.  While we have applied for many grants to help fund these services for our military…grants take time, especially for a new program.  But these soldiers and their families need help now.

Today is a good day to remind yourself of the loss, the sacrifice that young men and women suffered to insure you the freedom and privileges you enjoy as an American.  There are four little girls I just learned about who lost their Dad for all of us and cannot come to terms with it.  Freedom is not free.

Your generous donation now can help us provide services that will help our active military, our veterans and their families NOW.  BEING thankful through your actions and generosity is far better than just feeling thankful.

Please contact me at mem-salamone@springreinsoflife for more information.  Please visit our website at www.springreinsoflife.org for more information about what we do and who we help.

And thank you in advance for your donations..

Most sincerely,
MaryEllen Salamone, PT, JD
Executive Director, Spring Reins of Life
www.springreinsoflife.org

October 18, 2011

Erin Reyhan, MSW, LSW
Bonnie Brae
3415 Valley Road,
Liberty Corner, NJ 07938

Spring Reins of Life
High Pointe Equestrian Center
95 Whitehall Road
Pittstown, NJ 08867

To Whom It May Concern:

Bonnie Brae is a residential treatment facility that strives to help adolescent boys reclaim their potential through education and therapy.  As such, in September 2011, ten of our clients participated in a trial session of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy provided by Spring Reins of Life.  During this session, our clients engaged in a variety of activities aimed at increasing their communication, problem solving, and interpersonal skills. Since this time, our clients have eagerly asked when they will be going back out to work with the horses.  Based on the individual experiences of each client during our trial session, Bonnie Brae believes that continued Equine Assisted Psychotherapy will be therapeutically valuable to our clients.  This experiential form of therapy often has positive effects on the adolescent population, particularly with clients that suffer from complex trauma.

At Bonnie Brae, all of our clients have dealt multiple traumatic events which have ultimately led them to require intensive therapeutic interventions.  As such, through the use of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, we hope to reach our most difficult clients who struggle with expressing their thoughts, emotions, and beliefs related to traumatic events.

In order to continue Equine Assisted Psychotherapy with our clients, we will need to obtain grants, donations, and endorsements from various organizations and foundations.  As such, we would appreciate any funding your foundation or organization may be able to provide to help us begin this endeavor.

Sincerely,

Erin Reyhan, MSW, LSW
Clinical Coordinator
Bonnie Brae

Accredited by the Joint Commission

New York, NY – September 9, 2011:

Renowned Artist Michael Colavito is offering (#) of images for the first time to the public as a way to both commemorate and honor the events of September 11, 2001.  On the tenth anniversary of 9/11 the following images will be released as gifts to donors that offer support to Spring Reins of Life (Horses, Humans & Healing, 501c3), a new non profit organization that provides Equine Assisted Psychotherapy services to the Military, Bereaved Children, and At Risk Youth in NY and NJ.

Artist Colavito has been creating inspiring images with an 8×10 large format view camera for over 30 years without any digital manipulation or graphics of any kind.  Mastery of large format is not an easy feat and for more than 2 decades Colavito, who is a self taught master, perfected the use of perspective and composition while shooting landscapes, scenics,  architectural and his well known “city scapes”.  With large format you can use the mechanics of the camera to perfectly deliver correct perspective with a huge amount of detail (due to the large film size, in Colavito’s case 8”x10” is the actual size of each piece of film or shot).  With the camera’s swings, tilts, and displacements you can make an egg look like an orange or the other way around.  For many years Colavito did multiple layered (time lapse) images of several well known cities, capturing the skyline but also layering (in real time) to that image the twinkling city lights, reflections on the water and a brilliant sky.  The naked eye will never see the sunset sky, the face of buildings and their lights on all at the same time!  All final images are a result of lighting, timing and mastery to be able to combine all elements onto one piece of film – with no digital editing or manipulation in post capture.  Later this element of Colavito’s style would become and remains today to be one of his trademarks.  As the simplicity of the digital world has made it easier for the layman to get great shots, he has gone to extreme measures to create imagery that would be near to impossible to create on a single piece of film.

The World Trade Towers were always a good focal point for Colavito, being that he is a native born and raised New Yorker, the Towers always played a great part for him in the city scape work, whether from Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, New Jersey, or other points in Manhattan – Colavito completed photographic studies of the NY’s “twin peaks” at all different times of year and from all vantage points. One of his images of WTC was selected to be the poster shot in 1985 to represent New York – The City and Its People, a photographic exchange exhibit that marked the first exchange of photographic culture between the United States and China.

Colavito is a founding member of the BOD for Spring Reins of Life, and so to offer these images during the month of September is one way for him to give back to the memory of loved ones lost, to tribute to what he called “his towers” as he always saw them through a lens, and also to bring awareness to the viable healing that comes from animal assisted therapy. Anyone who makes a donation of $250 or more will receive a commemorative print, the images are not signed (but will be stamped) and only a limited number are available for this special release.

For signed collectors pieces (limited editions) of either the early works such as scenic or city-scapes, or to venture into Colavito’s later works called “Colavito Modern Image Painting” a minimum of 20% of proceeds from these sales will be donated to Spring Reins of Life.  Colavito’s fine art categories which include portraits of Robert DeNiro, Mayor Bloomberg, Jeff Koons, Chuck Close and many others can be seen at www.fineartfordoctors.com

For more information or to make a donation (and receive the print) please contact Christianna Capra at cecapra@springreinsoflife.org or 917-275-7765.

# # #

About Colavito:

Artist Michael Colavito is a renowned and prolific artist in both the large format film and cinematic arenas.  For over three decades he has created a completely unique style of art called Colavito Modern Image Painting which is based on 8×10 large format photography using other art mediums by Colavito creating a final stunning result without computer graphics or digital manipulations of any kind.  His work is being tracked and recognized by some of the most prominent minds in the art world today and for many years has made a point to donate a portion (sometimes 50% or more) of proceeds to charities, proving that art not only inspires and connects people but can also change lives for the better.  He also has always had a love for animals and horses and is honored to serve on the Board for Spring Reins of Life.  www.michaelcolavito.com

About Spring Reins of Life:

Spring Reins of Life is a non-profit 501c3 organization.  We are an EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) model program offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) which incorporates the use of horses for therapeutic intervention toward promoting emotional growth and healing.  Our program is a team approach featuring a licensed Mental Health Professional (MHP), a certified Equine Specialist (ES), and Horses specifically selected for their capacity to work with individuals who are troubled or suffering.  We do not offer any riding or mounted work in our program.  While there are many physical benefits to horseback riding, the EAGALA model is a solution focused base that enhances the emotional benefits of behavioral rehearsal and experiential component that is displayed when observing the horses in free will interacting with clients. www.springreinsoflife.org

EAGALA MILITARY SERVICES LAUNCHES HELPING VETERANS, ACTIVE MILITARY, THEIR FAMILIES, AND FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN COMBAT PTSD, TRAUMA, AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES THROUGH EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY MOVE STREAMLINES INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS UNDER ONE UMBRELLA SETTING NATIONAL STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION AND FACILITATING ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT

Santaquin, Utah, September 7, 2011—In a move to streamline hundreds of equine assisted programs across the country and help veterans, active military, their families and families of the fallen gain access to much needed therapy, the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association has formed EAGALA Military Services, it was announced by Lynn Thomas, Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit. A Military Task Force will focus on five key areas: Research, Community Education, Government Relations, Member Training and Program Development. EAGALA Certified Mental Health and Equine professionals have been working with this population since 1999 treating emotional, mental and behavioral issues ranging from PTSD, TBI, depression and addiction to combat stress, reintegration, grief and family trauma. According to the VA’s National Center for PTSD, occurrence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may be as high as 20% in veterans of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom (New Dawn) and 30% of Vietnam Veterans. According to a recent RAND report (April 2008) only slightly more than half of these have sought treatment. Since the start of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, more than 1,100 soldiers have taken their own lives, with last year alone 301 soldiers committing suicide – a new record, as reported by the Army.

Recently, EAGALA met with key ranking officers from the Behavioral Division of the Army of the Surgeon General, the office of the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army MEDCOM Warrior Transition Command, The Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Human Performance Resource Center to demonstrate the Model of equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP). Unlike therapeutic riding, EAGALA model EAP utilizes ground-based activities where horses serve as metaphors, such as representing relationships with family or unit members, fears, strengths or aspects of self. “According to a growing number of professionals, horse therapy can be significantly more productive than traditional talk therapy and can be used either as a short term approach for those facing re-deployment or as a longer treatment aiding many in reintegration into civilian and family life or in dealing with the potential trigger effects of the 9/11 anniversary,” said Thomas.

According to a pilot program conducted by Refuge Services, an EAGALA Military Services Program in Texas, after only six sessions, veterans and their spouses reported up to 60% improvement in severity of marital problems including physical and verbal abuse, financial disputes, parenting choices, forgiveness and time together. Couples also reported up to 50% improvement in conflict resolution, emotional closeness, trust, sex, anger and respect.”For someone in the military like me, it is hard to swallow my pride and ask for help. This was a safe environment to open up in.

Sometimes the horses talked for me and helped show me the path to help my marriage,” stated an officer in the study.

“The EAGALA Model uses the horse to gain insight into behaviors and perceptions. The horse’s reactions provide unbiased and real time feedback, breaking through the barriers that many military members experience in conversations with others who cannot begin to understand what we feel because we made it back. EAP provides a strategy for dealing with trauma in a way that makes sense to military service members,” stated Jimmy L. Walters, COL, USA (Ret).

“Horses are the best therapists for many veterans, because most vets don’t want talk therapy,” says Julie Giove Sardonia, MA, LMFT, a therapist in California. “Healing happens in nature, especially for the military. A soldier’s relationship with a horse can provide emotional insights and self-understanding,” she concluded.

“We have conducted a number of EAGALA EAP sessions with our veterans focusing on coping resources, resilience and anger management. Across the board, veteran participants have said never have they found a group or individual session so useful and life-changing, and that they have found hope. After these workshops, many reflect frequently on the experience and skills learned then take them into their daily lives,” said Susan T. Lisi, AFGE Local 3306 Chief Steward, VA Medical Center in Canandaigua, New York.
“I have been to so many therapists and nothing worked. The horses put it right in your face – it’s intense, but it works for me,” said a female soldier who served 7 years and was diagnosed with PTSD.

The EAGALA Military Services program will generate and monitor research and assessment projects such as those above and continue to educate, recruit and inform professionals on both sides of the spectrum to the efficacy and availability of horse related therapies for our servicemembers and their families.

As a 23 year active duty member of Special Forces reported, “I had my missions and I got them done…that’s why I was needed and what counted… I don’t know why these horses understand what I am feeling but they do – and they still accept me. It has made it possible for me to not just be a tool in the military, but to get re-connected with my family and myself.”
Why EAGALA?

EAGALA is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization developed in 1999 to address the need for resources, education and professionalism in the fields of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning. The association has set the standard for professional excellence in how horses and humans work together to improve the quality of life and mental health of individuals, families and groups worldwide. In partnership with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), EAGALA provides an opportunity for a second career for horses retired from racing. EAGALA has more than 3,500 members in 40 countries. For more information on EAGALA Military Services, go to http://eagala.org/military.  Photos available.

Posted: Friday, August 26, 2011 2:48 pm

BY LORIE RUSSO GREENSPAN EDITOR

Editor’s note: This is the first of two articles focusing on the lives of the Salamone family of North Caldwell, 10 years post 9/11 and the death of husband and father, John Salamone from the attack on the World Trade Center. The second article will appear in the Thursday. Sept. 1 edition of The Progress.

NORTH CALDWELL – In the 10 years since the terror attacks of Sept 11, 2001 killed John Salamone, his wife, MaryEllen and her three children have tried to find a way to heal.

A chance afternoon spent at a friend’s farm in New York, riding horses, gave the family their release.

The experience led Salamone to Christianna Capra, CEO of Spring Reins of Hope-Growth in Pittstown, which provides equine assisted services using horses as “teachers” and “therapists” under the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association model.

The program provides equine assisted life-skills and equine assisted psychotherapy services on a wide variety of topics and issues from corporate training to depression. Salamone had attended an open house held by Capra and fell in love with the idea of horses as therapists.

That connection prompted her to found Spring Reins of Life – Horses, Humans & Healing, in 2011 as the non-profit extension to Spring Reins of Hope-Growth, also based at High Point Equine Farm in Pittstown.

Salamone herself is no stranger to the inner-workings of non-profits.

Soon after the 9/11 attacks that killed her husband, who worked on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center for Cantor Fitzgerald, she served as president of Families of September 11. She was a founding member of the 4 Action Initiative, a national curriculum assisting teachers in their efforts to teach children about global terrorism, and  serves on the Board of the National School Center for Crisis and Bereavement. Salamone said she is also proud of her work with the White House appointed National Commission on Children and Disasters.

“I feel like I have accomplished many of my goals and have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to help children who have suffered through trauma nationwide,” she says. “But now, 10 years later, I want to take the best of what I have learned over the years and really give back.”

Horses Become Therapists

After the horse-riding experience with her children, Salamone came to believe that “just hanging out with horses” helped to center her kids and allow them to experience a moment of peace. Soon after 9/11, all three Salamone children began to ride horses but her daughter Anna, then 3, in particular, bonded with the experience.

“The special relationship they formed with the horses became a life metaphor for them, and enabled them to realize that they had the ability to gain control and earn acceptance with the horses, something much bigger, as the events of 9/11 were in their life,” Salamone said in a press release.  “While many people offered help after 9/11, the horses were their best “therapists.”

Both Salamone and Capra maintain that animal-assisted therapy has been proven to improve both physiological and emotional healing after loss and trauma.

“One size does not fit all,” Salamone stressed.  “Traditional therapy modalities might not work for some people who are suffering, and others avoid seeking help because of the stigma attached to it.  Animal assisted therapy with horses works, but so many people do not have access to programs that offer it.”

Spring Reins of Life was formed to provide services to those who would derive the most benefit but have the least access to services of this kind.  Currently, they provide programming free of charge to bereaved children, military and their families, and at-risk youth in the New York/New Jersey region.

The undertaking is a labor of love for the whole family, who works at the farm in Pittstown and look forward to participating in the groups with bereaved kids.

“Horses helped me when my dad died; I know they can help other kids too. Maybe if they see me and how well I am doing now, they will know one day they will be OK, too,” said Anna, now 12.

The boys said they look forward to working side by side with the military.

“Men like Pat Tillman left their jobs and their families to protect us; some of them for joined the army because of 9/11.  I want to work with them as our way to say thank you,” said Aidan Salamone,  14.

“Working on the farm is hard work, but I always leave feeling better than when I came”, said Alex Salamone, 16.

“The next 10 years will be different from the last,”  Mrs. Salamone said. “It will be about healing, a journey my kids and I are still on.  It will be rewarding to share what has helped us with others.”

For information on Spring Reins of Life visit www.springreinsoflife.org.

See the full article here.

 The Salamone Family 10 Years Post 9/11

The Launch of Spring Reins of Life (horses, humans & healing) 501c3

North Caldwell, NJ – August 3, 2011

On September 11^th, 2001 – one moment changed the Salamone family forever.  John Salamone, husband and father was killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Now a decade later if you talk to MaryEllen Salamone or any of her three children about how they are doing, you may be surprised to learn that they are not focused on the past but more on the future.

MaryEllen Salamone has been a 9/11 activist since soon after the attacks.  Among many other projects and positions, she served as president of Families of September 11, and was a founding member of the 4 Action Initiative (a national curriculum assisting teachers in their efforts to teach children about global terrorism).  She serves on the Board of the National School Center for Crisis and Bereavement and is proud of her work with the White House appointed National Commission on Children and Disasters.

“I feel like I have accomplished many of my goals and have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to help children who have suffered through trauma nationwide.  But now, 10 years later, I want to take the best of what I have learned over the years and really give back,” says MaryEllen.

Spring Reins of Life – Horses, Humans & Healing was founded in 2011 by MaryEllen and Christianna Capra as the non profit extension to Spring Reins of Hope-Growth, providing Equine Assisted Services utilizing horses as “teachers” and “therapists” under the EAGALA Model (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association). The program provides EAL (equine assisted life-skills) and EAP (equine assisted psychotherapy) services on a wide variety of topics and issues from corporate training to depression and PTSD.

Animal assisted therapy has been proven to improve both physiological and emotional healing after loss and trauma.  For the Salamone family, it was the horse/human bond that provided the help.  Soon after 9/11, all three Salamone children began to ride horses.  The special relationship they formed with the horses was a life metaphor for them…realizing that they had the ability to gain control and earn acceptance with the horses, something so much bigger than they were…just like 9/11 was in their life.  While there were many people who offered help after 9/11, the horses were their best “therapists”.

“One size does not fit all.  Traditional therapy modalities might not work for some people who are suffering, and others avoid seeking help because of the stigma attached to it.  Animal assisted therapy with horses works, but so many people do not have access to programs that offer it.” Salamone noted.

Spring Reins of Life was formed to provide EAP/EAL services to those who would derive the most benefit but have the least access to services of its kind.  Currently, they provide programming free of charge to Bereaved Children, Military and their Families, and At Risk Youth in the New York/ New Jersey region.

It is a labor of love for the whole family…the kids work at the farm and look forward to participating in the groups with bereaved kids.  “Horses helped me when my dad died; I know they can help other kids too.  Maybe if they see me and how well I am doing now, they will know one day they will be OK too”, said Anna Salamone.  The boys look forward to working side by side with our military.  “Men like Pat Tillman, left their jobs and their families to protect us, some of them for joined the army because of 9/11.  I want to work with them as our way to say thank you”, said Aidan Salamone.

“Working on the farm is hard work, but I always leave feeling better than when I came”, said Alex Salamone.

MaryEllen Salamone concludes, “The next ten years will be different from the last.  It will be about healing, a journey my kids and I are still on.  It will be rewarding to share what has helped us with others.”

#  #  #

About Spring Reins of Life – Horses, Humans and Healing (501c3):

Spring Reins of Life is a non-profit 501c3 organization.  We are an EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) model program offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) which incorporates the use of horses for therapeutic intervention toward promoting emotional growth and healing.  The program is a team approach featuring a licensed Mental Health Professional (MHP), a certified Equine Specialist (ES), and Horses specifically selected for their capacity to work with individuals who are troubled or suffering.  We do not offer any riding or mounted work in our program.  While there are many physical benefits to horseback riding, the EAGALA model is a solution focused base that thrives from the benefits of behavioral rehearsal and the real-time experiential component that is possible when clients interact with the horses at “free-will”.  See more information at:  www.springreinsoflife.org

*MaryEllen Salamone is also joined by her friend and colleague Terry Strada on the SROL Board of Directors. Ms. Strada is also a 9/11 widow and mother to three children and is also very committed and dedicated to healing power of horses.

Spring Reins of Life would also like to thank our first founding sponsors; it is great to start out with some funding and to be able to offer services right out of the gate!

Cloquet Capital Partners

The Salamone Family Foundation

Advantage Premium Horse Blend

www.springreinsoflife.org
For more information or to schedule an interview with Ms. Salamone contact:
Chris Capra, Publicist, 347-886-2798 or CapraHorse.PR@gmail.com