The Healing Power of Horses
October 28, 2008
One woman’s horse gave her hope in a time of despair.
Pamela Higginbotham and Skipas Gold Star
Pamela Higginbotham of Meadville, Mississippi, bought Skipas Gold Star in 2003, shortly after the death of her father. The yearling filly was in poor body condition when Pamela purchased her, but she poured her time and love into the mare, doing hours of groundwork each day.
“I needed this mare, because my dad had died,” Pamela says. “I had a rough time. It was the first death in the family, and we were very close.
“Then my mom got breast cancer, and my husband, Derrell, fell and shattered several bones in his leg. Three days later, my little sister, who had taken my dad’s death pretty hard, overdosed.”
Pamela’s 30-year-old sister, Anna Troulliet, who lives with Pamela, recovered. Their mother, Patricia, overcame her breast cancer, but died from diabetes-related complications in January.
Things hit bottom for Pamela when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2005. She had a port surgically placed in her chest to receive medicine and began an aggressive round of chemotherapy. She lost all 62 inches of her beautiful “cowgirl hair” on her third day of treatment.
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With all that had happened with her family and then her own health crisis, Pamela was overwhelmed. She stopped spending time with her beloved “Star” and retreated to her room.
“I stayed there for three weeks and wouldn’t get up,” Pamela says. “Anna told me I had to get up, but I told her, ‘I’m dying, why worry about it?’
“She told me again that I needed to get up and get back with my horse, because Star thinks I’ve abandoned her.”
Pamela finally agreed to go outside and check on Star, who Anna said was running anxiously around the pasture.
“My horse came out of the blue and ran up to me going 90 miles an hour with dust flying behind her in the field,” Pamela remembers. “She ran up to me and placed her head in the middle of my chest where the port was, where I was still full of stitches.”
During that emotional moment, Pamela realized she had many things to live for, and Star was one of them. She joined Thundering Hooves, a riding club in Natchez, Mississippi, where she met 71-year-old Gail Voss Lewis, who told her about AQHA’s Horseback Riding Program. Pamela quickly joined the program.
“I thought it would be something good to do with my time,” Pamela says. “Something to be involved in to show people you can get out there and achieve things, even if you have some kind of disability.”
Pamela began logging her hours trail riding, riding along the sandbars near her home and riding at the Thundering Hooves monthly horse shows.
Sometimes riding was painful, but Pamela refused to let the pain keep her from riding, even if it meant giving up the speed events she loved as a youth for new events like western pleasure and showmanship.
Pamela received her 5,000-hour award in March. She re-enrolled and has already received her second 200-hour award. She also won the “Win Some for Me” award for the Thundering Hooves member who won the most points in one year on one horse.
More important for Pamela than the awards is the healing power that working with horses brings.
“I think horses have a spirit,” Pamela says. “They feel what you feel. They know when you are going through something.”
Pamela’s cancer went into remission but later returned, and she is still taking treatments. But she keeps a positive outlook and repeats to herself that she is healed. She continues to ride and log her hours, and has gotten her family involved.
“This riding program is so good for people,” she says. “If you have an illness, don’t let it get you down. Get involved with horses. Maybe a friend has a horse that they would love to be loved. Just keep believing. Keep riding, petting, hugging, brushing – whatever you can do. Horses do understand.”
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Comments
18 Comments on “The Healing Power of Horses”
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October 29th, 2008 at 7:21 am
A story to learn from, wishing her and her horse the best of luck.
Keep it up
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Pam,
I have a good friend who is going thru who 3rd bout with cancer. She is in her 2nd week ? I think of chemo her horse is what keeps her going.
I was wondering if you could write her a note of encouragement. I plan to give her a copy of your story that I got off line.
Her address is:
Sandy Anderson
8257 Shaw Rd.
Belvidere, IL 61008
Thank you,
Doug Chapman
I will keep you in my prayers, also.
November 4th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Pam,
I had got a yearling “Sketter” that my dad said would make an awsome rope horse, my dad had taught me to Rodeo, he was very good and always expected me to be also. My dad passed away when the colt was 3 and I started roping on him……..I started winning everything I went to, buckles and money. I suffered horibly from the pain in my heart not having my dad there with me. I took Sketter to Oklahoma and we won after many days of hard competition! My partner “Rick” is now suffering from cancer. Looking back I see that Sketter was a help for me tremendously……….. and the whole thing may of been for Rick; I just thank God for the wonderful creature “the horse” he created for us.
Clint
November 4th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Pam, I also know first hand what horses can do for a hurting world. I run the Equine Therapy Center in Guthrie Okla. and this summer we were blessed to work with 400 inter city kids some of the kids we had worked with last summer. One little boy who name is Freddie came to me at the begining of the week To let me know that he had not forgotten the lesson form the year before. It was a sample lesson taught by a retired show horse that he,Freddie, was a worthy child. He could make good choices or bad choices and he had chosen to make good grades and stay in school. For Freddie this was harder them most kids because both his parents are in prison. Freddie, lives in a foster home; for him good choices are sometimes hard to make. But last summer Freddie learned how to interact appropriately with authority figures and to treat peers with respect while establishing a friendship with a horse. His friendship with his horse grew this summer and he left camp telling us he would be back next summer with good grades and plans to maybe go to college. All because of the friendship of a horse.
Prim Cockrell Director ETC
November 4th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I bought Lena’s Gold Seven at age 48 while trying to emotionally and physically recuperate from breast cancer. I am now 58. She was 2, 45 days under saddle, what was I thinking. She took me through so much as if she knew I needed her. Sadly I lost her at age 11 in barn fire with 13 day foal on her. Nicker survived which kept me going, but alas due to contracted cannon bones lost his life as a yearling. We have been so sad. Quality Bud Lite was introduced to us by friends at 4 months old, and we bought him to show & play. My grandaughter, age 10 says” I look at it this way Grandma, Buddy is Nicker come back to keep us happy.” And She is now first time owner of “Spot”, TP Spuds Malone, age 19,which has helped her through a tough time of her dad’s disappearance.
November 5th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Pamela,
You are truly an insipiration to all. I just read your story and so moved by your courage and strength.
I am a 43 year old with a life long love of those magificent creatures (the horse) and am finally able to say that I am a proud owner of a 2.5 year old gelding whom I purchased when he was only a 3 month old colt. People have called me many things – green rider, green horse. But you know what? In these past two years “Cody” has taught me so many things and the feeling of peace and contentment that I get when I’m with him is something that one could never buy.
May God Bless and Keep you Safe.
Alexandra and Cody
November 5th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Yes I defintely agree that horses are healing. My father passed away 15
yrs ago we were very close, he taught me most of what I know about
horses. I have a 5th generation of my horses a AQH, FQHB colt.
H ehas really helped me, days when I feel down. As you get older you
slow down and get stiff. He gives me hugs when I go out 3xs aweek.
I had his Dam but had to sell her, I got two really nice foals from her,
one I gave my nephew who has ADHD/BIPOLAR symptoms. Rebel
has helped him achieve confidence, Brian is now 20 and has a job,
and IM Annie’s Rebel has given Brian alot, they have really bonded.
Yes horses are defintely healing. Thank you for letting me tell my
story. If it wasn’t for Waja(IM KEEN ON CASH) I’d be wasting away in
an apartment, or in a wheel because of not being active. Waja keeps
me active.
Janet Mc Donald
November 5th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Hi Pam,
One more thing, I’m 66 yrs. I’ve been complimented on how well I
do for my age, you have given me even more encouragement.
I go clean stalls for the board of my colt, he is now a yearling and
gives me alot especially love. Yes horses are one of the greatest
creatures that God created. Very intelligent. Very helpful.
Thank You.
Janet and Waja
November 6th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Horses are very healing. 2 years ago Iwas diagnosed with cancer(multiple myeloma), being bedriddenand unabled to walk, I am finally getting around, looking forward to being able to even crawling on top of my horse just to sit and walk for even 5 minutes. I go out to talk to him,hug and brush him . I tell him one day soon we will ride the mountains again together. we just have to keep pushing and getting as strong as we can. Just hang in there! Gail
February 14th, 2009 at 8:04 am
wow i didt know this site was here. i did not not someone had put it on… 1st i want to say thanks all of you.. and i want to tell you all to KEEP KEEPIN ON. don’t think about the illness give it to god and forget it.. like i say your friends and family sometime or to busy. or plan just to want to take time out for you. but the horses they will be there and they will keep on loving you.. yes thanks are hard as well as you all know.. im now helping my only grandchild katie ive had on on my mare at the age on 1 month. not joking shes 17 months now.ive put her in lead in shes won a beautiful buckle.. i picked out the design. and my lovely daughter in law kayla also had something added to it ..she put grammie and katie,, it was so sweet. money gets tight which you all know.. but we playing on showing in our local show. thundering hooves in natchez.ms.. i pray for you all.. and thanks for all the support and prayers.. but pour your tears and your feelings out on these horse and talk them .. empty all the bad feeelings you have they understand and will be there for ya
thanks pam .
blessed@ftcweb.net
February 16th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Pam,
I am still crying reading your story and all the others who replied to it.
For the rest of you who are reading this Pam is a dear cousin of mine that I have lost touch with for nearly 20 yrs now due to a divorce and losing contact with her.
She contacted my daughter off of “My Space” and my daughter quickly got us in touch of one another again just about a week ago!!
Pam has always been an incredible individual, very hard working and caring, and when it came to horses she always had that special gift…y’all know what I’m talking about……if your a horse person you can spot it a mile away and Pam is one of them.
Pam has never put herself first, taking her Mom and sister in to her home and caring for them first.
I am going to Louisiana in March and I’m going to see Pam for the first time in 20 yrs and I’m more excited about seeing her again than I would be any one else I could think of !!
I pray for her and hope God will help her through these trying times and terrible illness, but with the with heart of a lion , the help of her friends and the love of her horses, I know Pam is in good hands!
I am truly blessed that I have found someone that has meant so much to me…..finally!
Love Always
Debbie
April 4th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Pam,
It was a pleasure making your acquaintance on Spadeclub. You play a mean game! I love your story here and what you shared with me in the chat box. Thanks for bringing some sunshine into my life! You and Star are proof of the power of love!
May 19th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
well again thank you all!! out there that has read this. and im so happy that i could pass on a good word to incourage you all. to keep keeping on..i wish i had money to send you all something or just give you some money.but i don’t. itry to make a few cents here and there and god its hard.but will make it just remember as well good is good.all the time. im still working with the horses my god its so hot..just rememebr talk to the horses hug them rub them over the top of ther eyes this really helps them. blow your breath into there noses.. stay active as you can. i know have my granddaughter katie shes 19 months old. ive put her on horses and she loves them please all keep this site going and write and talk to me and others here.as well a kind word goes a long way. you can change a person whole life. with a good caring word. i thank each and everyone of you all for suppoting this. thanks so much
pam
June 5th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Pam you are truly an incredible woman an inspiration to us all. I too have suffered the loss of my parents that I was very close to .My horses are a great comfort to me.They get me through many a day and are the main reason I get up in the morning .You are so right they are in tune with their person.Thank you for sharing your story I’m quite sure you helped many, and I’m sure it was painful for you. Wishing you love and happiness ! God bless you my friend.You and your family are in my prayers .
June 7th, 2009 at 10:30 am
its means alot to me that people read this. and even more to know that i may have helped someone threw a rough and hard time. more people need to reach out a hand some time. it sure would help alot of people .
thanks be blessed
June 7th, 2009 at 10:31 am
thanks so much gail. your a gr8 person as well and seem to know where ive been. keep keepin on girl .you can do it
be
blessed
pam
June 7th, 2009 at 10:34 am
you seem yo be stong. and hard willed . keep that up. roll with the punches. keep fooling with the horses.talk to them pet and hug them. they understand more then you think .look deep in to theres eyes, its a wonder feeling doing that. thanks so much.
be
blessed
pam
June 18th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
i told you that i would look this site up keep getting better and stop complaining about the all ins