Reanimate - Sharon Taylor on Thursday 11th November 2021 by Zoom @ 19.30. Westlands @ 18.00 for 18.30 with Zoom @ 19.15 for 19.30

REANIMATE 

The strength of the bond that can develop between people and animals has frequently been observed.  It is this bonding process, and its potential curative benefits, that Sharon Taylor employs in her initiative Reanimate.  Sharon, the founder and Project Coordinator, spoke to the Club on Thursday about the work of Reanimate that is based in Bridge of Allan.

People, Sharon emphasised, often relate to animals in a different way than they do to other people.  The bond they can establish with an animal can often help them explore issues that are affecting them.  And the encounter can often help both the individual and the animal to heal from trauma.  Sharon instanced a young man who had difficulties in relating to others, often displaying a violent attitude.  Having experienced handling and responding to a horse, he realised that he had to change his approach. As a consequence, his behaviour improved markedly .

Sharon reported that her involvement began, in effect, by accident.  Her son had given up employment and was at a loose end.  Seeking something to give him focus in his life, Sharon gave shelter to a retired horse that was in foal.  The horse was in a terrible state and didn’t survive the delivery of its foal.  The foal, therefore, needed care and bottle-feeding, and this involved her son, who, Sharon saw, was experiencing positive benefits from his involvement.  She realised that there were many people affected in similar ways, including those adversely affected by the pandemic. This, then, was the inspiration for Reanimate.  

And from such small beginnings the project has blossomed.  Reanimate now has 15 horses, six roosters, four hens, two goats, a sheep, five dogs and a number of cats. It now caters for people from a variety of ages and with various issues, including people with autism, veterans suffering from PTSD, and those living with the onset of dementia.

Sharon explained how young people with low confidence can retreat into themselves and feel misunderstood.  Given the opportunity of working with small animals, and experiencing fulfilment in doing so, they can make amazing progress. With the reassurance and increasing confidence gained, they can then engage with, and learn from, the larger animals.  Similarly, as animals that have experienced some form of trauma bond with humans, a mutual relationship develops that helps them respond positively.

With evidence of positive achievement, the services of Reanimate are now regularly sought by social services, educational psychologists and schools as a means of helping the rehabilitation of people experiencing various difficulties.  Such is the demand, Reanimate is now at full capacity. 

Stuart Brown thanked Sharon for a very interesting talk.  He said he was full of admiration for what she has achieved.