Experiential equine therapy comes to Canterbury Park to help heal mental health struggles
Abijah's founder Sally Mixon guides a horse. Abijah’s is a brand new non-profit in Minnesota that pairs former racehorses with the same people who have taken care of them.
Courtesy of Sally Mixon
If you’re ever been to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. you probably didn’t realize that horses racing there only compete for three to four years. If the horse was successful, has good bloodlines and is breedable, it’ll go on to produce new generations. Some will go on to a second career as a riding or show horse. But many others will end up in auction rings and sold for slaughter.
There are various programs around the country, including at Minnesota’s Canterbury Park, that try to find homes and new roles for retired racehorses.
There’s a brand new non-profit in Minnesota that pairs former racehorses with the same people who have taken care of them. It’s called “Abijah’s, off track thoroughbreds for mental health.” Their mission is to address what’s long been an issue in the stable area at racetracks across the country: stable hands who are dealing with addiction, mental health challenges and trauma.
Sally Mixon has exercised racehorses for years and founded Abijah’s. She joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about her work.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: If you've ever been to Canterbury Park, you probably did not realize that horses racing there only race about three or four years. If the horse was successful, has good bloodlines, and breedable, they'll go on to produce new generations. Some will go on to a second career as a riding or show horse. But many, many others will end up in auction rings, sold for slaughter.
There are various programs around the country, including at Minnesota's Canterbury Park, that try to find homes and new roles for retired racehorses. There's a brand new nonprofit in Minnesota that pairs former racehorses with the same people who've taken care of them. It's called Abijah's, Off Track Thoroughbreds for Mental Health. The mission is to address what's long been an issue in the stable area at racetracks across the country-- stable hands who are dealing with addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma.
Sally Mixon has exercised racehorses for years She's the founder of Abijah's, and she's on the line. Sally, welcome.
SALLY MIXON: Hi. Thank you for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Did I get that name right? Uh-bah-jhuz?
SALLY MIXON: Yes. Uh-Bye-jhuz. Yes.
CATHY WURZER: Uh-Bye-jhuz. Well, I got to ask about the name to begin with. Where did it come from?
SALLY MIXON: So it was the name of my first horse. It's Hebrew. It means "the Lord is my Father."
CATHY WURZER: It's beautiful name. Beautiful name. Now, as you know, Sally, there are a lot of equine assisted programs around the country. And this is different that you're working in the stable areas, or it's called the backside of a track, a place that few members of the public get to see. What's going on there? And how do the horses help?
SALLY MIXON: Oh, it's amazing what's happening and how Canterbury has opened their doors for us. So we use retired racehorses to work with the grooms, the jockeys, trainers, if need be-- anybody back here who are struggling with trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, all of the above. And then these horses also work with our military and first responders. So we have the public that are coming back here as well to receive help and support.
CATHY WURZER: Now, you're the daughter of a member of the military, is that right?
SALLY MIXON: I am. Yeah. My dad's a Marine. And then I have twin brothers that are younger, and they're both in law enforcement.
CATHY WURZER: Now, what are folks specifically doing with the horses? How is it therapeutic?
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. So these amazing thoroughbreds, they're intuitive. And so they pick up on what's going on internally. And they play that out externally.
So if somebody is struggling with depression, let's say, there might be a horse that begins to lay down or refuses to move. They literally will kind of manifest what is going on inside somebody. So rather than just talking about it like traditional talk therapy, a client can come and actually witness their story that's been being played inside.
It's extremely powerful. I've been doing this work for over a decade now. And I tell people all of the time, I get to watch miracles. That's my job is to bear witness to miracles.
CATHY WURZER: Most of the horses I've owned have been off the track, and they are great. So I understand what you're talking about. And they are like little satellite dishes. If you come to the horse and you are not feeling good, or if you are mad, or what have you, they reflect back. And it is amazing to watch.
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. They do. They're amazing. And they show up differently with every single client.
I swear, they're talking to each other, letting each other know who's up next or who's doing what. Because they do-- they're completely different with whoever steps into that paddock.
CATHY WURZER: So what are your human participants feeling and saying about this?
SALLY MIXON: We've had amazing testimonials saying that they wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for Abijah's. They were suicidal. We have law enforcement who have been on the brink of quitting and have said, I would have retired but because of them coming here, they're able to continue to do their service and support the public.
We have grooms that would probably not be with us if it wasn't for coming here and working with these horses. So the results are speaking for themselves, which is humbling to witness.
CATHY WURZER: I can see where somebody coming from the outside would probably be pretty surprised as to what is happening-- the transformational experiences that can happen with the horse. I'm a little surprised that grooms-- exercise riders, jockeys-- they know horses, right? So they wouldn't have figured this out prior?
SALLY MIXON: They do. They know something's really special about them. But it's different when these horses are paired with facilitators who are trained in psychotherapy modalities. So it's not just about horsemanship. It has nothing to do with that.
It's truly psychotherapy. And these horses are viewed as editors in their story. And when our stories change, we change. So it is a therapeutic model that mental health professionals are trained in to do this work.
CATHY WURZER: I have not heard about this on the back side of any of other racetrack. Am I right about that?
SALLY MIXON: Yeah, I've never heard of it at any other track. No.
CATHY WURZER: And because Canterbury's the first track to partner with you all, what does it mean, possibly, for this program to go nationwide? Because as I mentioned in my intro, and as you know, a lot of off track thoroughbreds do not go on to a second career. This could be helpful to them, I would suppose.
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. Our goal is to make it national and to bring it to every major racetrack across the country. Because not only are we helping these incredible animals have second careers, we're also helping with this mental health crisis. It's an epidemic, a pandemic, that we're in from a mental health standpoint.
And I believe full heartedly the racing industry can help-- can help with this crisis at hand with these amazing animals. So our goal is to bring it across the country.
CATHY WURZER: As you know, the backside of the track can be kind of a tough place. Because you're an exercise rider, you get to watch this. How bad is it? And how have you been affected?
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. There's parts of the backside that are absolutely beautiful. It feels like home to me. I think where it gets a difficult reputation is it is a cutthroat industry.
And so people are struggling to pay rent, right, to do all this. If their horse wins, they're doing well. If the horse doesn't, it's a struggle. So I also think, because of the population that is back here, they also come from often severe trauma.
But when you step back here, and you start meeting with people, and talking with them, you won't meet any more passionate, resilient people. And so I think Abijah's wants to really do our part in elevating the industry and letting the public know that the people back here, oh my goodness, they're amazing. They're incredible, and they're the reason that the sport exists. They're the heartbeat of it.
CATHY WURZER: By the way, how have horses helped you? I've run into horses in my life that have kind of saved me, in a way-- that is not too strong of a word to use. How about you?
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. God used them to save my life. I struggled with severe anorexia and almost lost my life. And traditional talk therapy just wasn't what was working for me.
And it was how these horses came into my life, and how God used them. And I'm here because of it. So I feel like I'm just giving it back. It's a calling, it's not a job.
It's a lifestyle and a sacrifice. And it's what I'm supposed to do.
CATHY WURZER: Are you still exercising horses on the backside? Or is this your full time job now?
SALLY MIXON: No, in the morning, I get up early and I still exercise them. That's kind of my therapy. I got to get on the back of some of these, and I go real fast, and then I don't think for like two minutes. That's when my brain stops working, which is good. So that's my therapy.
CATHY WURZER: You feel a power underneath you and the wind in your hair.
SALLY MIXON: Yes.
CATHY WURZER: Yes. It's a beautiful thing. Sally, I wish you all the best. Thank you so very much for the conversation.
SALLY MIXON: Thank you so much. Have a wonderful day.
CATHY WURZER: You too. Sally Mixon has been with us. She's the founder of the therapeutic equine program based at Canterbury Park, Abijah's.
There are various programs around the country, including at Minnesota's Canterbury Park, that try to find homes and new roles for retired racehorses. There's a brand new nonprofit in Minnesota that pairs former racehorses with the same people who've taken care of them. It's called Abijah's, Off Track Thoroughbreds for Mental Health. The mission is to address what's long been an issue in the stable area at racetracks across the country-- stable hands who are dealing with addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma.
Sally Mixon has exercised racehorses for years She's the founder of Abijah's, and she's on the line. Sally, welcome.
SALLY MIXON: Hi. Thank you for having me.
CATHY WURZER: Did I get that name right? Uh-bah-jhuz?
SALLY MIXON: Yes. Uh-Bye-jhuz. Yes.
CATHY WURZER: Uh-Bye-jhuz. Well, I got to ask about the name to begin with. Where did it come from?
SALLY MIXON: So it was the name of my first horse. It's Hebrew. It means "the Lord is my Father."
CATHY WURZER: It's beautiful name. Beautiful name. Now, as you know, Sally, there are a lot of equine assisted programs around the country. And this is different that you're working in the stable areas, or it's called the backside of a track, a place that few members of the public get to see. What's going on there? And how do the horses help?
SALLY MIXON: Oh, it's amazing what's happening and how Canterbury has opened their doors for us. So we use retired racehorses to work with the grooms, the jockeys, trainers, if need be-- anybody back here who are struggling with trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, all of the above. And then these horses also work with our military and first responders. So we have the public that are coming back here as well to receive help and support.
CATHY WURZER: Now, you're the daughter of a member of the military, is that right?
SALLY MIXON: I am. Yeah. My dad's a Marine. And then I have twin brothers that are younger, and they're both in law enforcement.
CATHY WURZER: Now, what are folks specifically doing with the horses? How is it therapeutic?
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. So these amazing thoroughbreds, they're intuitive. And so they pick up on what's going on internally. And they play that out externally.
So if somebody is struggling with depression, let's say, there might be a horse that begins to lay down or refuses to move. They literally will kind of manifest what is going on inside somebody. So rather than just talking about it like traditional talk therapy, a client can come and actually witness their story that's been being played inside.
It's extremely powerful. I've been doing this work for over a decade now. And I tell people all of the time, I get to watch miracles. That's my job is to bear witness to miracles.
CATHY WURZER: Most of the horses I've owned have been off the track, and they are great. So I understand what you're talking about. And they are like little satellite dishes. If you come to the horse and you are not feeling good, or if you are mad, or what have you, they reflect back. And it is amazing to watch.
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. They do. They're amazing. And they show up differently with every single client.
I swear, they're talking to each other, letting each other know who's up next or who's doing what. Because they do-- they're completely different with whoever steps into that paddock.
CATHY WURZER: So what are your human participants feeling and saying about this?
SALLY MIXON: We've had amazing testimonials saying that they wouldn't be here if it hadn't been for Abijah's. They were suicidal. We have law enforcement who have been on the brink of quitting and have said, I would have retired but because of them coming here, they're able to continue to do their service and support the public.
We have grooms that would probably not be with us if it wasn't for coming here and working with these horses. So the results are speaking for themselves, which is humbling to witness.
CATHY WURZER: I can see where somebody coming from the outside would probably be pretty surprised as to what is happening-- the transformational experiences that can happen with the horse. I'm a little surprised that grooms-- exercise riders, jockeys-- they know horses, right? So they wouldn't have figured this out prior?
SALLY MIXON: They do. They know something's really special about them. But it's different when these horses are paired with facilitators who are trained in psychotherapy modalities. So it's not just about horsemanship. It has nothing to do with that.
It's truly psychotherapy. And these horses are viewed as editors in their story. And when our stories change, we change. So it is a therapeutic model that mental health professionals are trained in to do this work.
CATHY WURZER: I have not heard about this on the back side of any of other racetrack. Am I right about that?
SALLY MIXON: Yeah, I've never heard of it at any other track. No.
CATHY WURZER: And because Canterbury's the first track to partner with you all, what does it mean, possibly, for this program to go nationwide? Because as I mentioned in my intro, and as you know, a lot of off track thoroughbreds do not go on to a second career. This could be helpful to them, I would suppose.
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. Our goal is to make it national and to bring it to every major racetrack across the country. Because not only are we helping these incredible animals have second careers, we're also helping with this mental health crisis. It's an epidemic, a pandemic, that we're in from a mental health standpoint.
And I believe full heartedly the racing industry can help-- can help with this crisis at hand with these amazing animals. So our goal is to bring it across the country.
CATHY WURZER: As you know, the backside of the track can be kind of a tough place. Because you're an exercise rider, you get to watch this. How bad is it? And how have you been affected?
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. There's parts of the backside that are absolutely beautiful. It feels like home to me. I think where it gets a difficult reputation is it is a cutthroat industry.
And so people are struggling to pay rent, right, to do all this. If their horse wins, they're doing well. If the horse doesn't, it's a struggle. So I also think, because of the population that is back here, they also come from often severe trauma.
But when you step back here, and you start meeting with people, and talking with them, you won't meet any more passionate, resilient people. And so I think Abijah's wants to really do our part in elevating the industry and letting the public know that the people back here, oh my goodness, they're amazing. They're incredible, and they're the reason that the sport exists. They're the heartbeat of it.
CATHY WURZER: By the way, how have horses helped you? I've run into horses in my life that have kind of saved me, in a way-- that is not too strong of a word to use. How about you?
SALLY MIXON: Yeah. God used them to save my life. I struggled with severe anorexia and almost lost my life. And traditional talk therapy just wasn't what was working for me.
And it was how these horses came into my life, and how God used them. And I'm here because of it. So I feel like I'm just giving it back. It's a calling, it's not a job.
It's a lifestyle and a sacrifice. And it's what I'm supposed to do.
CATHY WURZER: Are you still exercising horses on the backside? Or is this your full time job now?
SALLY MIXON: No, in the morning, I get up early and I still exercise them. That's kind of my therapy. I got to get on the back of some of these, and I go real fast, and then I don't think for like two minutes. That's when my brain stops working, which is good. So that's my therapy.
CATHY WURZER: You feel a power underneath you and the wind in your hair.
SALLY MIXON: Yes.
CATHY WURZER: Yes. It's a beautiful thing. Sally, I wish you all the best. Thank you so very much for the conversation.
SALLY MIXON: Thank you so much. Have a wonderful day.
CATHY WURZER: You too. Sally Mixon has been with us. She's the founder of the therapeutic equine program based at Canterbury Park, Abijah's.
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