PARSHALL—Four years ago, the Healing Horse Ranch Indoor Riding Arena opened on the NE Segment of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation outside of Parshall.
The 150 feet by 250 feet heated indoor arena is not your ordinary horse event center. The Healing Horse Ranch is owned by the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara (MHA) Nation and offers therapeutic riding to people across the state of North Dakota. Some of those who take lessons include the Boys and Girls Clubs on the reservations, several groups from the New Town, Parshall, and Four Bears Segments, the Parshall Resource Center, and other groups in the area.
The arena is also gaining momentum in many aspects of the equine world, including hosting Indian National Finals Tour Rodeos, team roping and barrel racing, youth and open rodeos, multiple horse teaching and riding clinics, individual lessons, and public horse sale events.
Supervisor and Event Coordinator of Healing Horse Ranch Jim Baker said, “A while ago, we at Healing Horse had heard about how horse therapy helped those struggling with addictions and other mental and physical problems, so we asked permission to find the resources to make this happen. Horse therapy opens up people on a different level, the engagement of the horse and the human helps see what level the person can get to next, and gives them a confidence that can’t be replicated anywhere else.”
"When they come back from the ranch, they are like new people." Francis Old Rock, Director of Parshall Resource Center
Director of Parshall Resource Center Francis Old Rock explained, “The horses and instructors at Healing Horse Ranch are very humbling to us, as individuals. We do all this therapy and education for our patients in recovery and in a matter of minutes, our patients are different with the horses.” Old Rock explained, “They go from a bewildered and lost look to spending time with the horses and being led by the horse itself. With the instructors and horses, they are changed in a most positive way. What we see with the individuals at our center and the Healing Horse group of horses and people is an amazing sight. Each individual from the center gets to pick their horse, its name, and with help from the instructors, they go through the process of riding a horse. Some of them have never touched a horse and some have, but the whole process is similar to that of recovery. When they come back from the ranch, they are like new people,” added Old Rock.
"Looking into it deeper and knowing the aspect of the horse was dying out in Native American culture, we decided to figure out a way to bring back the spirit and healing abilities of the horse to all people." Mervin Packineau, Council Representative for the NE Segment
Mervin Packineau, Council Representative for the NE Segment recalls, “When we first bought the property, it just kind of sat there with a few buildings, horse corrals and such. We had an idea to have a place with horses for the troubled youth to come. Looking into it deeper and knowing the aspect of the horse was dying out in Native American culture, we decided to figure out a way to bring back the spirit and healing abilities of the horse to all people. That’s when we began adopting more youth programs, which evolved into helping adults with addictions and those coming out from incarceration. Then, it was people that used to ride horses and wanted to start riding again, kids in town that couldn’t have horses to providing a place for competitors young and old. With more people and our culture getting back to its roots and using the horse as the tool, we decided to build the indoor riding facility at Healing Horse. With the dedication, passion, and help of our staff, there are so many people benefitting from horses and the facility.”
The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation has a cultured and developed history, striving to maintain a relationship with the land, people, and animals. The Healing Horse Ranch atmosphere, people, and amenities coincide with that mission.
It is only fitting that the Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College (NHSC) Agriculture and Equine Studies Department brings students to Healing Horse for hands-on coursework. Lori Nelson, Director of Agriculture and Land Grants/faculty, Joe Reum, Equine Studies faculty and Katie Oakland, Equine Assisted Services all serve the NHSC Equine Studies Department evolving the program by the year.
Nelson stated, “Without Healing Horse’s partnership and the facility, our equine program would not exist. We are all so grateful for the willingness to help, and generosity of Mervin Packineau, Jim Baker and the entire crew at Healing Horse.”
“Fort Berthold has so much good work going on with its college and much interest and effort through horses. With interest numbers growing in equine therapy fields around the area, we had to do something to develop this unique skillset, so it could be taught to the growing need. The degrees we can now offer in Natural Horsemanship and Equine Assisted therapy go hand in and hand. These are services now being offered throughout the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and beyond,” added Nelson.
The NHSC is the only tribal college in the nation offering a degree in Equine Studies. It offers specializations in Natural Horsemanship and Equine Assisted Services.
“The education of horses and the lifestyle is building continuously in our culture and the region. The snowballing interest has brought people from other reservations, such as Salt River Pima of Arizona, to come look at this facility as well as Minnesota and other places across the country. More arenas are popping up as well in White Shield and Twin Buttes has one in the process, all adding horse therapy to their communities as well. It’s also providing a place for competitors across the state to come and compete and train,” stated Packineau.
“The Healing Horse Ranch and arena has been crucial to our horse training program,” said Sadie Dale, owner of Tucker and Sadie Dale Performance Horses. “We are able to take young and older seasoned horses to team ropings and barrel racings all year long. The facility provides quality stock and safe ground for our horses to build the confidence they need to instill a foundation that will last,” Dale added.
Baker said that with the help of everyone at Healing Horse Ranch and Mervin Packineau, they are looking to keep developing and building Healing Horse with more local rodeos in the summer, bigger team ropings, and maintaining the integrity of what they have been building.
Baker added, “Well, it was Winston Churchill that said it best—there is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
