Wednesday, April 12th, 2017
After nearly 40 years of marriage, Charlotte Driver is confronting one of life’s biggest challenges — losing her connection to her husband, Richard, as he gradually loses his memory. Diagnosed with early onset dementia, it’s only a matter of time before he develops Alzheimer’s disease.
Determined to stave off the disease for as long as possible, the Drivers enrolled in a unique program aimed at harnessing the healing power of horses to improve the quality of life for people affected by dementia and their care partners. They visited the Center for Equine Health (CEH) at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine last fall, along with six other couples, to participate in a research project that grew out of a collaboration with the UC Davis School of Medicine and The Connected Horse Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all those affected by dementia.
Over the course of three weeks, the Drivers joined the others in five-hour workshops designed to gradually introduce the couples to the horses. For Charlotte, it was an entirely novel experience; she had never touched a horse. But Richard was excited about being around horses again. As a teenager, he helped a neighbor care for his horses.
“They can really read your emotions,” Richard said. “Being around them brought back a lot of happy memories. I’m more conscious of my environment and my emotions while with horses.”
And that’s one of the main goals of the project — helping the patient and care giver get in touch with themselves and each other.