EQ Farm in the News
Retreat seeks to treat stress in women's lives
BY BRITTANY MYRICK (STAFF WRITER)Published: March 22, 2014
PETERSBURG - Stress is a common bond that ties many women together in the 21st century. Women juggle life at home and work, often while attending school to get a higher education.
That was Barbara Morgan's reality several years ago.
Morgan, a licensed professional counselor and therapist who teaches psychology at Richard Bland College, is hosting the Virginia Women's Nature Retreat to help women who face challenges and obstacles of the 21st century that ultimately lead to stress.
"I see a lot of women in that place, trying to be the 21st century woman who does it all," Morgan said. "It's about slowing down and learning to re-balance."
At the event, Morgan says she will combine stress management sessions that include basic yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation breathing with equine-assisted learning activities.
Morgan, who is also an equine psychotherapist, will use horses as a medium - or mirror - to help the women see what is going on internally. "It's not therapeutic riding, this is more about being with the horse," Morgan said. "They are going to react to you in a certain way."
Morgan established the EQ Farm in Petersburg in 2013 and has been using equine-assisted therapy with her students at the college during the current semester in her stress management class.
"So many people I have talked to are stressed out," Morgan said. "I measured [the students] stress levels at the beginning of the semester and they were well above the levels for their age."
Horses are not the only animals that will be making an appearance at the event. Morgan says two rescued donkeys will also be on site for the activities.
"I adopted donkeys from New Castle, Va., and the donkeys came to them from Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue [in Texas]," Morgan said.
The event is being held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, with check-in at 12:30 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 17, with check-in at 8:30 a.m. The event will be held at the EQ Farm located at 12007 Halifax Road in Petersburg.
On Sunday, April 6, there will be a wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres at the conclusion of the event. On Saturday, May 17, there will be coffee and pastries provided by Sweet Dixie, a gift shop that sells baked goods in Old Towne Petersburg.
The cost is $30 per person with net proceeds benefiting Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue and Dream Catchers Therapeutic Riding. Space is limited to 30 women for each event.
Morgan plans to hold this retreat annually as well as other events throughout the year.
"My goal is to offer different activities and seminars on a fairly regular basis," Morgan said. "In the fall, my plan is to offer something for couples."
For more information or to register for either event, visit www.eqfarm.webstarts.com or call Dr. Barbara Morgan at 804-712-3974.
BY BRITTANY MYRICK (STAFF WRITER)Published: March 22, 2014
PETERSBURG - Stress is a common bond that ties many women together in the 21st century. Women juggle life at home and work, often while attending school to get a higher education.
That was Barbara Morgan's reality several years ago.
Morgan, a licensed professional counselor and therapist who teaches psychology at Richard Bland College, is hosting the Virginia Women's Nature Retreat to help women who face challenges and obstacles of the 21st century that ultimately lead to stress.
"I see a lot of women in that place, trying to be the 21st century woman who does it all," Morgan said. "It's about slowing down and learning to re-balance."
At the event, Morgan says she will combine stress management sessions that include basic yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation breathing with equine-assisted learning activities.
Morgan, who is also an equine psychotherapist, will use horses as a medium - or mirror - to help the women see what is going on internally. "It's not therapeutic riding, this is more about being with the horse," Morgan said. "They are going to react to you in a certain way."
Morgan established the EQ Farm in Petersburg in 2013 and has been using equine-assisted therapy with her students at the college during the current semester in her stress management class.
"So many people I have talked to are stressed out," Morgan said. "I measured [the students] stress levels at the beginning of the semester and they were well above the levels for their age."
Horses are not the only animals that will be making an appearance at the event. Morgan says two rescued donkeys will also be on site for the activities.
"I adopted donkeys from New Castle, Va., and the donkeys came to them from Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue [in Texas]," Morgan said.
The event is being held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6, with check-in at 12:30 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 17, with check-in at 8:30 a.m. The event will be held at the EQ Farm located at 12007 Halifax Road in Petersburg.
On Sunday, April 6, there will be a wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres at the conclusion of the event. On Saturday, May 17, there will be coffee and pastries provided by Sweet Dixie, a gift shop that sells baked goods in Old Towne Petersburg.
The cost is $30 per person with net proceeds benefiting Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue and Dream Catchers Therapeutic Riding. Space is limited to 30 women for each event.
Morgan plans to hold this retreat annually as well as other events throughout the year.
"My goal is to offer different activities and seminars on a fairly regular basis," Morgan said. "In the fall, my plan is to offer something for couples."
For more information or to register for either event, visit www.eqfarm.webstarts.com or call Dr. Barbara Morgan at 804-712-3974.
College students participating in equine assisted learning activities
So excited to be the keynote speaker at the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Women in Business luncheon and to share our work at EQ Farm. May, 2017
