by JOSHUA THAISEN
Horse-assisted therapy at the Otra Mas Horse Rescue in Orange County has helped a young California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) student build confidence and recover from a violent and traumatic childhood. Otra Mas is a non-profit horse rescue that adopts unwanted horses to provide psychotherapy for children and adults recovering from an array of physical and emotional difficulties.
Twenty six year-old Sarah Smith was born into adoption and was sexually abused while attending pre-school at the age of three. Eighteen years of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse followed her into adulthood, where she became a homeless addict by the age of 19. Smith was living out of friend’s cars and public bathrooms around the Long Beach area for several years before Pathways to Independence recovered her from the streets by providing food, healthcare, education and a place to live. {view more}
