Sisters woman practices with horses as therapy for young women

Caroline Stratton. photo by Becky Coffield Caroline Stratton's journey through life has taken her from Missouri to Illinois, New York, Montana, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, and Oregon. She has followed her heart and her inclinations, from building teepees to teaching yoga to her work as a psychologist and her endeavors as an equestrian and an artist.

She is currently using her own love of horses to help others through Equine Assisted Therapy.

Stratton was raised in Joplin, Missouri. Her family moved regularly as her step-father's career advanced across the eastern portion of the United States. Out of high school, she applied to Oregon State University where she completed only 36 hours before moving on to experience more of life, less of academia.

"I was the perfect '70s hippie," she said.

It was not until she was 31 that she returned to school, first at Thompkins Courtland Community College outside of Ithaca, New York, then on to Millersville University in Pennsylvania, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Clinical Psychology.

Stratton practiced Intensive In Home Family Therapy for quite some time, eventually expanding into Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, which enables her to use the horses that she has shared so much of her life with.

"I was a horse-crazy kid. I was constantly galloping through the house, whinnying and jumping over things," she said. "When I was in eighth grade my parents bought me my first horse. It was a great expense for them, but I worked in the stables to help pay for the horse's board."

Stratton likes to use horses in psychotherapy with adolescents.

"I really enjoy working with adolescents, and using horses brings out so much more in the client than just sitting in an office and talking," she said.

She said she plans on becoming NAHRA (North American Handicapped Riders Association) certified in the near future. Currently Stratton is working with the chronically mentally ill through Deschutes County. She also works with private clients from time to time.

Horses are still her passion, and she and her husband, contractor Jim Crow, ride regularly.

Stratton is more than just a pleasure rider, however. She is a devoted equestrian who trains her own horse, attends clinics regularly and is in the process of working with her horse on jumping.

Stratton also volunteers as needed for Claudia Lamphere at Equus Embrace, offering her expertise in equine assisted psychotherapy and horsemanship as she and Lamphere work with young girls taking riding lessons.

Building teepees for seven years is just part of her amazing resume. Stratton also lived for a full year in a teepee while she was employed building them.

"I just wanted to see what it was like in all the seasons. It was wonderful," she said.

Stratton also helped write a grant for the first Geothermal Passive Solar Green House which she helped build and implement in Montana. In addition to riding, therapy case management and teepee building, Stratton is also a devotee of yoga and a former teacher of the discipline.

Though no longer teaching, Stratton does yoga five times a week for an hour.

Stratton still finds time for art in an otherwise busy and active life. Her walls are decorated with her and her daughter Shaundra' s beautiful artwork.

"I try to devote one day a week to my watercolors. But it's hard to always find the time. The world is fascinating -- there are so many things I'm interested in. I can't seem to be able to focus on just one thing to be an expert in. There's so much variety in life."