Northern Regional Police Department test-pilots equine therapy program

Several officers from the Northern Regional Police Department recently traded in their patrol vehicles, uniforms and police radios for saddles, fresh air and horses.

The day was spent at Orchardview Stables in Marshall to learn about the benefits of equine therapy.

“I can speak for myself when I say it was a very gratifying experience. I had never worked with or around horses that closely before and was initially intimidated by the size and strength early in the day,” said Chief Bryan DeWick, who felt a bond with his horse, Jack, after the experience May 30.

The idea came from Officer Mike Dorsch, who volunteers at the stables and with its Horses Helping Heroes program for veterans and first responders, which began last year. He saw the benefits of the program and suggested it to DeWick as a good mental health therapy for the department.

“We all know people call in sick when they just need a break. My thought was to give them a day at the farm that counts as their shift to relax and do something healthy,” said Dorsch, who also is a member of the It’s All About the Warrior Foundation.

The timing of the session was key with May being Mental Health Awareness Month, said Dorsch, who served in the Marines from 1998 to 2002. He was stationed in Washington, D.C., during the 9/11 attacks.

He said equine therapy is a chance to escape the world.

“For two to four hours a week, I can leave my phone in the truck and go enjoy myself. That’s one of the therapeutic values for me, personally. You also have to focus on what you’re doing for that time. Whether I’m on the horse or working one in the round pen, you can’t just fake it,” he said.

Dorsch and DeWick were accompanied by Capts. Jeff Jones and Matt Blough to test-pilot the program.

The officers spent six hours at Orchardview Stables and got to know a little more about the horses’ behaviors, tendencies and individual personalities.

The session began by watching the behavior of the herd, including the meaning behind the body language of the horses. Then they learned how to properly groom the animals and how to assess their health, Dorsch said.

Afterward, the officers moved into groundwork, learning how to move the horses and apply pressure to get them to want to do what is asked of them.

Finally, the participants learned how to properly saddle the horses and began learning the intricacies of riding, which is an ongoing process, Dorsch said.

“The end goal for their program is to teach us to be independent riders. So if we’re having a bad day, we can call, grab a horse and go for a ride. They provide this program at no cost to veterans,” he said.

The officers all built bonds with their horses, becoming more comfortable by the end of the day, DeWick said.

According to Dorsch, Orchardview Stables’ founders, Tessa Maxwell, and her mother, Mary Kay Soergel, saw a need for this type of program in the community.

Maxwell and her husband, Bill, a former police officer, are good friends with another member of the It’s All About the Warrior Foundation and started the pilot program at the stables with local veterans last year, Dorsch said.

“It’s been a really great addition,” said Maxwell, a former special education teacher. “We teach horsemanship skills. People who take it find it therapeutic and have a positive experience.”

It’s not just the people who are benefiting.

Maxwell said the horses also have been responding well to the interaction.

“It’s a win for them. It’s a win for us and a win for the horses,” she said.

The program at Orchardview has expanded to include police officers and firefighters within Allegheny County.

“I think this could be a very good thing for all of our officers to be exposed to and, if nothing else, let them relax for a day,” Dorsch said.

As a prey animal, the horses can sense when you’re nervous or trying to hide what’s going on, he said.

“If you’re having a bad day, that’s OK, but you can’t try to hide that or the horse won’t trust you. So you have to be honest with yourself. For those couple hours a week, I’m not thinking about work or anything else,” Dorsch said.

During their weekly stable lessons, there are no mental health professionals “so the horses do that for us,” Dorsch said.

“It’s also a great source of camaraderie to be around other veterans that have been through the same things I have. To be able to talk about things and hear other experiences, be around people that get your humor and work with horses is an unbelievable combination,” Dorsch said.

DeWick, who became chief in 2024, already has begun discussions to incorporate retreats into the NRPD officer wellness program and would like to continue the relationship with Orchardview.

“I had a great time and truly appreciate the attention and passion I got from both the owners and volunteers at Orchardview,” DeWick said. “I can absolutely see the value in this type of therapy for overall mental wellness.”

To learn more, visit orchardviewstables.org.