To Compadres Therapy, Inc. participants and their families, volunteers and friends:
In response to COVID-19 instructions and orders from the New Mexico Governor, the City of El Paso and El Paso County, Compadres Therapy Inc. will be phasing in face to face services over the next few months. Please contact us by telephone or email to receive more information about our timeline and guidelines for best practices to stay safe as we reopen our face to face equine assisted activities and therapy services for the Greater El Paso and Southern New Mexico Borderland Community.
NEWS
Chief - Retired, 2019
Paint, 18 years old. Well educated and have experience with a little of everything including hunter/jumper. I am one of the tallest of the herd at 17 hands and have been a therapy horse since 2010.
Congratulations Joy!
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International Region 8 has named Joy Ferguson, executive director of Compadres Therapy Inc., the Credentialed Professional of the Year.
JOY E. FERGUSON
Executive Director, Compadres Therapy, Inc.
Joy Ferguson, a native of El Paso, Texas, started her journey with horses at the age of four and is a seasoned equine professional, horse owner and rider, she has successfully educated and showed numerous horses in Western and English disciplines throughout the years.
A trailblazer and leader in the Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy field for more than 30 years in the Southwest borderland (El Paso, Texas; Southern New Mexico; and Juarez, Mexico), Joy epitomizes compassionate end encouraging leadership. With her Master's degree in Agriculture from Texas A&M, teacher certifications in special education, agriculture, and music, she possess the ability to make individuals and families of all ages feel comfortable and confident when they partner with their horse/horses for their sessions. She holds the welfare of the horses and professional development for the staff and the volunteers to the highest standard so everybody can perform at their best.
Joy masterfully introduces and educates about EAAT concepts, practices and progressive options to clients, caregivers, medical providers, staff, volunteers, and the general public. In addition she facilitates opportunities for college and graduate students from Medical School, Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant, and Speech Language Pathology programs to receive basic and practical training in EAAT to allow them to consider it as treatment modalities for future patients. Joy selflessly serves our community by enriching lives through education and experiences together with horses in an inclusive and positive environment.
Q.T.
Appaloosa, 21 years old. Have shown in Western Pleasure and Dressage. I have received many first place ribbons in 4-H.
Dudley
RETIRED
I am a 20 year old quarter horse and have worked on several ranches in West Texas and Southern New Mexico. I like to get out and explore new trails but am enjoying a new career helping people heal.
Prince 1995 ~ 2018
Apache ~ Retired
Quarter horse. I retired to the Texas Hill Country with my family and am enjoying discovering the responsibilities of living on a small ranch. There’s lots of things to take care of and I am enjoying sharing my new home with my companion, Maggie.
We, at Compadres Therapy, Inc., are saddened by the recent loss of one of our four legged staff members, Dulce. She was a brave and noble horse who showed us how to love and heal, especially those with tender hearts.
In 2015, Dama Dulcinea "Dulce" was thoughtfully and generously donated to Compadres Therapy by Robert "Bob" Kovach, who raised her from an 18 month old filly. She was trained and shown in the upper levels of dressage and enjoyed long trail rides in the desert with Bob for her recreation time.
Even though she was only with Compadres Therapy for about two years, the impact she made on the souls she touched will be imprinted on our hearts forever. We are grateful for the dedicated hands and hearts of Peggy, Adair and Dawn, who lovingly cared for Dulce in maintaining her enjoyment for life and her regal dignity over the last couple of years.
We will miss her courageous presence in our lives but know she and Peggy are dancing together with the shooting stars.
Happy trails, Dulce (1995-2017).
In Memory: Misty
We would like honor our lovely therapy horse Misty who received her angel wings earlier this year and is grazing on the forever green pastures. She was a patient and caring soul and enjoyed comforting everybody she met, young and old alike.
In Memory: Peggy Ballard, December 1948 - August 2016
It is with deep sadness that I share with you the passing of our horse whisperer and comadre, Peggy. We will miss her ready smile as well as her kind and gentle spirit that she so generously shared with each of us - two and four legged alike.
Joy E. Ferguson, M. Agr.
Executive Director
Click here for memorial video by Nancy Swanson
In Memory: Elizabeth M. Ferguson, May 1916 - March 2016
Compadres Therapy, Inc. and the Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) profession has lost a family member, friend, supporter, contributor, advocate and mentor. For over 33 years, Elizabeth was instrumental in educating the El Paso community about the benefits of EAAT.
When Elizabeth attended high school at Radford School, she was an avid horseback rider and took lessons as a young lady at the stables on Fort Bliss. After an absence from horseback riding for 70 years, she was back in the saddle again at age 91. Over the years, she enjoyed the therapeutic benefits of her horses, Honey and Jessie, and in May 2015, she delighted in her 99th birthday ride on Jessie.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom, wit and talents with us over the years. We will miss your sense of adventure and presence with us on and off the horses. Happy Trails to you, Elizabeth.
Click here for the El Paso Times Obituary.
Floppy ~ 1991 - 2022
I am a Missouri Fox Trotter mixed with Quarter horse. In my 30 years I have lived in many places in the U.S. and loved to explore the trails wherever I have lived. I also have many years of experience competing in 4-H activities – from showing English, doing gymkhana events and have even done a little jumping.
Chappy ~ Retired
I am a 27 year old Quarter horse who is just learning about being a therapy horse. I have roped and worked cattle and taught a lot of youngsters how to ride. But I really enjoyed watching people when they did the trick roping standing on my back!
