TRAIL THERAPY FILLMORE RANCH PROGRAM IS 'SUPPORT GROUP WITH HORSES'.

Byline: Andrea Cavanaugh Staff Writer

FILLMORE - Dawn Roth has struggled to quit smoking for years. The only time she knows she absolutely can't light up is when she's on the back of a horse.

``You can't smoke when you're riding,'' said Roth, 40, of Fillmore. ``The horses don't like it.''

That's why on many Saturday afternoons, Roth joins others struggling with unhealthy habits for the ``Just Say Whoa'' riding program at Goodenough Horse Farms in Fillmore.

The program, which provides lessons and trail rides for novices and experienced riders alike, helps participants take their minds off bad habits and concentrate on building a healthier life, said John Lockhart, who developed the program.

``It gets your mind off your troubles,'' Lockhart said. ``It gets you moving. When you're on a horse, you have to be in the game - you have to be focused.''

The riding sessions have helped Jessica Gaydos break a dependency on alcohol, she said.

Gaydos, 35, of Burbank said she became concerned about her own drinking after her mother died three years ago from complications of alcoholism. ``It's a big support group with animals,'' said Gaydos, who has been sober one year. ``You find a connection to the animal that helps keep you motivated.''

Lockhart's wife, Wendy Basil, began riding again about a month ago after a back injury sidelined her for years.

Basil, 46, a health educator who helps diabetics learn about healthy habits and weight control, said the workout obtained from riding helps people make a vital connection with themselves.

``It's learning to trust your body,'' she said. ``People need that confidence to overcome an unhealthy habit.''

The people who participate in ``Just Say Whoa'' aren't the only ones in recovery, Lockhart said. Goodenough Farms has operated a ``horse spa'' for injured equines for the past five years.

Two-thirds of the 24 horses at the farm are recovering from injuries suffered during races, polo matches, and hunting or jumping, Lockhart said. Massage therapists, acupuncturists and chiropractors visit the farm to treat the injured horses, Lockhart said.

Those who have recovered sufficiently are used in the program, which is beneficial to both horse and rider, he said.

The partnership helps both as they develop a bond of trust, Gaydos said.

``The animal takes confidence in you and you take confidence in the animal,'' she said.

Physical activities such as riding horses are good tools to use in overcoming addictions, as long as they are used in conjunction with a 12- step recovery program, said Nancy Clark, a Newport Beach-based addiction specialist.

``My yoga teacher used to say to me that there are many paths to the top of the mountain,'' Clark said. ``Anything that attracts people to the recovery experience is a good thing.''

Andrea Cavanaugh, [phone]

andrea.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

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5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) At top, riders head out on a trail at Goodenough Horse Farms in Fillmore. Above, Alice Lockhart blows a kiss to an Arabian named Ike in the ``Just Say Whoa'' program.

(3 -- 5) At top left, trainer Barbara Filkins coaches rider Dawn Roth, atop Ike at Goodenough Farms in Fillmore. On many Saturday afternoons, Roth joins others struggling with unhealthy habits for the ``Just Say Whoa'' riding program at the ranch. Above, a pair of horses are ridden for exercise in a corral. At left, Ike, a 19-year-old Arabian, gets some attention from Alice Lockhart, left, and Dawn Roth.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News