Speedify LIVE IRL: Raising Horses for Mental Health Treatment

On the 60th episode of Speedify Live we head outside to visit Gateway HorseWorks, a nonprofit organization that takes in horses from all walks of life, and incorporates them in treating various mental health related problems.

We’re joined by the farm’s Executive Director, Kristen de Marco to talk about how Gateway HorseWorks came to be, what they can really help with and how Speedify can help rural areas stay online.

Here are our 5 takeaways from our visit to Gateway HorseWorks farm:

1. Our IRL Livestream setup is as follows: streaming from an iPhone 12 Pro, combining two cellular connections in Speedify; streaming through Larix Broadcaster, as well as Restream Studio via RTMP link, sending the stream to a number of platforms. And as usual, using the DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Gimbal and two Rode Wireless Go II microphones, one of them mounted on the Rode’s microphone stick. 
2. Gateway HorseWorks takes in rescue horses from all walks of life, helps them live a happy life, with no riding, as all therapy activities are based on the ground. They work with individuals and families as well, and treat various mental health issues: from anxiety and depression to eating disorders and addiction, to PTSD and trauma. 
3. The pandemic has proved to be a challenge for HorseWorks as well, so virtual sessions became the alternative. For livestreaming they used a gimbal to stabilize the video; for internet, there are three Wi-Fi boosters spread out across the farm; while portable battery packs helped the phones last long enough for streams. 
4. Among other things, Gateway HorseWorks helps with addiction recovery as well. The farm has participated in a study that found that clients that came to the farm for part of their treatment, completed the inpatient treatment at 3x the rate as opposed to those who didn’t, and they completed a full course of treatment at 49% higher rate than clients who did not go to the farm.
5. One of Kristen’s goals with the project was to make this alternative form of mental health care more accessible to the community. One way they’ve done that is by developing free participant community programs with various institutions: prisons, hospitals, addiction recovery programs, etc.