When Francis and Gillian Vallis purchased the 130-acre Pine Knoll Farm south of Lexington, Kentucky they looked at one another and said, "What are we going to do with it?"

In searching for answers the couple, who divide their time between Bermuda and Kentucky, approached their good friend Dr. Judith Shoemaker, who is an international instructor/consultant in traditional and alternative veterinary therapy.

She suggested a therapeutic centre for horses.

As discussions progressed, it was decided that whatever was done for horses would also be done for humans, and so it was that the property evolved into what is now: The Four Harmony Foundation - a combination of centres whose collective mission is to provide facilities and educational programmes to enhance the health and performance of equine and human participants.

One, the Harmony therapeutic centre, offers programmes involving special interaction between physically and mentally challenged individuals and horses. Through their mutual relationship, children and adults develop muscle strength, coordination and flexibility, as well as self-discipline and a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem.

Research confirms that riding therapy is not only effective for the physically challenged, but also can achieve results not otherwise gained in a gymnasium or traditional therapy settings. A horse's three-dimensional movement has proved highly effective in establishing balance, coordination and perception, as well as stimulating brain and neurological systems, legs and hips, thus preventing the atrophy of walking muscles. There are similar benefits for the terminally ill and those who have suffered major trauma.

Riding therapy is equally effective for adults and children who are mentally challenged, emotionally disturbed, or have behavioural problems. Through the development of a relationship between human and horse, a bond is created because the animal is non-judgmental and offers unconditional love.

This, in turn, allows the individual to relate the human/horse relationship to those around them, with such benefits as improved communication skills, socialisation, personal development and self-esteem.

Additionally, a behaviourally challenged person learns self-discipline and a sense of accomplishment through participating in the care of a horse and being seen in a public setting, which inevitably leads to heightened self-esteem and self-confidence.

The Harmony therapeutic centre programme takes place in an area of Pine Knoll Farm known as the round pen under the watchful eye of registered clinician Bruce Anderson, who works together with a horse professional to create corrective emotional experiences, and facilitate personal/spiritual growth.

"Through working with all these different people Bruce began to realise that the round pen has many different applications, including stress relief for members of the corporate world, in therapy situations, as well as in the improvement of life skills," Mrs. Vallis says.

By participating in the therapeutic centre programme, individuals take an active role in their own therapy, often reaching goals more quickly because of their increased motivation and commitment.

Among those Mrs. Vallis thought would be interested in the programme, she approached Mrs. Sheelagh Cooper, director of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, who has given it an enthusiastic thumbs-up and is keen to have some of her young clients benefit from the experience as soon as possible.

"The Coalition has a number of children who are not all that responsive to traditional forms of therapy because they are pretty damaged, mostly as a result of abuse and domestic violence. They harbour a lot of anger, and their behaviour is extremely problematic for the schools and their parents," she says.

"We think they would benefit tremendously from this kind of therapeutic intervention so we hope to raise the money to take some of our children to Kentucky. At the same time we want to train our staff while they are there with the children."

Present plans call for the Coalition to send two children plus staff to the programme initially. One candidate is a little boy who spent time in hospital as a result of his father breaking his jaw, and Mrs. Cooper feels he will be able to identify with Phoenix, a resident horse who is happily recovering from horrific burns suffered in a barn fire, and is enjoying a new life interacting with The Four Harmony Foundation clients.

"He will feel that horse's pain, and it may give him a way of finding his own inner peace," she says of the abused child. "Any therapeutic intervention of this type is very expensive because of the ratio between the therapeutic staff and the children. You can't deal with these children in large groups."

The Coalition director also hopes that her clients' participation will be the first step in the ultimate establishment of a similar programme in Bermuda. Meanwhile, she has nothing but praise for the work Mrs. Vallis is doing under the Four Harmony Foundation banner.

"Gillian is one of the most committed people I have ever met in this field," she says. "She has a dogged determination, and she truly loves this work. She is a real gift to these children, and I want to support her all the way because I think this is going to be something that Bermuda will benefit from enormously once it is established here."

The Four Harmony Foundation is a registered, not-for-profit foundation whose goal is to support state-of-the-art equine facilities and the development of a broad range of educational and experimental programmes.

Donations may be mailed to Suite 540, 48 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, or 9863 Lexington Road, Lancaster, Kentucky 40444, USA. To contact Mr. and Mrs. Vallis 238-8758.