>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS ON ARIZONA HORIZON, THE JOURNALISTS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES AMONG OTHER THINGS CONCERN OVER HOSPITAL CAPACITY IN THE STATE.

ON CRONKITE NEWS HOW A HEALTHCARE GROUP IS FURTHER INCREASING FACTION NATION RATES ON THE NAVAJO NATION AND PERCEPTIONS INVOLVING SUICIDE.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON I'M TED SIMONS.

NEARLY 4,000 CASES WERE REPORTED TODAY IN ARIZONA AND THERE WERE 93 NEW COVID RELATED FATALITIES THEY CONTINUE TROUBLING UPWARD TRENDS AND CONCERNS OVER HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE AS THE STATE AGAIN SHOWS IN-PATIENT BEDS 90% CAPACITY AND 40% OCCUPIED BY COVID PATIENTS.

SUPREME COURT REFUSED TO BLOCK A LAW THAT BANS MOST ABORTIONS AFTER 6 WEEKS BUT THE COURT DID RULE THAT ABORTION PROVIDERS IN TEXAS CAN CHALLENGE IT BY SUING STATE OFFICIALS IN FEDERAL COURT.

SOMETHING THAT THE LAW WAS DESIGNED TO TRY DID GET AROUND AND INDEED CHIEF JUSTICE WHAT HE SEES AT THE TEXAS LAW IS AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE AUTHORITY OF THE SUPREME COURT.

THAT SAID, IT REMAINS THE LAW IN TEXAS.

>> AND ECONOMIC NEWS, INFLATION IS UP.

BIG TIME.

INFLATION JUMPS TO ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN NEARLY 40 YEARS.

BUREAU OF LABOR CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SHOWED 6.8% INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICES.

THE FASTEST YEAR TO YEAR JUMP SINCE 1982.

IT WAS FUELLED IN PART BY RISING FOOD, RENT AND ENERGY PRICES.

AND IT'S TIME NOW FOR THE JOURNALISTS ROUNDTABLE AND HERE TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES WE WELCOME JEREMY AND BOB CHRISTIE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JEREMY, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

CONCERNS ARE A CONCERN.

WE KIND OF -- WE ARE HOPING THE HOLIDAY SEASON MAYBE SOMETHING WOULD EASE, THE WAS BEHIND US.

NOT LOOKING LIKE THAT ANYMORE.

>> WE'RE HITTING ANOTHER PEAK.

THIS IS OUR THIRD OR FOURTH HERE IN ARIZONA AND WE KEEP HEARING FROM HOSPITALS AND THEIR ICU'S ARE AT THE BREAKING POINT.

THEY'RE RAPIDLY RUNNING OUT OF BEDS OUT OF ROOMS AND I THINK FLAGSTAFF MEDICAL CENTER JUST STRAIGHT OUT OF ICU BEDS AND ARE ON A WAIT LIST AND THE SITUATION IS GETTING DIRE.

>> BOB, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM AROUND THE STATE AS FAR AS HOW BAD THE SITUATION IS?

>> WELL, IT'S PRETTY BAD AND WE'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE, BUT THE DIFFERENCE THIS TIME IS THAT LAST WINTER DURING THE SURGE THE DOCTORS WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE NORMAL PATIENTS WEREN'T SHOWING UP SO THEY WEREN'T SEEING PEOPLE WITH SURGERY AND ALL THAT STUFF.

WE PUT ALL THAT STUFF OFF FOR A YEAR SO THOSE BEDS ARE FULL WITH REGULAR PATIENTS NOW AND THEN WE HAVE 40% OF OUR HOSPITAL BEDS NOW WITH COVID TOO SO THAT TAKES UP ALL THE SLACK AND IT'S UP AND DOWN THE STATE.

IT'S FROM EASTERN ARIZONA TO THE COLORADO RIVER, IT'S EVERYWHERE.

AND THE HOSPITALS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS.

WE HAD SURGE LINES BEFORE WHERE HOSPITALS COULD CALL IN AND SAY, HEY, CAN WE TRANSFER A PATIENT AND THERE'S NO ROOM AT THE INN ANYWHERE.

WHAT ARE WE HEARING FROM STATE OFFICIALS?

>> NOT MUCH.

I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT EXCEPT FOR WANTING TO GET RID OF MANDATES AND BLOCK HAND DATES AND MASKS AND HANDFUL OF LAWS REGARDING THAT STUFF THAT WERE BOOT STRAPPED IN THE BUDGET.

WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT LAWMAKERS AND PUBLIC LAWMAKERS CALLING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION WITH THE LEGISLATURE WHICH I THINK IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AT THIS POINT.

BUT LOOKS LIKE THEIR CONCERN IS NOT DOING STUFF TO STOP THE FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEMS AND STOP IT FROM GETTING WORSE.

>> GOVERNOR NOT SAYING A HECK OF A LOT.

>> HE HAD A COUPLE OF MEDIA AVAILABILITIES AND DIDN'T MENTION IT AND DIDN'T BRING IT UP ON HIS OWN AND WASN'T ASKED EITHER.

IT'S KIND OF -- FOR NOT JUST THE GOVERNOR BUT PROBABLY FOR US AS WELL, IT'S HARD TO CONSTANTLY AFTER TWO YEARS KEEP THIS IN FRONT OF MIND AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE GOVERNOR, IT'S THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT THERE.

IF YOU WATCH AND YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE NOT AS MANY PEOPLE WERE WEARING MASKS EVEN FROM 6 MONTHS AGO BUT THE DEATHS JUST KEEP GOING AND THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ADDED A NEW STATISTIC WHICH SHOWS THE PERCENTAGE OF DEATHS AND PERCENTAGE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IN COVID CASES THAT ARE AMONG THE UNVACCINATED AND IT'S PRETTY STARK.

IT'S 15 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE.

DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T DIE IF YOU ARE VACCINATED.

THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING IF THEY'RE VACCINATED BUT THE VAST MAJORITY ARE AMONG THE UNVACCINATED AND THAT'S WHAT IS DRIVING THIS PANDEMIC NOW.

>> MOVING ON.

JEREMY, WE HAVE ANOTHER APOLOGY FROM KATY HOBBS.

THIS IS HOW MANY NOW?

>> TWO OR THREE.

THIS IS THE CONTINUING DAMAGE CONTROL TO WORK FOR THE -- SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN THE PRESUMPTIVE FRONTRUNNER FOR GOVERNOR.

THIS IS THE STARKEST MOST APOLOGETIC LANGUAGE SHE'S USED IN THE PAST AFTER THE VERDICT WHEN SHE FINALLY SPOKE SHE STOOD BY THE FIRING OF ADAMS IN 2015.

NOW SHE COMES OUT AND SAYS VERY CLEAR KIND APOLOGY AND SAYS SHE'S SORRY SHE WENT THROUGH ACKNOWLEDGING MS. ADAMS SUFFERED DISCRIMINATION AND TALKING ABOUT NEED BE TO BE A BETTER ALLY AND ADVOCATE AND STEPS SHE WANTS TO TAKE IN HER CAMPAIGN AND IF ELECTED GOVERNOR.

DEFINITELY STOOD OUT KIND OF A CHANGE IN TONE FROM WHAT SHE SAID BEFORE WHERE HER PRIMARY FOCUS WAS DEFENDING HER ACTIONS.

>> I THOUGHT THE LINE WHEN SHE -- HER REACTION TO THE JURY VERDICT, WHEN SHE APOLOGIZED FOR THAT.

THE JURY VERDICT THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CASE AND SHE SAID HER REACTION WAS SHORTSIDED AND FAILED TO MEET THE MOMENT.

THAT'S QUITE A QUOTE FROM A CANDIDATE FOR ANYTHING.

>> IT IS.

I WAS STRUCK BY THE UNNECESSARILY DEFENSIVE STATEMENT, WHICH I THINK ALL OF US SPOTTED IMMEDIATELY.

SHE WAS DEFENSIVE.

AND SHE DIDN'T GET IT.

I MEAN, THIS IS THE SECOND JURY NOW THAT HAS RETURNED A VERDICT AGAINST THE SENATE FOR FIRING HER.

SHE WASN'T A PARTY TO THE LAWSUIT BUT INVOLVED IN THE FIRING AND SHE WAS RIGHT UP FRONT.

AS A DEMOCRAT WHO PRIDES HERSELF ON REPRESENTING GROUPS OF ARIZONANS THAT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DON'T REPRESENT AS WELL, SHE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.

IT'S A BAD LOOK FOR HER AND SHE'S GOING -- WHETHER SHE CAN OVER THIS IT'S EARLY ENOUGH IT SHOULDN'T BE A BIG TROUBLE FOR HER.

BUT IF IT KEEPS DRAG ALONG.

>> DID SHE PERSONALLY APOLOGIZE TO ADAMS?

>> NOT BEFORE 2019 AND THAT'S SOMETHING SHE BROUGHT UP WHEN SHE HELD HER OWN RESPONSE I BELIEVE YESTERDAY WHERE SHE WAS VERY UNIMPRESSED WITH THE STATEMENT WHICH WAS NOT THE PERSONAL COMMENT FROM KATY HOBBS TO ADAMS HERSELF.

SHE DID NOT BUY IT AND SHE SAID SHE BELIEVES BASED ON THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION SHE BELIEVES THAT KATY HOBBS IS A RACIST WHICH IS A DAMMING STATEMENT AND LOOKING AT TAKING LEGAL ACTION SAYING SHE WAS FIRED FOR CAUSE.

WHEN I SPOKE WITH KATY HOBBS A FEW WEEKS AGO SHE SAID SHE WAS FIRED FOR CAUSE AND PERFORMANCE ISSUES AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH HER WORK THAT DIDN'T COME OUT IN THE TRIAL AND THAT REALLY GOT ADAMS.

SOUNDS LIKE SHE'LL CONTINUE MAKING ACTION AND POSSIBLY MAKE IT 3 OR 3 IN COURT.

>> STICKING WITH YOU JEREMY WE'RE TALKING REDISTRICTING NOW.

YOU FOLLOWED THIS DOING HEROS WORK AS YOU SIT THROUGH THE MEETINGS OVER AND OVER DAILY NOW.

WHERE ARE WE IN THE PROCESS AND WHAT ARE WE SEEING?

>> WELL, THIS WEEK'S COMMISSION RESTARTED THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF DRAWING MAPS AND THERE HAD BEEN -- AFTER THEY APPROVED THEIR DRAFTS OF CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATIVE MAPS THERE IS A MANDATORY 30-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK AND WHAT THEY LIKE.

MONDAY THEY STARTED PUTTING THOSE COMMENTS TO ACTION AND MAKING SOME DRAMATIC CHANGES TO THE MAP.

WE HAD SOME FIGHTS OVER ISSUES THAT ALREADY BEEN SETTLED OVER THE NORTHERN ARIZONA BASED SECOND DISTRICT WHICH BECOME FAIRLY REPUBLICAN AND ALMOST MARGINALLY COMPETITIVE.

WE SAW SOME BIG CHANGES PROPOSED YESTERDAY THAT WOULD TAKE DAVID COMPETITIVE DISTRICT AND REPUBLICAN LEANING AND PUSH IT MUCH MORE IN THE REPUBLICAN COLUMN.

IRONICALLY BASED ON CHANGES REQUESTED BY PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL WOMAN LAURA PASTOR WHICH IS A DEMOCRAT.

>> ARE WE SEEING AS MUCH FUSSING AND FIGHTING OVER THIS?

>> I THINK WE WILL AND I THINK AS ALWAYS SEE A SERIES OF LAWSUITS AFTER THEY'RE DONE.

THE WAY THAT THE STATE NON CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE NOW SPLIT.

IT'S 5-4 DEMOCRATS.

AND IT'S FLIPPED AND FLOPPED BETWEEN 5-4 EITHER SIDE FOR THE LAST DECADE.

THAT THE MAPS THEY'VE DRAWN AT THIS POINT LOOKS LIKE THOSE DEFINITELY WILL LOSE DEMOCRATIC SEAT UP IN NAVAJO NATION WHICH WILL BE RENAMED 2.

THEY CAN'T SURVIVE THAT WITH THE 8% REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE AS THE MAP SAYS NOW.

JEREMY MENTIONED THE DEMOCRATS TRIED TO FIX THAT DISTRICT EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE ONE SAVING GRACE FOR THE DEMOCRATS WAS THAT SHYEYNGART A'S DISTRICT WHICH -- HE'S BEEN UNBEATABLE FOR THE LAST DECADE WAS COMPETITIVE UNDER THE DRAFT MAP THAT THEY APPROVED A MONTH AGO.

WELL, NOW IT'S NOT QUITE SO COMPETITIVE.

IF THE MAPS DON'T CHANGE IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE 5-4 REPUBLICAN AND MAYBE 6-3.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, JEREMY, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THERE?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES GOING ON AND PROBABLY THE MOST NOTEWORTHY THING WE'VE SEEN IS BIG CHANGES IN THE WEST VALLEY AND YUMA.

HE WANTS TO RECONSTITUTE THE DISTRICT AND RUNS ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE WEST VALLEY AROUND BUCKEYE AND GOODYEAR AND LITCHFIELD PARK.

THAT WAS ELIMINATED ON THE DRAFT MAN AND NOW IT'S BACK.

YOU SEE VERY WILD POPULATION IMBALANCES AND THOSE MAPS -- IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE EACH OF THE DISTRICTS ARE UNDERGOING SO MANY CHANGES AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE MAPS BASED ON THE PROPOSING WHETHER IT'S THE INDEPENDENT OR THE DEMOCRAT WHO IS KIND OF BANGING HER HEAD AGAINST A WALL ON A LOT OF THE STUFF SHE WANTS OVER THERE AND THE REPUBLICAN WHO IS TAKING THE LEAD ON A LOT OF THESE MAPS.

IT'S VERY FLUID SITUATION ON THE LEGISLATIVE MAP.

WE HAVE I THINK LAST I CHECKED 6 COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS POTENTIALLY.

SOME OF THEM VERY MARGINALLY SO.

>> BOB, REAL QUICKLY.

TIME TABLE.

THEY GOT TO GET THIS DONE QUICK, DON'T THEY?

>> THEY SET A DATE FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS TO FINALIZE THESE.

SO I BELIEVE THE 22ND OF DECEMBER THEY SHOULD BE DONE.

NOW, THEY CAN DRAG ON AFTERWARDS BUT WITH THE VOTES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE COMMISSION, IT'S 3-2 WITH THE INDEPENDENT NOTING WITH REPUBLICANS.

SO THEY CAN JUST SIGN THIS THROUGH IF THEY'RE FINISHED.

>> REAL QUICKLY YOU'RE SEEING THAT AS WELL THE INDEPENDENT SEES TO BE SIDING GOP THAN DEMOCRAT?

>> YES.

THE FIRST VOTE SHE SIDED WITH THE DEMOCRATS ON THE NORTHERN ARIZONA STUFF, EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN 3-2 SIDING WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

ONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC COMMISSIONERS SEEMED LIKE HE MADE A POINT CALLING FOR A VOTE JUST TO MAKE THE CHAIR DO THAT AGAIN ON THE LEGISLATIVE MAP AND A TREND WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE.

>> BOB, THERE'S A TAPE OF SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FAN AT AN ALEC MEETING.

THESE TAPES YOU BETTER LEARN WHERE YOU'RE SPEAKING AND WHO YOU'RE SPEAKING TO.

IT'S A 3 HOUR TAPE AND THIS GROUP DOCUMENTED THIS.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.

A CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATION FUNDED BY A LOT OF BIG CORPORATIONS THAT POST TOGETHER CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS MAINLY STATE LAWMAKERS AND THEY WRITE MODEL LEGISLATION.

THEY NEVER ENTERED THE ELECTION FIELD BEFORE.

THE BEGINNING OF THE TALK MAYBE WE SHOULD ENTER THE ELECTION FIELD AND ONE OF THEIR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS WAS FAN TALKING ABOUT ELECTION SECURITY AND THE AUDIT.

SHE REITERATED HER CONCERNS THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN MARICOPA COUNTY WAS NOT PLAYING BALL AND WAS DRAGGING THEIR FEET.

SHE SAID, WE LEARNED A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUDIT.

SHE FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE AUDIT FOUND THE COUNT WAS ACCURATE AND JOE BIDEN DID WIN BUT THEN WENT ON TO SAY THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED AND SHE BROUGHT UP SHARPIES.

SHE SAID WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHY SHARPIES WERE USED AT THE BALLOT BOX.

WELL, YEAH WE DO.

EVERYBODY KNOWS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THERE IS NOTHING HERE.

I WAS SHOCKED SHE SAID IT BECAUSE IT WAS FLAT WRONG AND SHE KNOWS BETTER.

>> SHE ACCUSED SUPERVISORS OF HIDING ELECTION FRAUD.

GOODNESS GRACIOUS WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM?

WE KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM BUT WHY IS IT STILL POPPING UP?

>> OR HIDING ELECTION PROBLEMS ANYWAY.

THAT REALLY -- SHE KNOWS WHY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DID NOT WANT THIS AUDIT DONE BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY HAD NO FAITH IN HER AND WHAT SHE WAS DOING THAT THIS IS AN AUDIT CALLED FOR OBVIOUS LAWS BEING SPREAD BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND A LOT OF SUPPORTERS WITH NO FACTUAL EVIDENCE TO BACK THEM UP AND THEY DID NOT TRUST THE PEOPLE SHE WAS HIRING TO DO THIS.

OR THAT SHE WOULD HIRE THESE.

I BELIEVE HOUSE SPEAKER BAUERS DECIDED NOT TO ALONG WITH THIS BECAUSE WE WON'T BE QUALIFIED PEOPLE CONDUCTING THIS AND I THINK THEIR CONCERNS WERE BORN OUT WHEN YOU SEE SHE QUALIFIED GROSSLY UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE AND WHO ARE HIGHLY BIASSED.

>> WRAP IT UP FOR US.

SHE CLINGS TO PHYSICIANS ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION.

THEY JUST DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER, DO THEY?

>> THEY SURE DON'T.

THE LINES ARE CLEARLY DRAWN THAT THEY STARTED OUT WITH A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SENATE PRESIDENT THAT MOST OF THOSE SUPERVISORS HAVE KNOWN HER FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND THEY THINK SHE'S GONE OFF THE RAIL AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO BELIEVES SHE HAS AS WELL.

HOWEVER, IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AMONG THE REPUBLICAN BASE, SHE'S A HERO FOR DOING THIS.

SHE'S IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES SAYING YOU GOT TO DO THIS TOO.

THAT'S ESSENCE OF THIS.

IF WE DON'T DO AUDITS PEOPLE GET LAZY AND FRAUD CAN HAPPEN AND WE OUGHT TO ALL DO AUDITS AND THIS IS PART OF THE SPREAD ACROSS THE U.S. >> AGAIN, IT'S ACCUSED 9 BOARD OF ELECTION PROBLEMS AND NOT FRAUD YOU SAY.

BUT STILL DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE BEST OF FRIENDS.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US VERY MUCH.

YOU HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, A NON-PROFIT GROUP USES HORSES AS THERAPY FOR THOSE IN NEED.

>> I WAS SO EXCITED THAT I LEARNED I WAS GOING TO BE THE NEXT MODERATOR OF WASHINGTON WEEK.

I WAS INCREDIBLY LUCKY WHAT THAT GAVE TO ME WAS THIS CONFIDENCE I COULD BE MY FULL SELF AND THAT I WAS DESERVING AT WHAT WHATEVER SPACES I WAS IN.

A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT USES EQUINE THERAPY TO HELP TREAT PEOPLE IN NEED INCLUDING SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND THOSE OF PTSD.

FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR VANESSA COHEN JOINED US TO TALK ABOUT THIS THERAPY AND HOW IT WORKS.

VANESSA, WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

RANCHO MILAGRO.

GIVE US A DESCRIPTION WHAT YOU GOT GOING ON.

>> NICE TO BE HERE AND HONOR TO MEET YOU TODAY.

IT STARTED OUT OF MY OWN PERSONAL TRAUMA AS A CHILD.

WHEN I WAS A KID HORSES LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE BECAUSE I HAD A VOICE AND I HAD PURPOSE WHEN I WOULD BE WITH THE HORSES IN MY DOGS GROWING UP BUT I LOST THAT THROUGH LIFE AND ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO, HORSES WERE REDUCED TO MY LIFE, WILD MUSTANGS AND THEY REMINDED ME OF WHEN I WAS A CHILD AND I DID HAVE A VOICE AND I WAS SAFE.

IS THROUGH THAT MY HUSBAND AND I FOUNDED RANCHO MILAGRO 7 YEARS AGO AND WE STARTED INTRODUCE HORSES WHO EXPERIENCED SIMILAR TRAUMAS AS MYSELF.

WE NOTICED THERE WAS AN IMMEASURABLE AMOUNT OF JOY AND RELAXATION AND PEACE THEY FELT WHEN THEY WERE WITH OUR HORSES THAT WE STARTED TO LAUNCH THIS RANCH TO HELP SURVIVORS.

>> A GREAT IDEA.

EQUINE THERAPY SOUNDS FANTASTIC.

STEP BY STEP PROCESS FOR SOMEONE WHO FIRST ARRIVES AT RANCHO MEDICAL LOG GROW.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE COME ON OUR PROPERTY AND WE CALL OUR DOGS PART OF THE STAFF.

AND THEY WILL MEET YOU AT THE GATE.

AND THEY WILL USHER YOU AND YOUR CAR ONTO THE PROPERTY.

TO BE HONEST IT STARTED BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT OF THEIR CAR AND THEY'RE GREETED BY OUR DOGS AND THEY HAVE A WELCOMING FEEL ABOUT OUR RANCH AND COMING OUT HERE AND SMELLING THE FRESH AIR AND THEN WE TAKE A COUPLE MOMENTS AND WE JUST ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR US.

BECAUSE REALLY IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MEET THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT.

WE DON'T NEED TO KNOW THEIR HISTORY AND WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR A LOT OF THE WHYS WHY THEY'RE HERE.

WE JUST WANT TO KNOW THEY'RE HERE AND WE'RE ABLE TO BE PRESENT WITH THEM AND THEN WE LET THE ANIMALS DO THE REST OF THE WORK.

IT'S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

>> DO THE ANIMALS CAN THEY SENSE -- FROM PERSON TO PERSON WHO COMES UP THERE, CAN THEY SENSE HOW BEST TO JUST COMMUNICATE AND JUST HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE PEOPLE?

>> YES.

AND I ALWAYS LOVE IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY HORSES.

HORSES ARE FIGHT OR FLIGHT ANIMALS.

THEY WORK EXACTLY LIKE SURVIVORS DO.

THEY ARE FIGHT, FLIGHT OR FREEZE.

JUST LIKE SURVIVORS.

WHEN THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME EMOTIONS THAT THEY FEEL SURVIVOR IS EXPERIENCING, THEY START TO MIMIC AND MIRROR DIFFERENT ATTRIBUTES THAT WE HAVE OURSELVES AND SO WE JUST ASK QUESTIONS.

AND OUR DOGS DO THE SAME.

IT'S AMAZING.

WE HAD A SESSION TODAY WHERE THERE WAS A CLIENT THAT NEEDED TO BE IN A STATE OF REST AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU THE HORSE LAID DOWN RIGHT BY THEM.

WHAT IT DID WAS REALLY ALLOWED US TO BRING THAT CLIENT INTO A STATE OF REST AS THEY WATCHED THAT HORSE LAY DOWN AND TAKE A NAP.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING TO SAY HORSES ARE FIGHT OR FLIGHT.

PEOPLE WHO NEED THERAPY OR BEEN LOOKING FOR IT IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THEY HAVE THAT SAME REACTION.

IS THAT THE CONNECTION OR WHAT EQUINE THERAPY WORKS SO WELL?

>> EXACTLY.

IT'S POWER.

CAN YOU IMAGINE HAVING A THOUSAND POUND ANIMAL MIMICKING WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANT TO SAY, I WANT TO SEE OR I WANT TO FEEL OR I WANT SOMEBODY ELSE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

THE HORSES DO AND WE ARE ABLE TO WATCH A THOUSAND POUND ANIMAL LITERALLY MIRROR OUR SAME EMOTIONS AND THEN WE CAN SEE IT MIRROR TO MIRROR, FACE TO FACE, AND IT BRINGS HEALING AND JUST THAT TANGIBLE FEEL.

>> DO YOU SEE WHEN SOME OF THE FOLKS COME UP TO THE RANCH DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN SOME OF THESE PEOPLE BACK WHEN YOU WERE EXPERIENCING -- TRYING TO GET PAST WHAT YOU HAD TO GET PAST?

>> EVERY TIME.

IT JUST HAPPENED TODAY.

I HAD TO PUT EXTRA MAKE-UP ON BECAUSE I WAS CRYING SO MUCH TODAY WITH THIS CLIENT BECAUSE I FELT A LOT OF HER SAME EMOTIONS OF THAT ABANDONMENT AND THAT LONELINESS AND THAT DEPRESSION AND THE ANXIETY LEVEL ON 8 ON A 10 SCALE.

BEFORE WE GO, ARE THERE DIFFERENT HORSES FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT FOLKS EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT THINGS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT WE GOT DIFFERENT HORSES THAT REPRESENT DIFFERENT THINGS.

WE HAVE A HORSE THAT HE'S REALLY GOOD WITH BOUNDARIES AND RIGHT IN YOUR PERSONAL SPACE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH A PERSON HOW TO HAVE THOSE BOUNDARIES AND PUSH THAT HORSE WHERE DO THEY GO TO GET MORE INFORMATION?

>> IT'S RANCHOMILAGROAZ.ORG AND ALL THE INFORMATION IS RIGHT THERE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH ME PERSONALLY.

YOU CAN -- WHEN YOU GO ON THERE YOU'LL SEE OUR STAFF PAGE.

WE CALL THE HORSES THE STAFF.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS.

MUST BE VERY REWARDING AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS AND CONCERNS VIA E-MAIL AT ARIZONAHORIZON@ASU.EDU.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS AN ARIZONA SOCCER FAMILY GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ON BREAK IT DOWN A DISCUSSION ABOUT PERCEPTIONS INVOLVING SUICIDE.