| Pack and prey animals, horses have evolved to be | | | | consciously aware of them. After a brief interaction |
| incredibly attuned to the emotions of those around | | | | with a horse, our characters are shown, and therapy |
| them, and when a horse and an equine assisted | | | | can reach to the heart of our challenges and needs. |
| therapist get together, it results in a powerfully | | | | Emotional - not intellectual |
| revealing therapeutic method. | | | | A horse is a big and imposing animal - and working |
| You can lie to your therapist, but a horse - a horse | | | | with a horse requires a physical and emotional |
| only accepts the truth! | | | | response. You don't think a lot - you just do. |
| Equine assisted therapy occurs un-mounted, there is | | | | For many in addiction recovery, an intellectualization of |
| no riding involved, and it is an emerging treatment for | | | | our problems inhibits growth and lasting recovery. We |
| people suffering an addiction to drugs or alcohol. | | | | think ourselves into believing that others are the cause |
| How does it work? | | | | of our problems, and it can be quite tough for a |
| In equine assisted therapy, the client will be asked to | | | | therapist to convince us otherwise, in a conventional |
| interact with a horse. Asked to lead, feed, groom or | | | | therapeutic environment. |
| even catch a horse loose in the stables. As we | | | | But in the barn, far removed from the office and |
| perform this task, and interact with the horse, the | | | | couch of "talk therapy" we demonstrate our |
| therapist observes closely, and by watching the horse, | | | | characters and problems in a physical and emotional |
| learns something about us! | | | | way. We show others what's impeding our growth, |
| Horses are said to mirror the human soul. If you | | | | and it's often a very personally revealing process as |
| approach a horse in anger, the horse gets stubborn. If | | | | well. |
| you act fearfully, the horse acts concerned, and if you | | | | Equine assisted therapy can break down our walls of |
| show anxiety, the horse gets worried. We can hide | | | | denial. Horses just don't fall for it. |
| our inner feelings pretty well from those around us, but | | | | Additional Benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy |
| horses always spot us for who we are - and the | | | | Working with horses calms the angry, can provide a |
| horses that will mirror our feelings, have no interest in | | | | sense of accomplishment to the fearful and can lead |
| hiding theirs. | | | | to real communication from the bottled up. Although a |
| After the interaction, the therapist will take what was | | | | horse can be intimidating at first, these animals don't |
| observed and use it as a basis for discussion and | | | | judge in any way, and in developing a relationship with |
| therapy. Equine therapy sometimes occurs in a group | | | | a horse, we can learn how to develop honest |
| setting, in which case the entire group will discuss what | | | | relationships in life. Most patients find equine assisted |
| was revealed through the interaction. | | | | therapy a valuable tool in a recovery program. It offers |
| We are often reluctant to talk about our deep fears | | | | them new insights into their true natures and the |
| and problems, and sometimes we are not even | | | | challenges to growth. |