Healing with Horses
Equine Assisted Mental Health Therapy
The Benefits to Working with Horses
Horses are sensitive, empathic, and wise creatures. Most people who have spent time around horses describe them as being who command respect with a quiet presence. A therapeutic session can occur in a variety of settings; what sets the equine therapy sessions apart is how quickly horses ground and center the clients. Horses have been known to focus client populations such as ADHD, autism, ODD, and other populations that typically have difficulties with sustained attention. These equine partners also have an unconditional welcoming presence that helps to break the mold of the more typical office setting. Veterans and other trauma survivors have recalled working with horses in therapy as one of the first times their minds stop racing with intruding thoughts. Teenagers who were previously resistant to other modes of traditional therapy will sometimes open up with a completely non-judgmental equine presence available.
How does it work?
After the free consultation, and then completion of a mental health assessment and diagnosis, a client can choose at any point thereafter to begin working with horses.
Other considerations.
For safety reasons, closed-toed shoes must be worn around the horses at all times.