What is Equine Therapy?
Equine therapy, also known as equine-assisted therapy, is a type of therapeutic intervention that involves guided interactions between clients and horses. Equine therapy is used to promote emotional growth and personal development.
Why Horses?
Equine Assisted Psychotherapist, Libby Coufal, says, “as prey animals, horses are essentially giant bio-feedback machines. At all times, they are assessing our external presentation and body language and comparing it to our physiological markers internally such as heart rate and muscle tension. In the wild, this is what helps them know if they are safe around predator animals. With clients, horses are giving real-time, non-judgmental feedback about their emotional state and outward presentation. This allows clients to learn about themselves on a deeper level and explore parts of themselves that they may have otherwise been closed off to or unaware of.”
What Does Equine Therapy Treat?
Equine-assisted therapy can treat a variety of mental health and behavioral issues, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Behavioral Issues
- And more
What Are Some of the Benefits of Equine Therapy?
Mindfulness: Being with horses requires individuals to be present and mindful. Equine therapy helps clients increase mindfulness of their environment, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By bringing attention to their surroundings and emotions, clients can see how this can influence their connection and effectiveness with the horse.
Emotional Regulation: Horses have unique sensitivity to the feelings and emotional distress of people. Interacting with horses can help individuals learn to manage their emotions and develop coping strategies.
One of Stand InBalance’s equine specialists tells us, “It’s truly beautiful to watch the teens and animals connect. Oftentimes, teens will enter the arena noticeably shut down, dysregulated, frustrated, etc. due to the challenges they are facing (and target behaviors) that have brought them to Evolve. Within a two-hour group, you can often see in real-time the teens’ affect and energy shift entirely.”
Interpersonal Effectiveness: The horses provide judgment-free reflection and real-time feedback, aiding clients in improving their communication and relationship skills. “Because horses and donkeys cannot lie or hide how they feel, clients are able to receive instant, honest feedback and immediately try new ways of communicating and engaging in relationships (with guidance from therapists and equine specialists). Through brushing, grooming, talking, engaging with the horses, clients experience safe, mindful connection and learn how to replicate that in other relationships – sometimes for the very first time.”
Self-Confidence: Achieving tasks and goals in equine therapy can boost self-esteem and confidence.
Equine Therapy at Evolve
Evolve works with local certified and credentialed equine specialists, like the Stand InBalance ranch located in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains, to provide weekly equine therapy sessions for our clients. Equine therapists are present at all times during the therapeutic process and work collaboratively with Evolve’s clinical team to support each client.
At Evolve, we believe incorporating experiential therapies and mindfulness practices helps teens increase self-awareness, practice skills, and explore new ways of expressing themselves. Equine therapy does just that!
Equine Therapy and DBT Skills
Evolve provides adherent DBT skills training covering key skills from the 4 modules of DBT: Core Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance. Teens learn a new skill during each of the skills training groups, and then they practice these skills throughout the days and weeks with the support of staff. Teens are able to explore what worked and what didn’t work for them, ultimately helping them learn how to use the skills when they need them in real life. Equine therapy provides a perfect arena, pun intended, for practicing DBT skills!
When asked how Evolve clients practice DBT skills each week at Equine, one of Stand Imbalance’s Equine Specialists, Hesper Colohan, shared, “DBT skills come up all the time during equine-assisted psychotherapy! For example, we incorporate the S.T.O.P. skill when boundaries are being set by the horse. Horses set boundaries all the time because they are masters at clear and effective communication. It’s important when communicating with a horse who is setting boundaries to take a step back and pause/breathe. Then observe the situation. Clients are encouraged to get curious about any feelings either from the horse or the human that the horse might be picking up on. But also allowing some space to assess the situation in a calm and effective manner. Then, they can proceed mindfully. This is how we build trust with horses. And it’s also how we build trust with people should a boundary or a conflict arise.”
