What is Equine Therapy?
There’s nothing quite like experiencing the unconditional love of a pet dog or cat. But beyond pet ownership, other animals can also offer a huge amount of emotional support. In fact, horses are often used in a therapeutic setting, to help people navigate challenging emotions and experiences.
In this article, we’ll explore what equine therapy is and how it can benefit your mental health.
What is equine therapy?
Equine therapy is a treatment process that involves the use of horses. The connection between horses and people is used to facilitate both physical and emotional healing. During an equine therapy session you might participate in activities such as grooming, feeding or leading a horse while under the supervision of a mental health professional.
Equine therapy can assist you in developing skills around emotional regulation, self-confidence and responsibility.
Equine therapy is growing in popularity and studies are proving it to be very effective in the management and treatment of a number of conditions.
What health conditions benefit from Equine Therapy?
Equine therapy is suitable for children, teenagers, and adults alike. Some conditions that have been shown to benefit from equine therapy include;
- Depression, Anxiety, PTSD and Stress
- Trauma or Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Substance Use Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Learning Challenges
- Autism or ASD
- Down Syndrome
- Dementia
What are the health benefits of Equine Therapy?
Horses offer some unique traits which is why they’re often the top choice for animal-assisted therapy. Horses have a unique ability to unlock blocked emotions so that you can safely process and heal from them.
fits of equine therapy incSome benelude;
- Reduced anxiety
- Better impulse control
- More self-esteem, self-awareness and self-acceptance
- Less feelings of isolation
- Improved non-verbal communication skills
Horses are non-judgmental and unbiased
Often when we start working with a therapist or other mental health professional it will take some time to build up a level of trust and rapport. It can be uncomfortable to share your thoughts and feelings with someone when you’ve only just met them.
A horse offers a place of safety, free from any kind of judgment or bias.
A horse will mirror your behaviour
Horses will often mirror your behaviour or emotions, allowing you to feel more connected and safe. Horses are keen observers and sensitive to the way you’re feeling.
By witnessing this mirroring behaviour, you’ll maintain a sense of self-awareness, allowing you to comprehend and process what’s happening in that moment.
A horse can help you manage your vulnerability
Opening up about your challenges, past experiences and life transitions requires a level of vulnerability. A horse can often provide a reference point as you process your emotions.
When an experience feels too painful to speak about, it can sometimes feel easier to align your experience with the horse’s experiences in that moment. This can make talking about difficult emotions easier to approach.
