March 5, 2021

Therapy Series Part 3: Equine Therapy

Equine Therapy

I have never done equine therapy in the same way I have provided such services. I got involved with a non-profit called Animals as Natural Therapy where we provide services specifically to vulnerable populations, veterans, and senior citizens. I started as a mentor in the summer of 2019 and have continued to volunteer there ever since. Equine therapy can come in different forms: sometimes we work one on one with kids or veterans, sometimes we bring the animals to senior citizen homes, and sometimes we take trips to schools. When we work one on one with children we don’t focus on talking about the negative or traumatic events although they can come up during a session based on how a kid is reacting or what they choose to disclose. Before I go more into that, the most common question I get asked is “why do you use horses?” We say that horses are mirrors and they reflect what we truly feel; they see our hearts and not the mistakes we make or the facade we may show the rest of the world; and they will work with a person to be completely honest with themselves. Now going into this I was very skeptical about how a horse could communicate their opinions with us, but I have learned that horses are incredibly expressive animals and we teach those who work with them what different behaviors may indicate. For example, when horses take deep breaths or their leg is resting in a crooked position those both indicate that the horse is relaxed. Horses have their own personalities, but can sense what an individual needs and their personalities accommodate that. Sometimes we have kids who are very timid that often share they get bullied at school, those are the times when horses are more likely to pull their kids to the grass and throughout that week teach them how to be more confident and assertive in their interactions. Horses empower those they work with in different ways. 

 

My own experience and challenging myself:

Working in equine therapy has been life changing for me and has helped me process my own experiences in life. I went in being terrified of horses as I had an accident with one when I was younger and wasn’t familiar with them at all. Within a short span, I have learned to trust them more than I probably do humans. Yes, they are incredibly strong and powerful, but they are so gentle and compassionate with the people they work with. Some of the things I have been able to work on over time include changing my perspective towards death, my self-worth, trusting others, practice and solidify my mindfulness skills, feel supported during an ongoing investigation, destress after school work, patience, and so much more. I’m thankful that even when COVID hit I was able to continue helping in the summer and sporadically throughout the following months. I think similar to everyone else, COVID has arguably made the last year the worst it has ever been for so many people, but the horses and people I work with also made it the best year full of personal growth and I’m incredibly thankful for that.

Tips:

• It is okay to be afraid of horses or to not feel totally comfortable at first
• You will be taught how to do everything and will be paired with either an instructor or mentor who are more familiar with the horses 
• You can ask about scholarships to participate in these type of programs
• Whether your sessions last a week or several weeks, so long as you keep an open mind you definitely will come out learning something

Closing:

So therapy may not be for everyone and it does take time to find something that works best for you, but I think everyone should try therapy. There are so many types available in the present day that didn’t exist even a decade ago and many other types have had more research determining their scientific benefits. Although I didn’t go into depth on every type of therapy some of the other common methods you can also look into includes art therapy, general animal therapy, or tele-therapy. Tele-therapy can provide you with confidential services through a live chat or phone call with a licensed counselor typically 24/7 where you can disclose as much or as little as you would like with little to no fees. When COVID hit, the UW invested in a tele-health service for its students and faculty to use free of charge (https://www.washington.edu/counseling/ ) called MySSP. The great thing about tele-health services is you can be anywhere in the world to use them, they are always at the tips of your fingers, and they can help you find additional resources. I hope you enjoyed this series and found it to be helpful for the future.