In this journey of self awareness and evolution, it is quite helpful to consider non-traditional type therapies. There are many extensions of the common types, so we must explore all alternatives so that we can provide the best opportunity for growth.

This is especially important if you are helping someone else. What environment, style and place would be best for your loved one? What will connect?

From Ropes Course to Canine Therapy, psychotherapists have learned to master different tools to achieve an experiential effect upon their clients. In my own professional life, I have learned to use a multitude of tools to help others uncover and discover their greatest strengths and weaknesses. There are amazing tools that can be used. Be creative.

Equine Therapy is a metaphoric experience paralleling the interaction with horses with your own psychodynamics. Simply put, we play with horses and they help us see our inner truths.

There are several types of equine therapy that incorporate different techniques and tools to achieve results. From riding therapy to mastery of Social Skills, different programs are offered to attend to your specific needs.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy involves a therapist and horses to help the client discover and work upon their underlying issues. Clients often learn more about their true nature. They see their destructive patterns. They find their strengths. They work on their weaknesses. They learn to become honest.

How so? With just a horse…

Horses are amazing creatures. Blessed with personality, strength, and spirit, these animals are great mirrors for our soul. In their reactions and, you will learn that every thought or action will create trusting love or simply fear. They know when you are trying to bribe them. They will feel your good heart. They will pull away if they do not trust you.

They act as humans would without the self perceived ego. They have no intentions or masks. They represent the truth of the matter. And what great tools to have in therapy.

Whatever the ailment that needs to be healed, find a way to include a horse if the client will respond. Any relationship dynamic, self awareness, drugs and alcohol, or social issues can be easily addressed in equine therapy.

This style is less confrontational, and allows an opening to deeper conversations. Equine therapy may not be the only therapy included into a treatment plan. However this style may provide the opportunity to feel more at ease and willing to talk and work. This style of experiential learning creates feeling versus verbal understanding.

There are many different directions that one could work with horses. I will just mention two concepts so that you can understand the beauty of such work.

Choosing My Horse

As you enter the corral, you will be asked to be mindful of their energy and presence. What image are you showing the horses? How are they looking at you?

Your first challenge will be to connect with each of the several horses. After meeting them, you will choose the horse that you connect with most. This is the horse you will work with for the day.

Each horse has their own personality. Some are quick to anger. Others are just goofy. They all have their own quirks and mysteries. Some will remind you of your father. Others will represent your greatest fear.

The horse you end up choosing will have the personality most like your own. The traits you have will be very similar to the traits of your horse. You may be quick to love, but long to trust. You may bite at others when they get too close. Your horse will show you exactly that.

Soon you shall see other horses fulfilling the personalities of family and friends. That horse is always cranky and puts up a fuss. But will love you if there is trust.

In with a trained therapist, you shall see how you may bribe your loved ones for attention, or pull at them to get where you want them to be. The nature of your relationships will be identified and explored through their distinct personalities. Your reactions and actions will be consistently displayed by the horse’s behavior.

In this awareness, you then can learn from them and grow. You can adjust and practice with these creatures before practicing it on your family and friends in “real life.”

This is just a small example of its brilliance. We are searching for this deeper connection. And when we find it in the eyes and spirit of a horse, we tend to feel more grounded, truthful and powerful. There are so many metaphorical truths that are discovered in this form of therapy.

Connection Versus Control

In our lives, we are constantly trying to control the many daily factors. We live in this illusion of control, believing we can control our emotions or futures. At best we can control our own selves, but we constantly try to control the actions, thoughts, and behaviors of others.

One of your first tasks in equine therapy is to lead your horse around the corral. This seems as a relatively easy task. However, you will soon learn that you can try to pull as hard as you can. If your horse doesn’t want to move, he simply won’t. This magnificent beast weighs in at over 1000+ lbs. With his hooves dug in, he isn’t going anywhere he doesn’t want to. How are you going to lead this animal around? What level of control do you really have over this animal? How far in life do you get trying to control others like this? Probably not very far…

What would happen if you were to connect instead? In your connection, you will be able to bond and forge a relationship with your horse. In this connection, the horse will learn to trust you and do whatever it is you ask of him. With some affection and love, perhaps the horse will go wherever you lead.

Don’t be confused. Some equate beating the horse into submission is a form of control and connection. Though this tactic may work at some level, will this horse risk his life to save your own? I wouldn’t personally bet it on.

Mostly likely, you’ll fall into the same behavioral patterns in your own day to day life. When we are in familiar and unfamiliar situations, we tend to use the tools we are comfortable with. In this new dynamic of trying to connect with a horse, you may try to bribe him. You might even try scare him. You’ll reach into your repertoire of all the different things you have done in the past and try to create new options. With processing, you will learn more about your inter and intra-personal dynamics in relationships.

In equine therapy, you will be able to explore this principal of life. How do you feel in this struggle on controlling? You will be able examine the emotions that arise, and learn practical tools to implement in your daily life. You will learn to become aware of your emotions and how they relate to your relationships. You will find ways to express your emotions in positive, healthy dynamics.

Metaphors are drawn so that you learn to experience your psychosis. New tools are learned to understand and process life in a healthier manner. As you start to heal, the connections you will forge with all the horses will bring opportunities to evolve further.

These animals are great mirrors for our energy. You will be able to learn more about yourself as you interact with these beautiful animals.