Equine Therapy?

Has anyone tried equine therapy? I looked into a bit, and there's a place near me that does therapeutic riding and has a therapist to work with me (I just have to pay for using the horse and then again for the therapist and they don't take insurance).

But at least for the rest of the summer I will have enough cash to pay for both once a week ($100 - $140 or so) if I stop seeing current T as a cash client.

Anyone have experience with it?

I have a friend who runs a therapy horse ranch. I'd ask about their qualifications at the ranch first. What type of training do they have and ask if they've treated anyone with your particular needs. I suggest this because while my friend's ranch has a range of people who attend, I don't really know how well they are actually trained for individual needs, beyond the communication between client and the family who would relay the information.

I'm not sure how that would work in the context of therapy. But having ridden horses for years (not since children), it's wonderful. Animals are so therapeutic. The freedom if riding, being one with the horse, exploring the countryside, and the relationship of trust. My new assistance dog is wonderful for me.

I would totally love equine therapy! Wish it were in my budget.

Me too..have talked about it and had it recommended to me...there are actually a few different ones hereabouts..

I'd love to hear more about your experiences, would you let us know??

Thanks,
WB

My daughter is on the autism spectrum (with Aspergers) and does it. It's not technically certified yet as a therapeutic riding barn, but will be soon. She loves it. She wanted us to buy a house in the town its in so she could go there every day.

I think its very successful in particular with people on the autism spectrum since part of it involves grooming and general care for the horses, which fosters so many social skills in a natural setting. Brushing the horse is very soothing for my daughter and she feels very much at home with the horse. The horse actually seems to have a real connection to her, as my daughter is one of only two people that the horse will behave for. It is quite amazing. It's not cheap, that's the only downside.

I am curious how it would work in the context of your therapy. Do you have an idea of what you think it might help you with?

They say horses reflect our own emotions back to us. I have a hard time identifying my emotions a lot of times, but the evil horse I rode on the weekend I'm told was stubborn and obstinate like me, lol. And I guess I was a little anxious and feeling stubborn when I ride him. But Whisper is completely different, more relaxed, more responsive...I dunno. I havent had a therapeutic session yet, I'm just trying to spend as much time with horses as I can until I can work it out financially to do an equine therapy session.

By the time I do an actual session I won't be afraid of them anymore and maybe the session will go smoother.

Why Horses?
According to Dr. Laurie Sullivan-Sakeada, a Utah based Clinical Psychologist and leading practitioner of EAP, horses are prey animals, and, like those who have been to war, rely on their heightened senses for survival. They react to and mirror the emotions of visitors directly, without words. Horses respond negatively to negative emotions. They respond positively to positive emotions, and they have no ulterior motives.

“They are just there,” says Sakeada, “providing non-verbal feedback.” The horses are therapeutic and interactive tools that speed up the therapy process substantially. Dr. Sakeada notes that one session of EAP in the barn is equal to five sessions “on the couch.”

Equine Therapy for Emotional Healing
In Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, horses are used as tools for military veterans to gain self-understanding and emotional growth. It recognizes the bond between animals and humans and the potential for emotional healing that can occur when a relationship is formed between the two species. In most cases, the horses are not ridden, and usually are not tethered in the arena, but allowed to roam free. Exercises can be as simple as giving the client a halter, and letting them figure out how to approach the horse and put it on.

Confidence:
The learning and mastery of a new (horsemanship) skill--enhances patients' confidence in their ability to tackle new projects, such as recovery, and leads to improved self-esteem.

Self-Efficacy:
Learning to communicate and achieve harmony with a large animal promotes renewed feelings of efficacy. A motivated "I can do it!" replaces feelings of helplessness, de-motivation, by empowering the person to take on new challenges in other areas of recovery.

Self-Awareness:
Riding helps participants to develop a more realistic view of themselves through awareness of their size in relation to the horse. This is especially important in treating patients with eating disorders as well as those with interpersonal aggression problems.

Communication:
Horses' sensitivity to non-verbal communication assists patients in developing greater awareness of their emotions, the non-verbal cues that they may be communicating, and the important role of non-verbal communication in relationships.

Trust:
Learning to trust an animal such as a horse also aides in the development, or restoration, of trust for those whose ability to trust has been violated by difficult life experiences such as physical or sexual abuse, abandonment, neglect, or marital infidelity.

Perspective:
Through grooming activities and other types of care for a specific horse, patients are able to put aside the absorbing focus of their mental illness, such as depressive ruminations, and instead to direct their attention and interests outwardly toward safe and caring interactions.

Anxiety Reduction:
Many studies of human-animal interaction indicate that contact with animals significantly reduces physiological anxiety levels. Some patients are initially afraid of horses. But horses' genuineness and affection allay these fears, helping patients to embrace exposure therapy for their anxiety issues.

Decreasing Isolation:
For many individuals with mental illness, there is a long-term or recent history of feeling rejected by, and different from, other people. Mental illnesses are intrinsically isolating experiences. The horse's unconditional acceptance invites patients back into the fellowship of life.

Self-Acceptance:
Many patients are initially concerned that they will do something embarrassing while learning about or riding the horses. Yet patients quickly learn that the other participants are engaged in their own equine experiences, and they observe the comfort of the horses in their own skin. Fears of embarrassment in public are thereby often reduced and self-acceptance increased.

Impulse Modulation:
Particularly for those whose mental illness involves the experience of lost control over impulses, the need to communicate with a horse calmly and non-reactively promotes the skills of emotional awareness, emotion regulation, self-control, and impulse modulation. Research clearly indicates that animal-assisted therapy reduces patient agitation and aggressiveness and increases cooperativeness and behavioral control.

Social Skills:
Many individuals with mental illness are socially isolated or withdrawn. A positive relationship with a horse is often a first, safe step toward practicing the social skills needed to initiate closer relationships with people.

Assertiveness:
Communicating effectively with a horse requires the rider to demonstrate assertiveness, direction, and initiative; important skills that enable the patient to express their needs and rights more effectively in other relationships.

Boundaries:
Many patients have experienced prior relationships as controlling or abusive. Healing takes place as patients discover that riding occurs within the context of a respectful relationship between a rider and a horse, and that, although physically powerful, each horse typically operates within the boundaries of this mutually respectful relationship.

Creative Freedom:
Many persons with mental illness have been emotionally inhibited or over-controlled, and have lost some measure of spontaneity. The playful aspects of riding and team equine activities can help restore spontaneity and ability for healthy recreation and play.

1,200 Pounds of Lie Detector
Jennie Hegeman, an equine rehabilitation specialist as well as a professional horse trainer is another proponent of EAP for PTSD. She is creator of The Hegeman Method, a patented, cross-discipline equine bio-kinetic training and rehabilitation method based on the muscle structure and bio- mechanics of the horse. She has worked with Dr. Sakeada in treating children with physical, emotional and mental disabilities at the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah.

Ms. Hegeman refers to horses as “1,200 pounds of lie detector.” Her role is to interpret the horse’s body language, such as flicking ears, wide eyes, or a dropped shoulder that will provide feedback for the therapist and the veteran.

So Why Horses?
Horses also possess a variety of “herd dynamics” such as pushing, kicking, biting, squealing, grooming one another and grazing together. In the process of describing the interactions between horses, clients can learn about themselves and their own family dynamics.

I never had Equine Therapy but I did ride as a child and I can say that is was an enormous boost to my confidence to win the trust and partnership of such a large animal.

Yes to the sense of mastery AND a heightened awareness of emotions as the horse I rode always reflected back my own state of mind. Learned the hard way after being thrown once!

Unfortunately, my parents divorce/dad's lack of support ended that. At the time, my lesson was only 25 bucks per.

that sucks. my lessons are $20 per, making them super affordable.

so now my option is- $120 for 45 minutes with my T or apply that same money to three two hour riding lessons.

i think id rather ride. takes up more time keeping me busier and i like this horse. and i need to wean myself off my T anyway bc I cant afford her long term and she wont give me a break on the price, so since insurance has officially bowed out, I have to taper off the sessions and figure something else out for myself.

I think your instincts are wise!!

lol you just dont care for my T

You got me there. I really don't like her.

In full disclosure, her demeanor is very similar to a bad T I had in my teens, so yes, I am biased.

shes not so bad...if im nice, she's nice, too. its just im mostly very not nice :-X

Have done mindfulness with horses. This big chap came over and rested his head on my shoulder and we stayed there together for about 10 minutes. I can't begin to describe the feeling of absolute connectedness I felt at the moment and the release of emotion ( tears) felt really special.

Wish I could have continued. Keep us updated if you do go for it, would love to hear about your experience with it.

I'm quite sure it was my horse that kept me alive throughout my teens.

I'm sure I only survived my childhood because of my cat (14 years), then my horse (10+ years) and my dog (15 years). It's been 10 years since my last companion died, so I'm grateful for my new assistance dog

I want to experience a horse bond! But I think I will end up wanting to buy one...that would be expensive.

I wish I had the funds and space for a therapy dog. They had some hanging out at my school last semester, and petting them was so nice. I think I'd feel a lot less alone if I could have a dog.

what exactly does a therapy dog do? you can have one of my million dogs! lol

I'm not completely sure. They had them hanging out at my school library for finals week to provide stress relief. They were very cuddly and well-mannered. I've never met dogs who were so quick to snuggle haha. I went to a psychologist a few times who had a therapy dog too, but he just sat in the corner during sessions. Not sure if he sits with other clients or what.

And I wish! No pets allowed in my apartment, and I'm moving back to my dad's hellhouse next month. I wouldn't put a dog through the abuse of living with my sister.