Equine Therapy

What is Equine Therapy?
Equine therapy is the discipline of using horses as a means to provide metaphoric experiences in order to promote emotional growth. The horses provide an excellent way for troubled youth to react when they are otherwise therapy resistant. Equine therapists will usually teach many lessons on ways in which horses learn, react, and follow instructions to the lives of youth themselves.

 

Why use equine therapy?
Equine therapy has shown to have many positive benefits when correctly taught by certified therapists. Some of them include:

• Confidence

• Self-Efficacy

• Self-Concept

• Communication

• Trust

• Perspective

• Decreased Isolation

• Self-Acceptance

• Impulse Control

• Social Skills

• Boundaries

• Spiritual Connection

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Equine Therapy usually includes instruction in horse care, grooming procedures, saddlery, and basic equitation. Safety is the number one priority for all participants in equine therapy. Participants often wear helmets and other protective gear should they fall from a horse during a therapeutic session.