Love Horses Day!

 

"A horse knows what is in your head, responds to what is in our heart, and connects with your soul." - Angie Wells

On Love Horses Day, let's chat about the amazing healing power of horses through equine therapy.

First, what is equine therapy?

It's a form of therapy that is outside the traditional four walls of a doctor's office. Mental health professionals guide clients through a variety of activities with horses including grooming, feeding, and leading a horse to name a few. This can be done as individual, family, or group therapy.

A horse weighing 1,000-2,000 pounds may seem quite intimidating, but rest assured, the practice of including horses in therapy has many benefits and may be just the therapy for you.

It certainly is one of the best for my husband. When everything else is chaotic and seems to be spiraling out of control, an hour or two with his therapist in whom he has built up a wonderful rapport and the horses helps regulate the strong emotions associated with PTSD. Don't get me wrong, it has not been an instant fix or cure-all, but as Winston Churchill said, "there is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man" and I 100% agree!

That rapport I mentioned earlier with the therapist didn't happen overnight, in fact, we've been to a few places until my husband found the right facility and mental health professional for him. Having a third party- a horse- helped to soften the worry and tension with practicing vulnerability with his therapist.

Horses do something called mirroring. By copying the emotions and behaviors of humans, there is a connection that forms between the horse and the client. The horse's behavior then serves as feedback, processing, and growth opportunities for the client. When my husband is stressed or frustrated, his horse exhibits those same emotions. While this can/could be quite challenging, his therapist is there to help facilitate and teach skills such as de-escalation.

At the facility my husband attends, he has one-on-one sessions midweek followed by a group session with other veterans on Fridays. The Heroes for Horses program starts off their morning with feeding and grooming, followed by leading, riding, or another challenging task with their horse. They round out the session with a group "coffee" chat.

What I truly love about the facility my husband attends, is they rescue OTTB (off-track thoroughbred) racehorses and have the veterans work with them to rehabilitate and train them for their "new job" after their racing career. Out Side In explains "Race Horses coming off the track struggle to adjust to a new environment in many of the same ways that Veterans do coming home from war. Through this program, both Veterans and horses help each other heal and find a new purpose in life." It's truly a beautiful thing to witness!

Want to try it out? No horse experience is required! There are many facilities across the nation offering equine therapy, and you may even find one that specializes in helping veterans and their families. Reach out. Ask questions. It may be for you!