Equine-Assisted Therapy
Heal, grow, and thrive with a horse in the beautiful rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania.
What is Equine-Assisted Therapy?
Equine-assisted therapy is an experience-based practice in which a person works with a horse to recognize unhealthy thoughts and behaviors, replace them with healthy ones, and live a more fulfilling life.
Here are some features of equine-assisted therapy:
Mental and Emotional Conditions
Alleviated by Equine-Assisted Therapy
Horses soothe troubled souls.
- Generalized and social anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Major and persistent depressive disorders
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Postpartum depression
- Mood disorder
- Rage disorder
Trauma in Response to:
- Physical, sexual, or verbal abuse
- Bullying or assault
- Divorce
- Loss of a loved one
- An accident or disaster
- Violence either witnessed or experienced
- Anorexia nervosa
- Binge eating
- Avoidant restrictive eating
- Drugs or alcohol
- Screens and technology
- Pornography or sex
- Gambling or shopping
Do any of these describe you? Or your child? We can help.
Why Horses?
Their innate qualities make them ideal for therapy.
Horses are prey animals. They’re cautious and observant of everything around them, with no predatory impulse at all.
They help you feel acknowledged and safe.
Horses don’t judge. They are always gentle and kind to people who approach them with respect.
They help you feel less self-conscious and teach you to trust.
Horses provide immediate and honest feedback to people’s actions, words, and even unspoken intent.
They help you learn fast and communicate better.
Horses are awe-inspiring. They combine size and strength with beauty and grace. They have a regal bearing and quiet dignity.
They help you experience wonder and gratitude.
Horses are capable of tremendous speed and strength. And they willingly demonstrate it when you command them.
They help you feel confident and accomplished.
Horses from confined or lonely environments experience the same stress we do. And like us, they sometimes cope by forming addictive habits. These include “cribbing” (biting sturdy objects and sucking in the air) and swaying.
They show you that you’re not alone and never beyond help.
Equine-Assisted Therapy Activities
On-the-ground interaction with horses fosters everyday skills for life.
Grooming
How You Grow
Build Connection
Grooming requires you to approach the horse with openness, engage him, and earn his trust.
Develop Self-Awareness
Horses pay attention to everything you say and do and respond in kind. You learn what you’re putting into the world and the impact it has.
Practice Self-Control
You can’t be rough or abrupt with horses. Their care requires gentleness and patience and makes you think before you act.
Practice Mindfulness
The routine and repetitive movements of grooming help ground you in the present. This reduces anxiety and curbs runaway thoughts.
Cultivate Empathy
A horse has a way of softening your heart as you take care of him.
Tacking
How You Grow
Build Social Awareness
As you prepare the horse for a ride, you learn to read his body language, interpret cues, and respond accordingly.
Develop Confidence
Tacking proves your capabilities. You can equip a massive, mighty animal with care and precision.
Gain Satisfaction
Tacking up a horse is a job well done. It is a specialized skill that requires judgment and dexterity.
Training and Exercise Activities
How You Grow
Improve Communication
You learn to give clear directions, develop rapport, and be assertive.
Hone Instincts
You discover your horse’s personality and learn to anticipate what works for him and what doesn’t.
Practice Problem-Solving
Trial and error is a natural part of training.
Build Leadership Skills
You must convey authority and make decisions in real-time when training a horse.
Build Discipline
Horse training takes practice. Not everything clicks right away. Success requires you to keep at it.
Enhance Coordination
You learn to navigate terrain and equipment while commanding a very large animal.
Feeding
How You Grow
Nurture a Bond
You continue to earn the horse’s trust and affection when you feed and water him.
Accept and Enjoy Responsibility
You are providing essential care for an animal who relies on you.
Reduce Isolation
Keeping a horse company while he eats is camaraderie. It is what a friend does.
Develop Healthy Boundaries
Feeding a horse demands that you maintain each other’s personal space.
Develop Healthy Habits
Carefully considering a horse’s nutrition helps you do the same for yourself.
Bathing
How You Grow
Conquer Fear
Bathing a horse requires you to trust yourself. You must overcome trepidation and proceed despite your worries.
Build Stamina
You develop strength and endurance from this physically challenging task.
Build a Sense of Accomplishment
Bathing an animal of such size and power is a big undertaking. You can be proud to complete it.
Reflection and Processing
How You Grow
Know Yourself Better
Horses mirror us, so reflecting on your horse’s feelings and behaviors prompts you to consider your own.
Gain Insight
As you reflect, you may come to recognize thoughts, actions, and habits that aren’t serving you well.
Create New Behavior Patterns
With new insight, you can change your approach with the horse, with yourself, and with the people in your life.
Benefits of Equine-Assisted Therapy at Horse ’N Soul
Whatever brings you to therapy with us, what you leave with is priceless.
The activities in equine-assisted therapy help you face fear and build confidence. You gain physical and social skills. You make important choices and complete hard tasks. It all comes together to build your self-reliance.
At Horse ’N Soul, you can forget the rest of the world for a while. Hardships fade away as you immerse yourself in the needs of your horse and the beauty of the outdoors.
So many of our struggles are born from a feeling that we don’t matter and don’t know where we’re going. Horses show you that you have so much to give and that you make a real difference when you give it.
To do anything with a horse, you need to connect with him, learn his needs, build his trust, and form a bond. This skill set is what you’ll use for the people in your life, both today and tomorrow.
Horse ’N Soul is a friend and family to all our clients. We share in your struggles and triumphs. We invest in you and trust you with the horses that we treasure. You are always welcome here.
Equine-assisted therapy gives you the techniques and mindset for working with horses. These transfer to succeeding in life. They help you better anticipate and overcome any challenge going forward.
