Equine Therapy for Children and Teens From the State of Oregon

At an EAT program, teenage girls from the Oregon area participate in activities that are not always easy or pleasant in any way. 

While at such a program, teens tend to the daily needs of others (horses). 

What's more, teens at an equine-assisted therapy program learn how to work to maintain their relationships. By interacting and taking care of horses, teens learn to take care of something other than themselves. However, these skills can be applied to human relationships by participating and immersing themselves in equine therapy. 

As much as humans, especially therapists, do our best to offer a safe space for clients to explore deep emotional hurts and painful experiences, it can be uncomfortable for clients to share their thoughts openly.

Building therapeutic rapport can take time as participants work toward building trust and practicing vulnerability in session.

Having the horse present may offer a sense of peace, as they only will react to the client's behavior and emotions with no threat of bias or any judgment of their emotional experience.

Feedback and Mirroring

Horses are keen observers and are vigilant and sensitive to movement and emotion. As a result, they often mirror a client's behavior or feelings, conveying an understanding and connection that allows them to feel safe.

This also allows patients to have a sense of self-awareness, using the horse's behavior and communications for feedback and opportunities to check in and manner what is happening at the moment.

Managing Vulnerability

As clients might find themselves vulnerable when trying to open up about emotional challenges, past experiences, or life transitions, the horse can offer a reference point to use for processing.

If something feels too painful to speak of, it can feel a bit easier for clients to process using the horse as an example or to align their experience with the horse's experiences at the moment. But, again, externalizing the content in this way can make things easier to approach and process.

Other Benefits

• Some other potential benefits of equine therapy include increased:
• Adaptability
• Distress tolerance
• Emotional awareness
• Independence
• Impulse control
• Self-esteem
• Social awareness
• Social relationships

Horses also require work. They must be fed, watered, exercised, and groomed. Providing this type of care can often be therapeutic. It helps establish routines and structure, and the act of caring and nurturing something else can help build empathy.