Equine therapy, or equine-assisted therapy, is an opportunity for those working on substance use disorders (SUDs) to find holistic help in the care and support from horses. For someone who has never heard of this type of therapy, it can seem rather strange. How can working with a horse help you to overcome the pain of addiction?
At The Ranch at Dove Tree, we believe in providing our clients with holistic, highly effective, experiential therapy that enables healing and support from all aspects of life. Equine therapy is one such treatment option.
How Does Equine Therapy Work?
In equine therapy, you’ll work directly with specially trained horses. You’ll learn how to care for them and meet their needs. You’re not necessarily going to learn how to ride a horse, but rather how to support the needs of that animal. Most of the time, our residents engage in equine therapy alongside other types of treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy. Equine therapy complements evidence-based addiction therapy.
You’ll likely notice a difference in yourself by learning how to care for a horse. These animals are not necessarily physically demanding. However, you’ll need to develop concentration skills to care for them well. You’ll build selflessness in yourself. You’ll also learn how to work with others to handle the tasks at hand.
By doing this, you could see a significant improvement in your thought patterns and beliefs. Self-awareness grows, and most people find that their self-esteem improves because of the good they are doing to care for another living creature. Over time, you’ll build confidence in yourself and your ability to work through challenges. Empathy also improves.
These are large and powerful animals. They can certainly be intimidating. To work with them, most people have to overcome some fear and trepidation. You may also find that you need to build confidence in yourself and your ability to handle challenges. These are critical skills that also transfer into caring for yourself in “real-world” situations.
Horses and Feelings
Something called the equine echo can also play a role in your recovery efforts. While researchers don’t quite understand the exact mechanisms at play, there is significant evidence that horses can reflect back our feelings and emotions. This is often called an equine echo. A horse seems to be able to understand your emotional needs and react to your emotional state.
You’ll notice changes in the horse as you care for them. That may include softening their facial expressions or lowering their head. Many will sway gently as a type of soothing mechanism.
If you’re feeling nervous, the horse will pick up on this. They may paw back at you or move at a faster pace to match your nervousness. They also seem to absorb your energy – if you’re feeling grief, sadness, or fear, you’ll notice that your animal is closer to you, almost as if they are taking your pain away.
Does This Sound Too Good to Be True?
In addiction therapy, it is often necessary to look in the mirror at ourselves and face what’s occurring. That may mean dealing with your anxiety and depression. It could mean overcoming the painful trauma that continues to haunt you. A horse isn’t trying to solve those big problems for you, but it is certainly picking up on what you’re feeling.
By doing so and reflecting that back at you, you can expect the animal to help you see what’s really happening in your mind and soul. When you work with a horse through SUD treatment, you’ll notice:
- You can see more of your own authentic emotions displayed.
- You’ll be able to process emotions and pain more fully because you can recognize them.
- You may find that being around a horse helps you build self-awareness and your own self-confidence. It feels good to take care of an animal.
Not everyone feels the same about opening up to a group of people in therapy or speaking to their counselor about what they do not really understand about themselves. Horses are very forgiving, never judging, and always listening.
Explore Experiential Therapy With Us Today
The Ranch at Dove Tree is an Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association-accredited program. That means we provide opportunities for people to care for and learn about themselves through certified equine therapy programs.
Reach out to our Lubbock, Texas team today. Explore the wide range of therapy options we’re using to help you build confidence as you take on one of the biggest challenges of your life.
