Horses have a unique sensitivity to people’s feelings. In addition, horses react to subtle changes in their environment. Therefore, they can sense a person’s emotional state, including states of depression or anxiety.
Thus, the horse acts as a sort of biofeedback machine, responding to and reflecting a person’s emotions. Moreover, horses don’t judge people based on their appearance or their diagnoses. As a result, they feel accepted and unconditionally loved.
There are several types of Equine-Assisted Therapy, each with different goals:
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP): In EAP sessions, licensed mental healthcare providers partner with credentialed equine professionals to help clients work toward psychotherapy treatment goals.
Equine-Assisted Learning Therapy (EAL): This type of equine therapy focuses on helping individuals develop essential life skills, such as communication, trust, respect, self-awareness, and honesty.
Hippotherapy: In contemporary usage, hippotherapy refers to methods of occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy using horses.
In Equine-Assisted Therapy sessions, persons learn how to accept themselves and others by working with horses and with Credentialed Equine-Assisted Therapists. By caring for and connecting with horses, they experience a wide range of equine therapy benefits.
Research shows that Equine-Assisted Therapy is effective for treating people experiencing depression, anxiety, and/or trauma-related symptoms, as well as ADHD, autism, dissociative disorders, PTSD, and other mental health diagnoses. In one representative study, adolescents showed increased confidence, self-esteem, assertiveness, emotional regulation, and resourcefulness as a result of Equine-Assisted Therapy. In some cases, just a few sessions of equine therapy can produce improvement.
Furthermore, equine therapy reduces anxiety and depression through physiological changes. Studies show that animal-assisted therapy reduces cortisol, the stress hormone. In addition, spending time with animals lowers blood pressure. And it increases the release of oxytocin, a natural chemical that promotes feelings of positivity and connection.
Description adapted from Newport Academy
