EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY AND EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is a brief, solution-based, experiential therapy that uses the natural behavior of horses and herds as a model and metaphor for human mental and emotional health.  Most people are familiar with the expression, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” It is very true that you cannot make a horse drink water and it is a perfect metaphor for parenting a willful child or trying to control other people or situations.

Horses are large powerful animals that reflect in their own behavior their fears, anxiety, confidence, playfulness and affection just as humans do.  They are also prey animals and view humans as predatory creatures.   As a result they are extremely sensitive to human emotions as well as changes in our emotions and behavior.   They will respond accordingly and they tell us when they are afraid, irritated and calm.   They model for us the importance of being aware of our own emotions and behavior when around them as well as other humans and they mirror both our conscious and subconscious feelings and body language.   By understanding the impact of our emotions and behaviors when with horses, we better understand the relationships we have with others.