Why the Horse?

- from the desk of Jackie Garman, Program Director

Why is the horse such a good partner in therapeutic activities and mental health therapy?

Many of us who have had the privilege of owning a horse or been around horses for any amount of time know there is something special about them. Many a teenage girl has cried into her horse’s neck over a boy. A stressed-out mom needs her “me time” by going out and riding her horse. A man goes to the barn to do farm chores and spend time with the horses as a hobby even after a hard day at work. 

Winston Churchill once said, “there is something about the outside of a horse that’s good for the inside of a man.”  

There are many therapeutic benefits from working with equines. It lowers blood pressure and heart rate, alleviates stress and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Horses are social beings whose herd dynamics are similar to the human family system. They have the unique ability to sense emotions and react accordingly. They can mirror the feelings of the rider or handler and give immediate feedback to a handler’s actions. If an individual comes at a horse angry or aggressive the horse most likely will react with ears back, eyes wide, and uncooperative. An anxious or frustrated person may get a skittish or standoffish horse that day. In contrast, calm and unguarded energy will probably get an approachable horse that is relaxed and ready for interaction. Seeing a horse’s response promotes self-awareness and can help individuals see their own reactions to the world in which they live. 

Horses are excellent communicators. Learning to understand horse behavior helps us learn how our human behavior impacts others around us. Simple exercises like haltering, leading and grooming can teach people how to approach others with respect. A groundwork lesson with a horse can help with understanding and setting boundaries within human relationships. Horses are great at showing how much physical space they need to feel comfortable. They can tell us, without any words, when someone has crossed their personal boundary line. Because horses by nature are herd and prey animals, this makes them sensitive and hyper-aware of possible dangers as a survival tool. They are observers, giving instant feedback in any given situation. It takes trust and consistent positive interactions for a horse to allow you to “become part of the herd”. 

According to PATH Int. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International), “The benefits of animal-assisted activities and therapies have been recognized for a long time, but the specific benefits of interacting with horses may be less well known. Working with horses can have a major physical and emotional impact on people with a wide variety of issues and disabilities.”  Horses react to emotions and behavior and are not concerned about physical appearance, level of intelligence or past mistakes. They are wonderful at helping us develop trust and overcome fears. They allow us to bring all our issues into their world and they are accepting of our baggage or disability. Our horse partners are honest and straightforward in their exchange with us. They do not lie or manipulate, judge or blame. These large powerful beings allow us to build a relationship with them and this alone is therapeutic and healing. Equine Assisted Activities or therapies encourage the individual to be focused on the task at hand and be present in the moment. 

Horses play a unique role when used in activities with adults or children in that they become a metaphor for real life. Many things that happen in the barn or out in the field with a horse can be transferred over to everyday life. A child walks in grumpy or mad from events of their own making during the day and finds her pony also happens to be grumpy in the lesson that afternoon. He may react in ways that are not nice or cause the child to have to step away from him for a moment. It is a beautiful life lesson when the instructor can take the situation and explain that it’s ok to feel grumpy or mad but it’s not ok to act out and hurt the people we love. The lightbulb goes off so to speak and the child understands her horse felt the same way she did today. She can now understand what it is like to be on the receiving end of that certain behavior. 

Many things happen when an individual makes a connection with a horse:

• Patience
• Responsibility
• Humility
• Empathy
• A sense of pride
• Increase in self-confidence and self-esteem
• And many more

I personally have seen the power of the horse countless times with my students that have special challenges. A mare with an attitude becomes calm and mellow when a small boy with autism is on her back. Volunteers notice a horse shift herself closer to the mounting ramp all on her own, closing the gap when a blind young man approaches ready to ride. Grooming becomes thirty minutes of “normal” when a young woman with brain trauma and seizures spends precious moments with her horse. Coming out to the barn to be with the horses is social time for a teenager with Cerebral Palsy as she tells them all about her day in her own way. Young boys with behavioral issues develop confidence as they learn natural horsemanship methods and are able to accomplish tasks with their horses. No scientific evidence is needed to prove that horses benefit humans when you see the big smile on the face of an adult or child that has just been nuzzled by a horse.

    

The Lord gave us a gift when He created the horse but what a treasure to call this amazing animal our partner. We are blessed to be able to work with them and see the difference they make in people’s lives.