What is Equine Assisted Therapy?
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Equine Assisted Therapy is a therapeutic approach that involves interactions between people and horses. This form of therapy is designed to address various mental health issues, emotional challenges, and to support participants to achieve therapeutic and personal development goals. Equine Assisted Therapy may include activities such as grooming and gentle contact, feeding, haltering and walking as well as engaging and observing horses at liberty in their natural environment. There is no riding involved and no horse experience is necessary.
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Why Horses?
Horses are prey animals and are highly sensitive to their environment meaning that they can sense physiological changes in people, other animals and the world around them. This provides participants with valuable insights into their own behaviour and emotions. Horses are non-judgemental and are wonderful role models for being in the here and now.
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At Little Land, the horses are free to be as they are and engage as they feel comfortable which provides a mutually respectful and safe space for all involved. This also provides non-structured and non-rehearsed interactions that evolve organically and allows participants to be met where they are based on their present moment experience. This supports participants and horses to develop authentic connections.
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The benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy may include:
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Increased Self Awareness: Being prey animals and highly attuned to their environment, horses often mirror our emotional state. As a result, interacting with horses can help us to become more aware of our emotions, behaviors, and communication styles.
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Increased Self Acceptance and Self Worth: Horses are authentic and non-judgemental. They don't carry any prejudice, they don't care about how we look, our history, or what we have achieved in life, they simply respond to us and our behaviour in the moment.
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Improved Communication Skills: Engaging with horses encourages us to develop clear and effective communication as horses respond to non-verbal cues and body language. When interacting with horses, we receive moment by moment feedback which offers us an opportunity to reflect on our communication style.
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Enhanced Emotional Regulation: The therapeutic nature of the interactions can assist us in managing stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges by witnessing horses living in the moment. Horses often respond best when we are in a calm state which supports us to develop more awareness of our energy and create shifts.
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Building Trust and Confidence: Developing a connection with a horse can foster feelings of trust, confidence, and empowerment. This can transfer into our interpersonal relationships to support stronger connections in our lives.
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Equine Assisted Therapy at Little Land is designed to be flexible to meet the needs of the participant on the day so this may involve incorporating other modalities and therapeutic tools including nature, art, mindfulness and movement.
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Please call or email to discuss whether Little Land is right for you.
