Why Horses

Horses are exceptionally intelligent and sensitive.   They can evoke strong feelings in clients and engage clients in a learning process with massive self realised benefits.   Calm and healthy horses can assist in co-regulating a clients nervous system, can model healthy living and expression of feelings as well as offering non judgmental safety and trust, horses can offer unique bio feedback and hold clients in a way traditional therapy environments can not.  The natural environment can also contribute positively to therapeutic outcomes for clients.

What happens in an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) session?

In EAP clients are offered 'safe' (physically and emotionally) experiences with horses for the purpose of exploring self experience in relationship, build self awareness, building awareness of patterns or habits that are no longer serving them well, developing psychological and social skills and addressing therapeutic goals clients have identified.   

What does it look like?

• Observation of horses
• Meeting with horses at liberty
• Lead-line experiences including touching, grooming and leading
• Liberty leading (leading horses without a lead rope)
• Creative activities with horses

Who attends?

Clients experiencing:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Addiction
• Corporate Groups (Team building & Leadership)
• Clients looking for alternative room based therapy and more

What are some of the benefits?

• Emotional awareness and affect regulation
• Improved social skills
• Empathy and relationship skills
• Stress Tolerance
• Confidence and self-esteem
• Reducing stress
• Boundary setting
• Promoting movement and activity
• Meaningful connection
• Proven scientific benefits of mindfulness
• Increased attention
• Problem solving
• Connection with nature