About Equine Assisted Learning

In 2018, veterans had an epidemic veteran suicide rate (20 each day). The Department of Veterans Affairs released an alarming report September 20, 2019 showing that at least 60,000 veterans died by suicide between 2008 and 2017, with little sign that the crisis is abating despite suicide prevention being the VA's top priority. The report and an accompanying statement by VA Secretary Robert Wilkie stated that this crisis went beyond the VA's capacity to address it, and must be targeted in a coordinated approach with local, state and private partners.

Children and adults with disabilities, past trauma, and other challenges often do not have adequate therapeutic options available to them. Incorporating horses outside of an office clinical setting has been shown to increase interest and enthusiasm, and breakthroughs often occur in the therapeutic moment between the horse and client.

Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional, and personal goals through equine-assisted activities.  PATH Intl. provides standards of professionalism and safety for people working in this field and guidelines for those providing EAL.

In an EAL setting, the experiential approach integrates equine-human interaction that is guided by a planned learning experience to meet the identified goals or desires of the participant(s).  Working with equines provides opportunities to teach critical life skills such as trust, respect, honesty, and communication.  Equines use mostly non-vocal communication and are in tune with human behavior.  This can help participants understand and learn more fully how our non-verbal communication might be impacting or influencing others in their lives.  Equines ask people to be aware of their surroundings at all times.  Through interactions with the equines, participants learn a heightened sense of self-awareness.  Self-awareness is important in order to reveal patterns of behavior and gives participants the opportunity to think in a new way.  Furthermore, participants gain self-esteem and self-confidence while learning how to work with such a large and powerful creature.  In all, equines provide us with a way to see our internal landscape and patterns of behavior.  They offer us the opportunity to experience humility, compassion, and challenge - all critical elements to supporting self-growth and self-awareness.

About Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy

In partnership with a licensed mental health professional, Unbridled Joy is also able to provide Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy.   Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) is an emerging treatment whereby the individual or group interacts with horses to facilitate the prevention or resolution of emotional, cognitive, and behavioral difficulties with themselves and others. This type of counseling provides a safe and secure environment that nurtures inner healing and encourages optimal growth and development.   Did you know that horses are much more effective at confronting behaviors and attitudes than people?  This is due to their honesty and ability to observe and to respond to nonverbal communication.  (Trotter, 2012)

EFP is a team effort. A Licensed Professional Counselor, a PATH-certified Equine Specialist, a horse (or horses), and the client (or family/group) comprise the team. Various activities, observations, tasks, reflections, and present moment experiences are processed during the session, which is usually conducted in the arena. These sessions are typically done from the ground without mounting the horse, and no horse experience is needed.

A variety of issues can be addressed through EFP.  These include behavioral issues, ADD/ADHD, substance abuse, eating disorders, abuse issues, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma, and communication issues.  Clients, couples, and families can benefit from EFP including children (ages 4 and up), adolescents, adults, and older adults.  Horses are intuitive and wise animals and seem to have a special ability to console and know us on a meaningful level.