Program Basics
Horses as Healers and Teachers
Why Horses? Why not other animals? Horses are large and powerful. The size and power of the horse are naturally intimidating to many people. Accomplishing a task involving the horse, in spite of those fears, creates confidence and provides for wonderful metaphors when dealing with other intimidating and challenging situations in life.
Horses are social animals. They have unique relationships with each other and defined roles within their herds. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. An approach that seems to work with one horse, does not necessarily work with another. At times, they seem stubborn and defiant. At times, they enjoy closeness and companionship. They like to have fun. In other words, horses provide vast opportunities for metaphorical learning. Horses require work, whether in caring for them or working with them. They don’t provide immediate gratification or an "easy way out." Horses will not respond to manipulation, threatening, or begging. Only open, honest, and clear communication in addition to mutual trust will allow participants to accomplish tasks involving the horse. Most importantly, horses have the ability to mirror exactly what human body language is telling them. Many participants will complain, "The horse is stubborn. The horse doesn’t like me. The horse is angry. The horse is stupid." But they realize quickly that when they change themselves, the horses respond differently. Horses are honest and will not be deceived.
“The horse – the noblest, bravest, proudest, most courageous, and certainly the most perverse and infuriating animal that humans ever domesticated.” (Anne McCaffrey)
Experiential learning
There are times when words just aren’t enough and when talking about a problem simply doesn’t produce the desired change. While it is essential that people learn to express their emotions and thoughts clearly and honestly, it’s often easier said than done. Sometimes it helps to by-pass the logical left side of the brain and access the artistic intuitive right side of the brain to get to know oneself and reconnect with desires, passions, and goals before using words to describe these internal experiences.
Our program provides constant opportunities to learn through experience and then put words to that experience. Small successes are celebrated and built upon.
“What I hear I forget, what I see I remember, what I do I understand.” (Confucius)
Relationships
Relationships are at the center of our program. We believe that our deepest hurts and our most powerful healing both happen in relationships. For people who have been hurt in important relationships, it takes a lot of courage to open up and engage again. Sometimes it is easier for them to connect with animals first. Animals are often safer and more reliable in their way of relating than people are. Through their interactions with animals, people learn and practice healthy communication and conflict resolution skills. These skills assist them in successfully navigating difficult relationships and working together with others.
Systems
No human being is an island. Everybody is part of multiple systems or groups. Systems consist of several members who constantly interact with each other. Systems strive to find a sense of balance and tend to resist change once they achieved that balance. Families are systems. When one member of the system has a problem, the system has a problem. When one member of the system changes, the entire system has to change to accommodate the new and different member and find a new sense of balance. Whenever possible, we involve friends, family, teachers, caregivers, and other important people in the process of learning, changing, and healing.
Metaphors
The use of metaphors is recognized by many therapeutic approaches as an effective way to teach and learn new concepts by bypassing a participant’s natural resistance and defenses. Metaphors are able to avoid the snap-judgments of our linear left brains and engage the creative right side of our brains. Working with horses provides ample opportunity for staff and participants to develop metaphors and stories that relate to the participant’s experience outside of the arena. These stories and images are often some of the most powerful memories the participants take home with them and continue to draw on long after therapy concluded.
