“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the
inside of a man.” –Winston Churchill
Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) model of equine assisted psychotherapy
What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy or Equine Assisted Learning?
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) incorporates horses experientially for emotional growth and learning. It is a collaborative effort between a mental health professional and a horse professional working with the client and horses to address treatment goals.
Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) incorporates horses experientially for growth and learning. It is a collaborative effort between a mental health professional, horse professional and other specialized professionals working with the clients and horses to address learning goals.
Reading the above definitions, you may notice a distinct similarity between the two. These terms are labels intended to describe a type of service being provided.
What differentiates the terms:
The population being served
· The goals/objectives of the services which have been agreed to in the contract/informed consent
· The focus of facilitation based on the agreed upon goal
Why Horses?
Those who are familiar with horses recognize and understand the power of horses to influence people in incredibly powerful ways. Developing relationships, training, horsemanship instruction and caring for the horses naturally affects the people involved in a meaningful way.
The benefits of the work ethic, responsibility, assertiveness, communication, and healthy relationships have long been recognized. Horses naturally provide these benefits. We are often asked “Why horse? Why not other animals?”
Horses are large and powerful, which creates a natural opportunity for some to overcome fear and develop confidence. 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 require work, whether in caring for them or working with them. In an era when immediate gratification and the “easy way” are the norm, horses require people to be engaged in physical and mental work to be successful, a valuable characteristic in all aspects of life.
The horse is an integral part of EAP. If an activity is conducted that could be equally effective without the horse, then it isn’t truly EAP. Likewise, if the facilitators are working harder than the horses, or having more interaction with the horses than the clients, then it isn’t EAP. EAP is about the horses doing the work of effecting change in people’s lives –it is about the relationship between the horses and clients, not the relationship between the facilitators and clients. The facilitators are there to prove the opportunities and bring consciousness to the lessons being learned.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Challenges clients in a non-threatening manner
- Rapidly breaks down defense barriers
- Provides immediate cause and effect situations
- Captivates and hold attention
- Promotes change from dysfunctional patterns to successful ones
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) incorporates horses experientially for emotional growth and learning. It is a collaborative effort between a licensed therapist and a horse professional working with the clients and horses to address treatment goals.
EAP is an experiential modality. This means that participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses, and then processing (or discussing) thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, and patterns. While experiential approaches can be conducted in a variety of settings, using unlimited tools, EAP has the added advantage of utilizing horses, dynamic and powerful living beings who enhance the experiential process.
The focus of EAP is not riding or horsemanship. Sessions involve setting up ground activities involving the horses which will require the client or group to apply certain skills. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem-solving, leadership, work, taking responsibility, teamwork and relationships, confidence, and attitude are several examples of the tools utilized and developed by EAP.
