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| The Miracles of Equine Therapy |
| Feature Articles - Alternative | |
| Saturday, 30 November 2002 | |
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The intentional use of horses for therapeutic purposes has a long history. Originally, the animals were used to help clients challenged in the physical realm, while their use as psychotherapeutic agents is a more recent development. It can be suggested that equine-assisted therapy, as it exists today, is a natural evolutionary development having its roots in the experiential therapy movement of the '70s, when alternatives to traditional "talk" therapy were being developed. Onsite Workshops first became aware of horses being used intentionally as psychotherapeutic agents in the early '90s, during our association with Sierra Tucson Treatment Center, in Tucson Arizona. Sierra Tucson is generally acknowledged as one of the first, if not the first, addiction treatment centers to develop an equine assisted therapy component to their traditional 28-day treatment program. Since that time, because of the apparent effectiveness of the concept of equine-assisted therapy, the number of programs and practitioners offering this therapeutic technique has literally exploded into a movement of its own. Over the last decade, we have found the use of equine-assisted therapy to be a highly effective and efficient tool for trauma resolution, as well as for teaching and practicing some of the recovery life skills that newly sober individuals need to have in order to stay sober. As our equine assisted therapy programs have evolved, we are constantly discovering new and exciting ways to use this therapeutic tool to support our clients, their partners, and their family's recoveries. Breaking with tradition One quality of equine psychotherapy which contributes to its effectiveness is the unique setting in which the work is done. Outside the traditional four walls of the therapy room - closer to the sun, wind, heat, color, beauty, distractions, and naturalness - the setting tends to provide an atmosphere for openness, the unexpected, and the unusual. Clinical issues may emerge as each person experiences the sensation of the equine site. The client's needs for control or structure, safety and familiarity, physical comfort, as well as past experiences with horses, add an additional layer onto the anxiety experienced upon entering a new therapeutic environment. The unusual setting may also disarm those who are "therapy-wise" and well defended emotionally. In the equine-therapy setting, a variety of experiential techniques are utilized to further the therapeutic process and promote interaction between people and horses. The participant is asked to accomplish certain tasks involving touch, movement, and other elements that serve to change the normal therapeutic environment. The first task after some group warm-up exercises at the Onsite Equine Workshop is to choose a horse with which to work. The dynamics of this task can be a powerful stimulus to self-discovery, as this statement from a participant shows: On the first morning at the corral I found it hard to pick a horse to work with and to make a definite commitment. In the end, the horse picked me. I was standing by a pen of three and couldn't decide which one to pick. The third one, which I had not considered, came up to me and reached for me. When I was in the pen with her I started to cry. Memories of the pain of my first marriage and the divorce after my husband had an affair came back to me. As we led the horse out of the pen, the therapist told me the horse was part of a triangle. The other mare kept her away from the male. She was also in season. I was surprised, to say the least, at how much the horse mirrored my own situation and she continued over the next few days to mirror much of the sexual and relationship issues I had in my life...Chris If more than one person chooses to work with a certain horse, another set of issues emerges around sharing and negotiating: The program began with selecting our horse. First, choosing a horse we wanted, then resolving any conflict if two of us chose the same horse. This was most revealing in that one of the things mirrored to me is that I place my needs second to the needs of others, thus seldom getting what I really want...Charles The next task is to groom the horse. The grooming process, again, illustrates personal dynamics and issues such as nurturing, attention, asking for help, isolation, dependence, performance anxiety, connection, and intimacy: We then spent time getting acquainted with and grooming our horse. At first this felt strange, but as I talked to and groomed my horse, I noticed myself feeling more at peace and somewhat introspective. Here an extraordinary thing happened. I revisited the death of my father and for the first time in my life I lost complete control emotionally. It was only after the therapist had a group member assume the role of my Dad and tell me he loved me that I was able to stop crying. Again a big factor was my feeling for safety. Oddly enough, I had not even thought of my Dad's death until I started crying...Beth Tasks that promote interaction with the horses are games and exercises. For example, a client is blindfolded and must lead a horse depending upon group members for guidance. Another example is leading the horse through a maze. Goals of these activities range from getting support to facing fear. Lunging is another activity, as is riding the horse in a variety of ways. Horses also are used as role players in psychodramatic vignettes or to play out transferred emotions: There I was on the ground feeling deep pain and feeling totally alone, when my horse came right over to me and nuzzled me with his nose. When the therapist asked who the horse represented, I knew immediately that he was my Higher Power and had been standing by all along...Margaret Another factor that adds so much significance to the effectiveness of equine therapy is the nature of the animal itself. At 1,500-plus pounds, 7 feet or more in height and a small brain, the horse has survived by being faithful to its extraordinary senses. The physical reality of the horse elicits emotions and behaviors such as fear, indifference to personal safety, lack of focus, denial, and anxiety in the psychotherapy environment that can be a catalyst for important awareness as participants see the results of following instructions, being aware of self and others, and setting boundaries. To be safe around horses, one needs to be emotionally in their body and aware of where the physical body is in relationship to the horse. The animals are giving signals to the recovering client about their level of connection through movements such as walking away, ignoring, being distracted by other horses, sleeping, and eating. When horses respond to the emotional and physical state of the client, there is an opportunity to immediately intervene by raising awareness of where in the body they have feeling and to practice congruence with feelings and behaviors. Horses give accurate feedback with no agenda. Time and again, the animal's attention will return to the client or to a relaxed state once there is apparent congruity in the person. In addition, like all animals whose bodily functions include flatulence, defecation, urination, sexual arousal, sneezing, chewing, etc., horses can stir many issues of abuse, body image, sexuality, compulsivity as well as laughter and play. Very few people have a neutral reaction to horses. While some have an enduring affection for horses, whether based on actual experience or romantic notion, others bring a sense of dread or fear. For some, this opportunity reinforces their historic experience of being able to get closer to and feel safer with animals than with humans. Others come to the therapeutic moment with significant fear. This preset creates a great sense of emotional energy in the therapeutic session from the beginning. Projection and transference begins strongly and immediately with the animals in this setting: Animals have always been safe for me - safer than most people I have known. So I wasn't afraid of them, as much as I was of what they may ask me to share. Animals - especially horses - are open to listening and at some level, understanding. It's as if they urge me to share my pain with them...Karen At the heart of equine therapy technique is the use of metaphor. The primary job of the clinician is to promote and elicit the metaphors, note and comment on the serendipity and sometimes truly miraculous moments as the client works with the horse: Another powerful experience occurred on day two when I was in the field with my horse. A little donkey wandered up and began vying for my attention. Somehow, I instinctively knew he represented my inner child. I told the therapist I wanted to give up my horse and keep the donkey. She asked if I thought I couldn't have both. It never occurred that I could, but I tried it. I found it most interesting to watch them interact. At first they acted like strangers. The horse nipped at the donkey as if jealous, but the donkey hung in there. Soon they were on both sides of me in a protective position...Keith In accomplishing tasks with the horse, the manner in which the client approaches completion of these tasks immediately becomes an obvious mirror as to how they approach other life challenges. The distortion or defense of talking about a life situation in the traditional therapeutic session disappears. Dysfunctional behaviors or habitual problem-solving patterns often emerge as the client interacts with the horse. With the help of the therapist's interventions, the client can take an opportunity to practice new behaviors and patterns, and through a structured aftercare process, carry these behaviors into action beyond the workshop or session: Our final day together was a bit of a struggle. We were to groom and prepare to saddle the horses for a ride, but mine would not let me do anything to him. I didn't quite understand it. I called the therapist over, and it turned out I wasn't telling him what I was feeling. Having recently left a relationship that had no closing, I felt incomplete. I began to tell him how I was feeling, and began to cry. I had such a connection with him; I did not want to leave him yet. As soon as I began to cry and talk to the horse, his face was in my chest, as if he wanted to hug and comfort me and express the same feelings I was expressing. He was incredibly compassionate and loving. He rubbed his head against mine, and let me hug him, as long as I needed him. I was able to let go after the ride but knew he had impacted my life in a major way...Pat The most common metaphors have to do with how the client approaches relationships with self and others: I initially picked a very attractive but slightly aggressive and even dangerous horse to work with because I did not listen to the horse handler when he pointed out that horse was not available. This mirrored what I often look for in relationships - attractive, dangerous, and of course, unavailable! I was able to grieve this tendency of choosing to put myself out there for others at my own expense as I dealt with not being able to be with this beautiful yet unavailable horse...Christy In addition to therapeutic interventions, the metaphors may be the basis for celebration and healing: The most powerful moment for me was when I got up on my horse. I could feel the power of life come up through me. It was exhilarating. And when the therapist said that that power was always within me - I felt awestruck. She clearly believed that, and at some level, I knew it too. As the months have passed, I know it more and more. I am definitely stronger, more powerful, more grounded. I'm more whole. I'm even taking riding lessons, exploring the artist inside me - and having fun...Betsy Equine Therapy provides a unique experiential environment for the therapeutic process. Currently, a research study is being conducted with participants at Onsite Workshops' Equine Therapy program to measure outcomes and effectiveness of this model. As this method's popularity grows, it will bring together more and more practitioners and clients to promote emotional health. Marjorie Zugich, MA, CETII, and Ted Klontz, MA, MAC, CSAC, CET II, are co-owners and Executive Directors of Onsite Workshops, Inc., located near Nashville, Tennessee. Marjorie has over 30 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and specialist in the areas of co-dependency, relationship and addictions. Ted has over 30 years of experience as an educator, administrator, lecturer, and therapist and is widely respected throughout the U.S., Canada, and Central America for his diverse professional contributions to individuals, families, and organizations. He co-authored with Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse, a book entitled Family Reconstruction. Deb Leinart MS, LPC, CET II, CSAT II, is Clinical Director of Onsite Workshops. Trained as a Marriage and Family therapist, she has worked in the field for over 20 years. Her experience is diverse in that she has worked in a number of settings including mental health centers, treatment facilities, schools, and private practice.              |
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