Horsemanship 

Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning 101 

Building lasting friendships with your equine partner

Horses and healing...

Horses have been helpful to humans for thousands of years as companions, helpers, spiritual protectors, and even as healers. As horses have such a positive impact on human health, they’ve been incorporated into equine assisted therapy programs at rehabilitation centers and ranches all across the world. Here at Hózhó we believe that horses can sometimes be the best therapists, as they act as our mirror to what is going on deep inside of ourselves. Horses reflect back to us what we are feeling and thinking through their body language and movements, and how they respond or react to our cues.

A little equine assisted therapy 101 :

 Simply being in the presence or company of horses can produce many benefits that allow people to learn the self help tools needed to live an enhanced, mindful, fulfilling life. Equine assisted therapy is a form of experiential mental health treatment that integrates horses into behavioral and cognitive health therapy, with the horses being teachers/counselors that assist their humans in their personal development as they give them natural guidance to achieve treatment goals. Through interacting with horses in therapy, patients can receive emotional support, learn how to face fears head on to overcome them, become more in touch with their feelings, and they learn how to become mindful so that they learn to master their thoughts. Last but not least, they also learn practical interpersonal and communication skills.

In equine assisted therapy with Hózhó, patients get the opportunity to form therapeutic/spiritual connections with horses and improve in areas, such as:

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  Self-esteem

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  Social interactions

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  Personal accountability

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  Moral responsibility

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  Spiritual enlightenment 

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  Mindfulness techniques 

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  Learning to master your thoughts using meditative tools 

 During each session, patients have various guided interactions with the horse. Sessions aren’t always riding focused, as many clients build their confidence first from the ground or take a break from the saddle. Interactions with their therapy horse or pony may entail feeding, grooming, talking to, and leading your horse as you would lead your dog for a walk. In other words, Contrary to popular belief, riding horses isn’t always a part of this type of therapy, though it can be included for those who are comfortable getting in the saddle.

Lessons Learned From Equine Therapy

In many cases, individuals who struggle with trauma, drug or alcohol addictions, eating disorders and other behavioral and mental health issues may lack healthy ways to identify and cope with their feelings, communicate with others, set boundaries or overcome their fears. 

It is a known fact that Horses are emotionally intelligent animals ie, horses are emotionally in-tune animals that have a unique way of reading human feelings and communicating. For instance, if you’re feeling aggressive or angry, a horse may mirror these emotions by becoming obstinate. Likewise, if you have feelings of anxiousness bothering you in a moment, that feeling may be picked up by and cause skittishness in a horse. “If you’re thinking it, you’d better bet your horse can feel it.” 

  Horses do seem to be mind readers, and science can explain this as horses being emotionally intelligent beings; More so than humans even! Meaning that horses can feel feelings stronger than we do! The experience of observing a horse’s responses can promote self-awareness and help people view themselves more honestly.

  Your horse will reflect your inner feelings, especially the uncomfortable ones, like a mirror of sorts, and this is where big breakthroughs happen for people as they learn to trust and love again without fear. From a spiritual standpoint, love, peace, and happiness cannot exist where there is fear. We must remove this fear to make room for our joy. Horses are great at helping us identify fears we may not even realize that we have, so we can face them head on, and release them. This helps restore our mind Body and spirit, leaving an open space inside ourselves for positive healing as you learn new methods of thinking and operating through life. Methods that are more in alignment with a higher power, peace, love, harmony, and light. 

  Such positive emotional development through interacting with horses can help people understand their behavioral patterns and recognize how they interact with others, and how to create a life of happiness, peace, and joy, no longer operating from a place of fear or trauma. Through simple equine exercises like haltering, leading and grooming a horse, people can learn to approach others with awareness and respect.

Gain the strength to Overcome any Obstacle Through Equine Therapy at Hózhó Horsemanship

Horses are animals of majestic size and strength, which can intimidate some people and produce a perceived lack of control, feelings of inadequacy and being hurt, which can ultimately relate to fears, unmet needs and past trauma. We work at your own pace to help you overcome any fears or uncertainties about these powerful creatures. We also have tiny little fun size therapy ponies to interact with that even adults sometimes have to practice with before they’re comfortable working with a full size horse. 

Hózhó Horsemanship is a safe environment where patients learn to confront and overcome their fears and perceived challenges while building confidence, peace of mind, emotional control, and trust. The ability to grow emotional connections and relationships with horses during therapy demonstrates the success of being willing to try something new and address one’s fears.

In addition to equine therapy, Hózhó Horsemanship will soon offer other experiential treatment programs that intend to enhance patients’ healing, including:

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  Yoga therapy program 

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  Meditation therapy program

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  Art therapy program 

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  Health and wellness nutritional coaching