ABSTRACT
Equine assisted counseling (EAC) is the incorporation of horses into the counseling process to facilitate therapeutic outcome. With EAC, both individuals and groups interact with horses to facilitate the prevention or resolution of emotional and behavioral difficulties with themselves and others (Beck, 2000; EAGALA, n.d.b). Research has demonstrated that mental health therapy with horses can assist participants in ways unique and superior to more passive counseling formats (Trotter, Chandler, Goodwin-Bond, & Casey, 2008). EAC provides a safe and secure environment that nurtures inner healing and encourages optimal growth and development. EAC can help individuals of all ages and backgrounds become stronger in communication, problem solving, self-confidence, conflict resolution, and relationships (Kersten & Thomas, 2004). O’Connor (2006) suggests:
it is the horse’s differences to the socialized man that brings about the successes that the traditional therapist cannot achieve. Horses allow us to unite unconditionally with another living being. We can take our masks off without fear of rejection. The horse has no expectations, prejudices, or motives. All of these traits allow the patient to open up, reveal their selves, and receive feedback from the horse’s responses. This is the key to healing: expressing true feelings and interactions with another being to develop a true self-concept. (p. 5)
Horses are well suited to their role as therapy animals because of their ability to observe, evaluate, and respond to social behaviors-a necessary skill for survival in a herd with a competitive pecking order. This translates into an ability to read and immediately respond to human verbal and nonverbal communications. In other words, the horse acts as a mirror for the human participant, and the horse’s behavior in response to the participant confronts the participant’s behavior (EAGALA, n.d.b). Horses are much more effective at confronting behaviors and attitudes than people because of their keen ability to observe and respond immediately and honestly to nonverbal and verbal communication (Irwin & Weber, 2001). Also, the opportunity to interact with and ride a horse provides the client with unique opportunities to explore and address issues that are not possible with other animals or counseling experiences.
