The focus of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) involves setting up activities involving the horses, which will require the client or family to apply certain skills. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem-solving, taking responsibility, emotional control, confidence and attitude are several examples of the tools utilized and developed by EAP.

Why Horses?

Because horses are large and powerful, which creates a natural opportunity for some to overcome fear and develop confidence. Accomplishing a task involving horses creates confidence and provides for wonderful metaphors when dealing with other intimidating and challenging situations in life.

Horses are very much like humans in that they are social animals. They have defined roles within their herds. They would rather be with their peers. 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 are stubborn and defiant. They like to have fun. In other words, horses provide vast opportunities for learning about our own world.

Horses require work, whether in caring for them or working with them. In a time 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.

Horses have the ability to mirror exactly what human body language is telling them. Many people will complain, "This horse is stubborn. The horse doesn't like me," etc. But the lesson to be learned is that if they change themselves, the horses will respond differently. Horses are honest, which makes them especially powerful messengers.

Kids find out that some of their behaviors don't work with a horse, because it doesn't get the response they want. They learn new ways of coping, because the horse gives them an immediate, honest response to what they are doing. The kids begin to change things about themselves to get the horse to do what they want. Then, we help them understand that the same changes will work everywhere.

As one kid put it best, "At school when I am doing my work, I used to get so frustrated and give up. Now I just think about how frustrated I was getting the horse to do an activity, and that I didn't give up and it worked. I remember that at school and it helps me to know I can do my schoolwork too."