An Equine Assisted Therapy course for the Youth in Society

Horse Sense Program  “Using fear and domination to control horses, doesn’t work. This lesson is equally true in human relationships.” Learning Passive Leadership (Mark Rashid 2000). The program offers cooperative and positive relationships. The importance of the journey, and the moment is all important. There is no goal or destination. Accomplishing goals or relying on techniques and methods means we do not allow any piece of ourselves to shine through. The purpose of this program is to enable young people to interact with horses.
     The benefits of equine and animal therapy is well know and documented. It teaches young people about responsibility, empathy, trust and self confidence. Horses enable relationships, promote trust and feelings of safety. The work can be carried out in a safe, informal, and less stigmatized setting. Thereby lessening stress and anxiety. Self confidence and self esteem are improved in an environment that decreases self consciousness.
     The horses themselves are rescued. This provides an immediate understanding between the young people and the horses. Often they have feelings of not belonging, and this they have in common with our horses. We predominantly use young horses. Young horses need to trust humans. They need to get used to being handled and different situations and settings. So both the horse and the young people are in a situation of change and learning. The experiences are new to both groups.

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 positive manner. The benefits of work ethic, responsibility,
assertiveness, communication, and healthy relationships has long been recognized.
Horses naturally provide these benefits. The use of horses is growing and gaining
popularity with the rise of new approaches in working with the horses, including the
field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.
We are often asked, "Why horses? 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 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 seem stubborn and defiant.
They like to have fun. In other words, horses provide vast opportunities for
metaphorical learning. Using metaphors, in discussion or activity, is an
effective technique when working with even the most challenging
individuals or groups.
Horses require effort, 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 states to
be successful, a valuable characteristic in all aspects of life.
Most importantly, horses have the ability to mirror
exactly what human body language is telling them.
Many people will complain, “The horse is stubborn. The horse doesn’t like
me,” etc. But the lesson to be learned is that if they change themselves, the
horses respond differently. Horses are honest, which makes them especially
powerful messengers. EAGALA 2006