Equine Therapy
Equine Assisted Therapy allows the participant to have control over the
horse, be more physical and fit, and find a confidence within themselves that
they may have thought lost.  They are able to form a bond with the horse
and socialize with other individuals with similar illnesses, thus lifting the
isolated feelings they may have experienced.  Riding, equine experiential
learning, groundwork and grooming promote the benefits of close interaction
with the horse, sometimes physical, often emotional and social.  Equine
assisted activities raise confidence and esteem levels and give the
participant a sense of accomplishment and self worth.  Therapeutic riding
programs also incorporate games and other meaningful, age appropriate
social activities while on horseback to enhance social interaction.

The Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) is scheduled to start in July of 2008 for
participants aged 4 and up.  If you are interested in obtaining more
information about EAT, please e-mail or call for more information.
In October of 2006 I was asked by the Wisconsin Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to present
at their annual convention on equine therapy and its benefits to people with mental illnesses.  When anyone comes
out to the farm who does not have previous horse experience I always talk about horse psychology and explain how
they interact in the herd.  To modern horsemen this is called Natural Horsemanship.  Then I explain how to become
the herd leader.  Being with horses is all about reading body language, and knowing what your body is saying, as well
as understanding your emotions and how they're affecting your relationship with the horse.   

The Horse:  A Prey Animal
  • Horses are prey animals that live in herds.  Every herd has a herd leader and there is a pecking order beyond
    that.  That horse’s responsibility is to keep watch for and alert the herd of any danger.  Horses want someone
    else to be the leader – they would rather not have that responsibility.  
  • In the absence of a herd leader, a horse will become a leader.  In the presence of a herd leader, a horse will      
    become submissive.
  • When you’re working with a horse, it wants to know that you are a capable leader that will not allow harm to
    come to it.
  • Excerpt from Robert M. Miller, DVM book “Understanding the Ancient Secrets of the Horse’s Mind”: The Secret
    of  Dominance Hierarchy:  The horse is the most easily dominated of all common domestic animals.  It is a
    herd animal, subject to a dominance hierarchy and because it is a flight animal, the horse needs leadership to
    know when and where to run.  In the wild, horses need leadership and readily accept it.  Even naturally
    dominant individual horses can be dominated and rather quickly if one knows how to do it.
  • Dominance means Leadership.  In order for us to lead a horse, we dominate it.  We need to display
    confidence and control in order to gain the horse’s respect.

Equine Therapy Benefits to People with Mental Illness:
  • People with Mental Illnesses may feel like their lives are being dictated by the system, caregivers, family
    members, guardians, and others, and may not always feel in control of their lives.  At times, we may feel like
    our illnesses are in control of us as well.  Equine therapy starts by teaching them how to take control and
    become a leader.
  • When starting equine therapy, participants are taught about Equine Psychology.  They are taught about the
    horse’s need for leadership, and then they are given skills to become that horse’s leader.  Experienced horse
    leaders guide the participant and horse until the participant is comfortable with the horse, and can display
    leadership abilities on their own.  This gives participants heightened self-esteem and confidence.  
  • NARHA Equine Assisted Therapy Benefits (See Below)
Behavioral Modifications
  • Participants are taught how to work through emotions of fear, anxiety, anger, etc and taught how to convey
    confidence, calm, and leadership instead.
Social Aspects
  • Participants increase social skills through interactions with the horse, the therapy volunteers, and other
    participants.  
  • They learn positive reactions to replace agitation, frustration, anger, fear
  • They learn to read body language in others as well as understand what their body language is saying
  • They learn how to be assertive, confident, and strong leaders!
Per the North American Riding for the Handicap Association (NARHA) the following is a list of
Systems/Functions Potentially Affected by Equine Assisted Activities/Therapies:
Balance
Coordination
Endurance/fitness
Mobility
Motor control (gross and fine motor)
Muscle tone
Oral motor control
Pain regulation
Postural control
Respirator control
Rhythm/timing
Sensory registration
Sensory integration
Visual/spatial orientation


Cognitive

Attention
Body schema
Decision making
Executive functioning
Following directions
Insight
Judgement
Memory
Problem solving
Patience
Sequencing
Task completion


Spiritual

Participation within nature
Connection with animals/people
Mindfulness/presence
Connection to a higher power
Care giving
Cooperation
Leadership
Partnership with horse and humans
Responsibility
Respect
Trust
Team building
Vocational exploration/training


Emotional

Choice making
Goal setting
Hopefulness
Intuition
Motivation
Mood regulation
Safety awareness
Self-confidence
Self-awareness
Self-esteem


Behavioral

Arousal
Impulse control
Limit setting
Relaxation
Self-discipline
Self-regulation
Benefits of Therapeutic Riding:
Physical Benefits
Psychological Benefits
Social Benefits
Educational Benefits
Stable Life Equine Therapy options:

Group Therapy focusing on Social Skills Improvement
  • Adults
  • Children:  Age groups 4-7, 8-11, 12-14
  • Adolescents: 14 and over

Individual Therapy
  • Working as one:  Team building/developing a relationship with the horse
  • Ground Work:  Building self esteem, learning how to free lunge with body language, decisive
    movements, confidence and control
  • Grooming:  A calming, relaxing, bonding experience with the horse
  • Free Riding:  Individual rider assessment – start with rider’s current experience and build on it
  • Strengthening the family foundation:  Using horses to work together (for individual and their
    family member(s))
  • Bilateral Stimulation:  Using the horse’s natural gait to stimulate the brain bilaterally with focus
    on enhancing confidence and self esteem

Volunteer Opportunities:  Click here to go to our Volunteer page and learn more about it!
  • ABLE Team:  Adolescents Becoming Leaders & Equestrians
  • At risk Adolescent Program:  Benefiting Youth 14-20 years old
  • Youth Groups, Church Groups, Community Groups
  • Great opportunity for families, friends, and co-workers to spend time together and do
    something good for your community!
  • Perfect for retirees who want to stay active
  • Job Training opportunities for people with mental illnesses, on disability, or unemployed
Stable Life, Inc.
"When you ride a horse balance comes, not from freezing
your legs to the saddle, but from learning to float with the
movement of the horse as you ride.  Each step is a dance,
the rider's dance as well as the dance of the horse."

                                         Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche
                  "Shambala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior"