What is Equine-assisted Counseling?

Equine-assisted Counseling is a type of experiential mental health treatment that involves a person in therapy interacting with horses. Simply put, Equine-assisted Counseling is interacting with horses to learn about yourself and your emotional growth. Equine-assisted Counseling has a profound impact on individuals, youth, families, and groups. Participants learn about themselves and others by joining in activities with horses, and then processing (or discussing) feelings, behaviors, and patterns.

Who can benefit from Equine-assisted Counseling?

Equine-assisted Counseling addresses a variety of mental health and human development needs, including behavioral issues, attention deficit disorder, PTSD, substance abuse, sexual abuse, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, as well as relationship difficulties and communication problems.

Not all programs or individuals who use horses practice Equine Assisted mental health counseling. Equine-assisted Counseling requires a licensed mental health licensed professional facilitating the session. Equine-assisted Counseling is not riding, nor is it horsemanship. The emphasis of Equine-assisted Counseling includes the setting up of ground activities involving and interacted with horses.

A few objectives in a typical session are identifying and improving non-verbal communication, boundaries, assertiveness, problem solving, teamwork, and all aspects of relationships. The potential applications for Equine-assisted Counseling are limitless!

How does a horse participate in therapy?

Horses offer several advantages.  Obviously, their size offers a perfect opportunity to overcome fear and develop confidence and trust. Much like humans, horses experience a variety of emotions and are intuitive, social animals with distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. They have defined roles within their herds just like we do with our family and friends. Most importantly, horses are highly sensitive to what your body language is telling them, and will react in a very authentic way. Horses desire relationship with their own wants, needs, and relational histories. Learning how to have a healthy relationship with a horse in the arena will have a direct effect on your relationships outside of the arena. Through these types of interactions with the horse(s) we learn, self-awareness, healthy boundaries, honest communication, leadership, patience, assertiveness, affection, and more.

Why is Equine-assisted Counseling so successful?

There are striking similarities between horses and humans.  Like us, horses are social beings whose herd (family) make-up is very similar to our families.  Horses don't speak like we do, but they are excellent communicators. Working with horses and learning to understand their behavior in relationships helps us learn about ourselves and recognize how we see ourselves, our world and how that impacts us and others.  In equine-assisted counseling, we talk about what we see and feel. With the horse’s responses and the team's guidance, we work on: communication, triggers and coping, setting boundaries, overcoming fear and creating trust.  With these as a foundation, hope and healing follows.

Is there any science behind this type of therapy?

Using animals as therapy is not new. The Greeks documented the horse’s therapeutic value in 600BC and French physician Cassaign concluded in 1875 that equine therapy helped certain neurological disorders.  By the 1950’s British physiotherapists were exploring the possibilities of horse therapy for all types of disorders.  Since then, it has been clinically documented that just being around horses changes human brainwave patterns and can lower your blood pressure.  Horses are naturally empathetic, and members of the herd feel what is going on for the other members of the herd. 

It is hard to prove why this works, but experiencing it will help you feel that it does.  Horses pick up on the way people are feeling, mirroring their emotions, and responding to them.  As a herd animal attuned to stress and body language, a horse will move away from an angry person, follow someone it trusts and be unsettled when it senses fear.  These are great mirrored responses to an individual when they do not know or are not verbalizing what they are feeling.

Scientist may have trouble proving why horse therapy works, but we invite you to experience it for yourselves.  And perhaps it does not need to be proven, but simply experienced.  Because, as Winston Churchill stated, “There’s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”

But for anyone wanting to read empirically studied data proving the benefits of Equine-assisted Counseling, we have that too. https://www.eagala.org/assets/docs/EAP%20Research%20Studies_List_1.13.21.pdf

What is your tardiness and/or cancellation policies?

• Please arrive at least 5 minutes before your session start time and wait in the parking area or office, to allow privacy for clients scheduled prior to your session.

• Clients who are late will not receive a discounted price, nor additional time beyond the end of their regular session time.

• Clients who are more than 15 minutes late for a session, without reason, may not receive services for that day, at the discretion of the therapist.

• Client cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance of a session or event, are subject to full or partial fees being charged.

• No-shows will be charged 100% of the session fee.

• More than two no-shows may result in a cancelation of all future scheduled services.

• Clients will never be charged for a session that is canceled on behalf of LinnBerry Creative Counseling or its affiliates/partners.

All sessions involving Equine-assisted Counseling and activities, are held outdoors, in a barn or in an arena. As such, you will be exposed to outdoor elements and unpredictable weather conditions. It is IMPERATIVE that you are dressed appropriately. Below is a list of weather conditions and suggested appropriate apparel.

*Please note, we will NOT have extra jackets, sweaters, boots, jeans, socks, t-shirts, ball caps, sunscreen, etc. at the facility.

• Closed-toed shoes are REQUIRED.

  • Footwear recommendations: Because the ground may be muddy or damp, waterproof boots, cowboy boots, hiking boots, snow boots, or Muck boots are advisable, as opposed to canvas shoes. Leather as opposed to canvas shoes, protects the foot better if the horse should step on you. No matter what the weather is, absolutely no sandals or flip flops will be allowed while working with the horses.

• It is better to over dress, and be able to remove clothing, rather than to be under dressed and become chilled or uncomfortable.

  • Clothing recommendations: Please remember that you are dressing to work outside with a horse. So, no matter what the weather, conditions surrounding horses may be muddy, dusty and/or dirty. In addition, horses like to “mouth” or nuzzle you and your clothing. This means you will most likely walk away from session with dirt, grit, horsehair, or stains on clothing. It is difficult to process your feelings, when you may be focused on the stain that has just ruined your favorite shirt. Therefore, please wear something that you do not mind getting dirty, or even ruined.

• Even in the summertime, long pants, NOT SHORTS, are recommended.

• You will need to be able to move freely without risk of tripping, falling, or becoming entangled in props or equipment, because of wardrobe malfunctions.

• It is always advisable to wear sunscreen on exposed parts of the body.

• We use a sand-based floor in the arena. Therefore, conditions in the arena, especially if horses are very active during your session, may result in sand floating in the air and potentially getting in your eyes. For your comfort, you may want to bring eye drops. Additionally, if you wear contacts, you may want to bring saline solution, a spare pair of contacts, or a pair of glasses in order to drive home safely.

• Change of shoes: Because the area around the horses may be muddy and dirty, you may want to bring a change of shoes for the car ride home. It might also be helpful to bring a plastic bag for your shoes, so they do not get your vehicle muddy (horses WILL relieve themselves in their space when needed. And if you do not watch your step, it may be not only mud on your shoes. LOL).

• PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN WATER as it is not always provided.

* As it relates to temperature, we follow the guidelines for “Real Feel” or “Heat Index” weather conditions. For example: temperature + humidity {spring/summer} and temperature + wind chill {fall/winter} conditions at the farm.

Cold Weather

For the safety and comfort of our clients, we will not hold equine assisted sessions if the RealFeel* temperature is below 32 degrees. We also reserve the right to adjust this regulation if the wind chill is playing a part in the temperature of the day.

• Wear layers of clothing: shirts, turtlenecks, sweaters, jackets, etc.

• Please wear multiple pairs of socks and warm, waterproof shoes or boots. Even if the weather is moderate, the ground may be cold, muddy, or damp.

• Please wear a hat and make sure your hands are covered. Gloves are preferred to mittens so that you have the use of your fingers.

Warm Weather

• Wear layers of clothing. Even though it may be perfect weather forecasted for the day, the wind does blow and sometimes buildings or trees will be shading us, making it a bit chilly.

• PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN WATER as it is not always provided.

Hot Weather

• For the safety of the horses, we reserve the right to cancel sessions when the RealFeel* or Heat Index temperature is above 92 degrees.

• Despite hot, humid days, layers of clothing are still recommended – a tank shirt under a long-sleeved light weight blouse or shirt, for example.

  • We have found UV protective arm sleeves to be very effective in cooling and protecting your arms from the harmful UV rays. Items such as these can be found at your local sporting goods, outdoor store, or Amazon.

• Closed-toed shoes are required. Leather, (as opposed to canvas), shoes protect the foot better if the horse should step on you.

• Long pants (NOT SHORTS) are recommended.

• Head covering for protection from UV rays.

• A bandana dipped in cool water, or Frogg Toggs cooling rag, or a cooling neck Gator, hung around the neck can help you stay cool and comfortable if you are sensitive to the heat. Just be aware that even these items will be curious to the horses, and they may mouth or nibble at them.

• Water, Gatorade, or any other hydrating liquid of your choice. We do have the luxury of having a bathroom in the barn, so, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!