Denton County Living Well Magazine March/April 2020 | Page 18

EMOTIONAL BREAKTHROUGH USING
EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EAP)
By Georgia Smith-Lyle, MA, LPC-S
H
orses were domesticated about 5,000 years
ago. That’s a long time. They have been used in
all areas of life from travel, ranch and farm work
to leisure and sporting events.
large so they can detect smells from far away.
The physic of a horse and the way they interact in their sur-
roundings tells us they are extremely sensitive to everything
and anyone around them. This is why they have gained
Much has been learned about these majestic animals. They popularity in being used for healing of trauma and other
are a “herd” animal, as opposed to a “pack” animal like emotional issues in the world of psychotherapy–– Equine
Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP).
dogs or coyotes. Because they
are a herd animal, they have a
Horses feel the emotions of
people and some horses ab-
basic instinct to protect the oth-
EQUINE
THERAPY
IS
ALSO
USE-
sorb the same emotion. They
er horses in the group and they
travel in their group. When they
FUL FOR TRAUMA (WITH OUR WAR have an intuitive sense about
them that is stronger than most
are threatened by a predator or
VETERANS
OR
THOSE
WHO
HAVE
humans. They remember ex-
detect harm, they will surround
and defend the horse(s) that are
SUFFERED ABUSE AND GRIEF) AND pressions on the face of peo-
ple. They are highly sensitive
in danger. They also will draw
to the touch of a human. Many
the attention away from the herd
horses will observe the emo-
to themselves in order to protect
tion of a person who interacts
the others.
with them. Emotions such as
rejection, betrayal, fear, anxi-
From these basic caring instincts
of staying together to defend at all cost, we know horses ety, depression, grief, joy, gladness, and peace are exam-
feel deeply and have a strong sense of their surroundings. ples of what they feel.
They are more aware of their surroundings than humans
and can see and hear in all directions. Their ears can move Equine therapy is also useful for trauma (with our war vet-
front, side, and to the back of them for acute hearing. Their erans or those who have suffered abuse and grief) and
eyes are positioned on the side of their faces so they can working through extreme fear. Leadership and team build-
see all around them. Their noses are large and nostrils ing for businesses or groups is also another way a horse is
WORKING THROUGH
EXTREME FEAR.
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DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MARCH/APRIL 2020