Horses are intuitive animals that can mirror human emotions, providing an opportunity for introspection and understanding. They can also play an important role in reducing anxiety, decreasing stress levels, and building trust within relationships. These skills can particularly benefit those who are in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) and other mental health disorders. Because of this, equine therapy is a program that many in recovery are encouraged to try.

At our facility at Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, we are proud to offer equine and animal therapy as one of our many methods of treating addiction and co-occurring mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Our team believes that both mental health disorders and addiction are very complex issues. In addition, everyone’s experience with these things is unique, and everyone heals in different ways.

We believe in the whole-person approach when it comes to treatment. This involves treating the individual as a whole and not their addiction. The emotional challenges and mental health struggles must also be addressed to get to the root of the problem and ensure long-term healing. We believe that equine therapy can help in this process when used alongside other traditional forms of treatment.

What Is Equine Therapy?

We know that studies throughout the years have determined that there are many different kinds of mental health-related benefits associated with spending time with animals. Animals offer emotional support, can reduce loneliness, boost your mood, and even reduce stress and anxiety. It’s because of this, that therapy dogs are often utilized in environments like hospitals, nursing homes, and even classrooms. They can help those who are going through stressful life circumstances, recovering from an accident, or healing from trauma.

Equine therapy can be used for similar purposes and can help provide a multitude of the same benefits. Equine therapy is sometimes referred to as equine-assisted psychotherapy or more simply, horse therapy. It involves using horses as part of a therapeutic process to treat those who may be struggling with a variety of mental, physical, and emotional health problems. Some of the most common conditions equine therapy is issued to treat include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and SUD.

Equine therapy can look a little different depending upon the specific needs of the individual as well as their physical abilities. An equine therapy session can also be tailored to a specific person and what they are most hoping to accomplish through treatment. Equine therapy can take many forms, including:

Grooming and helping to care for the horse
Feeding the horse
Riding the horse (also called hippotherapy)
Leading the horse
Learning to observe the horse’s behavior
Understanding how to communicate with a horse in a non-verbal manner

Horses have played an important part in society for centuries. From providing a means of transportation to being used for both companionship and healing in more recent years, we can’t underestimate the value that these animals have to offer.

Who Can Benefit From Equine Therapy?

Anyone can experience benefits from equine therapy no matter their age, gender, background, or physical capabilities. In particular, those struggling with the following conditions may especially find value in this type of treatment:

Eating disorders
Anxiety disorders
Depression
Trauma and abuse recovery
PTSD
Behavioral issues
Mood disorders
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
SUD
Those struggling with stress management

What Can Equine Therapy Help With?

Equine therapy offers a holistic way of getting to the root of a specific mental health disorder and promoting long-term healing. It also helps to teach a variety of different skills that an individual can take with them and use for years to come. At Profound Treatment, we also often look at how equine therapy can be used to aid in treating deep-rooted trauma as well as other factors that may have influenced substance misuse.

Equine Therapy Helps With Substance Use Disorder

Addiction is a complex issue that involves a variety of psychological, emotional, and behavioral factors. Because horses are such intuitive animals, they can be particularly beneficial for those working to build self-awareness and emotional regulation. Many people who struggle with substance misuse have used drugs or alcohol to numb their emotions for a long time. In fact, they may be at a point where they no longer know how they are truly feeling or what emotions they are grappling with.

Horses can mirror the emotions of the person that they are working with. For example, when a rider is anxious or nervous, the horse may act that way, too. However, when a rider is calm and confident, the horse is more likely to reflect those emotions as well. This type of mirroring and emotional feedback can help someone who is in recovery from substance abuse gain better insight and awareness into how they are feeling.

Equine therapy can also help with self-regulation and impulse control, a skill that can particularly benefit someone in recovery from substance abuse. While working with a horse, it is important to remain calm and focused and to keep your emotional levels even. A horse is going to respond better to someone who has control of themselves and their emotions in this way. Over time and practice working with a horse, the ability to self-regulate and control your impulses is going to come much more naturally.

Equine Therapy Helps With Trauma, Stress and Anxiety

Trauma, stress, and anxiety are often factors that play into substance misuse, if not the root cause of it entirely. Many people struggle to put their experiences with trauma into words. This may be because they have been trying to keep memories of it buried for so long. Or it could be because it is simply too painful for them to talk about. Equine therapy offers a therapeutic treatment option that does not require verbal communication.

While working with a horse, you can communicate in other ways, such as through touch, your energy levels, and even changes in your body language. This is one of the many factors that make equine therapy an excellent choice for someone who may be unwilling or unable to communicate verbally about their trauma.

Equine therapy can also be used to treat the stress and anxiety that a person may be feeling that has contributed to their substance misuse. Working with animals can be very calming and can relax the nervous system while relieving symptoms of anxiety. This practice can also promote grounding, which encourages the individual to be present in the moment instead of focused on stressful thoughts. In time, working with animals can make it easier for someone to regulate their nervous system effectively on their own.

Equine Therapy Helps Improve Mental Health

Equine therapy can help improve mental health in many different ways. By reducing stress levels and encouraging better emotional regulation, the individual can become less likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. Beyond even these things, however, this form of therapy can boost self-confidence and joy while providing a sense of companionship. All of these factors together can improve an individual’s quality of life in a very dramatic way.

The Impact of Building and Restoring Relationships With a Horse

Struggling with an untreated addiction or mental health disorder can be a very isolating experience. Many people who are struggling choose not to reach out for help if share what they’re going through with those closest to them. This could be because they don’t feel like they will be understood or that they may even be judged if they open up. As a result, they may withdraw from friends and family, which can lead to loneliness and other mental health problems.

Untreated substance misuse can often take a toll on relationships in other ways as well. It may cause the individual to say or do things they don’t really mean while under the influence. Substance misuse can also lead to broken trust within relationships that can be hard to regain. In recovery, repairing these relationships is very much possible but can take time and patience.

Equine therapy is a great option for someone who may want to start working toward building or repairing relationships with others but might not know where to start. Maybe they are worried about opening themselves up and being vulnerable only to get hurt. Perhaps they are afraid that others will judge them because of their past mistakes. Equine therapy provides the ability to work on relationship-building skills without having to worry about these possibilities.

A Horse Is a Social Animal

Horses are naturally social animals. This is why when they are found in public, they are often seen in herds. Horses like being in groups both for socialization and for safety reasons. When animals are properly socialized with humans, they can provide great companionship, and a powerful bond can be established.

Like other animals, such as dogs, horses can communicate using non-verbal cues. This could come in the form of body language, such as the flicking of their tail or even their facial expressions. As a horse and its handler get to know one another better, they will also begin to understand each other’s forms of communication. This allows equine therapy to be a great way to develop important social skills.

Horses Are Non-Judgmental

Unlike many humans, horses are non-judgmental beings. They aren’t going to hold your past mistakes against you or view you differently depending upon certain struggles you may going through. This is what can help many people in recovery feel more comfortable working on social skills during this type of therapy.

Practice Mindfulness: Working With a Horse Is Living in the Present

Many people who are in recovery from substance misuse or other types of mental health disorders may have difficulty focusing on the present. They may find themselves preoccupied with their past mistakes. Perhaps their anxiety is often connected to things about the future they cannot control. It can be difficult to break the habit of these spiraling thoughts.

However, working with a horse through equine therapy requires focusing on the present. It is crucial to stay aware of your mood, energy level, and body language as you work to keep the horse calm. Thus, over time, equine therapy can promote better mindfulness. This is an important skill for recovery.

Helps With Overcoming Fears

Stepping out of your comfort zone can be very difficult, especially when it involves doing something you’ve never done before. However, overcoming your fears promotes growth and can aid in recovery from substance misuse as well as other mental health disorders. If you’ve never worked with horses before, equine therapy can push you towards overcoming the hesitancies you may have. Later on, you will likely feel more confident after having accomplished something you were intimidated by.

How Does Equine Therapy Apply to Other Relationships?

The communication and social skills that you learn through equine therapy can be applied to other relationships in your life. For example, you can learn how to build trust and how to set proper boundaries when connecting with new people. These things can be key for both building and maintaining strong, healthy relationships in recovery.

When working with a horse for the first time, it takes time to form a bond with it. You have to earn its trust. However, once you accomplish this, the horse is going to cooperate and perform at its best. At the same time, you have to be able to trust the horse with your safety as well.

It is through this growth of mutual trust formed through equine therapy that you can learn a lot about how trust works within meaningful relationships as well. While it takes time and consistency, the result is well worth it.

Equine Therapy Is a Wonderful Complementary Option for Treatment

Equine therapy is considered a great complementary option for treatment. In other words, it can be used alongside other more traditional forms of treatment. At Profound Treatment, equine therapy is typically used alongside the following traditional forms of treatment:

Talk Therapy: A one-on-one counseling session between an individual and a therapist
Group Therapy: A group discussion-based counseling session involving shared experiences
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): A type of therapy aimed at identifying dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): A type of therapy aimed at promoting better emotional regulation and mindfulness

Equine Therapy at Profound Treatment

Perhaps you believe equine therapy may be a great fit for your needs and you are interested in how to get started. At our facility, Profound Treatment, in Los Angeles, California, we can work with you toward taking the first step. You would begin by working with our admissions team to identify what your needs are and what specific goals you most want to focus on. We will guide you through the admissions process and help ensure you know exactly what to expect.

Following an equine therapy session, we’ll ensure that you and your treatment team remain on the same page regarding your progress. We’ll also ensure that you know what your options are in terms of aftercare treatment. This can help ensure you enjoy a long-lasting successful recovery when you do feel ready to leave our facility.

If you’ve never worked with horses before, you may feel a little unsure of what to expect. Rest assured that you don’t need former experience with horses to enjoy the benefits of equine therapy. In fact, many of the individuals we work with during equine therapy sessions have limited or no experience with horses in the beginning.

We will start slow and guide you every step of the way. Before long, you will not only feel confident with the horse you’re working with but will begin to experience the many benefits associated with this wonderful type of therapy.

When it comes to a person’s journey with addiction, it is a very unique, complex, and personal experience. It is important that treatment for substance use disorder reflects this by offering an individualized experience that best fits your needs. At Profound Treatment in Los Angeles, California, we recognize that everyone heals and grows in different ways. Thus, the type of treatment that may best suit one person’s needs could not be the best fit for the next person. At our facility, we offer a variety of different kinds of treatments that include both traditional and holistic methods. These treatments can be used in conjunction with one another. To learn more about treatment, call (310) 340-2609 today.