Equine Therapy: Working with Therapists Who Use Horses

Equine therapy is a type of animal therapy that integrates riding and caring for horses into the practice of talk therapy. The treatment is also known as equine-assisted or equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFPT), or sometimes called hippotherapy.

Equine therapists use horses in treating mental health conditions like depression, physical conditions including cerebral palsy, and the developmental challenges of autism. This hands-on therapy uses a variety of creative tools and techniques during treatment.

This article will explain what equine therapists do and how their work can benefit people diagnosed with a range of issues. It also presents information on training and certification for those interested in equine therapy work.

What Is Equine Therapy?

A licensed equine therapist and a horse professional conduct the EFPT session together to help the client work toward their therapeutic goals. There are different models of practice; the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) model, for example, is ground-based.

In addition to EFPT, an equine therapist may offer:

• Equine-facilitated learning, integrating mindfulness and other therapies
• Hippotherapy with an emphasis on the movement of the horse to benefit motor and sensory skills
• Therapeutic riding, with a mounted experience that benefits people with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, and others

During a typical session, a client may groom, feed, walk, and engage in games or exercises with one or multiple horses. Props can allow for processing an experience symbolically. For example, a client may set up an obstacle course and observe how the horse interacts with the props.

Both during and after the activity, the equine therapist can observe and interact with the client to identify behavior patterns, as well as help process thoughts and emotions.

EAGALA-type therapy typically is focused on mental health. Some equine therapists work to improve physical conditions, though, and that may involve riding horses. Riding during hippotherapy has been shown to improve posture in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

There's also some evidence that riding horses can help with chronic pain and mobility issues in older adults living with arthritis.

What Equine Therapists Treat

Equine-facilitated psychotherapy has been found to be useful for treating people with a variety of conditions and/or concerns, such as:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Substance use disorder
• Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Challenges with self-esteem, self-awareness, and decisiveness
• Mood-related issues
• Adjusting to life after prison
• Depression
• Anxiety

Equine therapy may also help clients learn to trust other beings, as well as themselves. This is especially helpful for individuals processing traumatic experiences such as intimate partner violence.

Why Therapists Use Horses

Horses are prey animals and are very sensitive to their environment. They live in the moment and can provide instant feedback on the situation they are experiencing. This makes them a very useful part of the therapeutic team as they can reflect a person's emotional experience.

Horses have unique personality traits that may remind a person of aspects of themselves or others in their life. In some cases, clients may feel like they can engage in a relationship with a horse that feels safe and free from criticism. In other cases, the horse may embody the person or situation they are struggling with.

In both circumstances, the horse can be a tool for processing and healing.

Training as an Equine Therapist

There is no specific independent certification that is required to practice EFPT. However, any individual who offers mental health counseling or psychotherapy must be properly credentialed and legally qualified to practice in their state or other jurisdiction.

Some therapists may seek an optional certification from an organization of professionals specializing in this form of therapy.

The Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals (CBEIP) is an independent board that certifies mental health and education professionals through an exam, as well as a review of relevant experience.

The CBEIP is not part of any other certifying organization. There are significant prerequisites to registering for the examination. The CBEIP does not certify horse specialists or riding instructors.

EAGALA certifies both mental health professionals and horse specialists. To become certified, a person must complete an online course and onsite training program, pass an exam, and submit a professional portfolio. Its philosophy is ground-based.

Certification from Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH) is more focused on treating physical conditions and includes riding therapies. Equine therapists also can complete an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning certification.

Summary

Equine-facilitated psychotherapy is an experiential therapy that may be used to treat a variety of conditions and concerns. Some include autism, ADHD, and PTSD. Equine-assisted psychotherapy is an evidence-based practice, and research supports its benefits in treating symptoms like those related to trauma and stress.

During a session, clients may interact with one or multiple horses in structured or unstructured ways. While a horse specialist helps with handling the animal(s), an equine therapist works with a person to help them process what they are thinking and feeling.