What is the Equine Growth & Learning Program?
The equine growth and learning program focuses on dynamic group interaction as well as individual interaction between humans and animals. This mode of learning allows a person to cultivate trust and optimism while at the same time building communication skills. It can be highly therapeutic for men and women seeking help from a drug treatment center, for those seeking relief from illnesses, for someone needing bulimia help or for children with mental disorders.
Interacting with horses helps humans to remember our connection with all things in nature. Horses are powerful yet graceful creatures, and are extremely forgiving. The relationship an individual may forge with this animal acts as a metaphor for our relationship with ourselves. It reminds us of the essential importance of respecting and taking care of our bodies as we learn to channel the compassion that we apply to the animals, and direct it towards ourselves. This is an especially important lesson to learn for those in an anorexia nervosa treatment center, bulimia clinic, drug treatment center or a facility for compulsive over-eating.
A horse’s sensitivity to body language and other non-verbal cues allows us to discover and examine unconscious signals that we may be communicating to other people and the world around us. In therapies, such as eating disorder support, understanding this non-verbal communication is imperative. For residents at an eating disorder treatment center, the horse becomes a “co-therapist” and serves as a listener and a mirror that reflects our feelings, thoughts and emotions. Horses rely upon their instincts instead of judgments and preconceived thoughts or behaviors when interacting with humans. This is what makes equine growth and learning so unique.
Who Can Benefit From the Equine Growth & Learning Program?
People who might benefit from equine growth and learning programs include:
- People in need of eating disorder treatment
- Children with Attention Deficit Disorder
- Those suffering from chemical dependency in need of drug rehab
- Someone dealing with pain
- Autistic Children
- Those with mental and emotional disorders
Benefits of the Equine Growth & Learning Program
Specific benefits of equine growth and learning programs include:
- Builds trust and optimism
- Demonstrates the thrill of achievement
- Encourages patience
- Builds team working skills
- Confronts fears
- Alleviates psychological stress
- Provides positive support
- Teaches proper care of animals
- Builds communication skills
- Encourages honesty
- Addresses anger management