Equine Therapy for Addiction

The Power of Equine Therapy

Discover the Benefits of Equine Therapy for Mental Health and Well-being

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What is Equine Therapy?

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, or equine therapy, is an experiential (hands-on) psychotherapeutic intervention that uses interaction with horses as a way of exploring a patient’s behavioural patterns in an individual or group setting. Equine therapy can be used to address addiction, domestic abuse, behavioural disorders, depression, anxiety, and trauma.¹

Here at Castle Craig, our Equine Therapist is trained and certified in the EAGALA approach from the United States, which approach combines mental health practitioners’ expertise with the equine specialist’s knowledge of horses, and the intuitive, non-judgmental presence of the horses to create a dynamic therapeutic environment.

• A qualified equine therapist comes to Castle Craig once every two weeks with her horses to offer sessions of equine therapy.
• There is no riding involved and no prior horse knowledge is required, this therapy is also suitable for those with a fear of horses.
• Horse therapy is non-directive therapy that encourages individuals to find their own answers and take responsibility for their choices.
• There’s a strict code of ethics, prioritising the dignity and well-being of humans and horses at all times.
• Equine therapy is combined into patients’ care plans depending on their psychotherapeutic needs and personalised treatment plan. Not all patients will experience equine therapy at Castle Craig.

Research shows Equine Therapy can work with those affected by addictions, emotional trauma (including  PTSD and dissociative process), atypical behaviors, self-worth issues, abuse, eating disorders, learning difficulties, anxiety, and depression.²

Benefits of Equine Therapy in Addiction Rehab

Through Equine Therapy, patients not only build confidence but also begin to restore trust – both in themselves and others. Horses are perceptive animals that offer non-judgmental, genuine feedback through their responses, making them powerful allies in the therapeutic process. In their calm and steadfast presence, patients at Castle Craig can learn to build trust and self-assurance in a supportive environment, free from human judgment, creating a safe space for growing their recovery.

• Increased self-awareness
• Increased confidence
• Improved social skills
• Improved communication
• Anxiety reduction
• Greater trust
• Assertiveness
• Resilience
• Healthy boundaries
• Responding – not reacting
• Anger management

What Recovery Skills Can Equine Therapy Teach?

Thanks to their advanced animal instincts, horses can easily read intentions and feelings. According to EAGALA, horses become “metaphors in specific ground-based experiences”, meaning that horses can mirror human relationships, helping patients to spot unhealthy patterns in their own interpersonal interactions.

“The horses help the patients reflect on how their behaviour impacts the outside world. They can compare with what’s happening to them in real life and try to face some of their issues. Horses are naturally curious, social creatures who do not worry about ego, looks or qualifications. They don’t judge and they provide unconditional acceptance, a major factor in the healing process.” explains Aureol Gillan, Castle Craig’s EAGALA-trained specialist.

Equine Interactions Informing Therapy

Patient experiences during equine therapy sessions are examined together with the therapist afterwards. Equine therapy gives patients the opportunity to identify personal feelings, reactions and behaviours for themselves in a completely different environment to the typical therapy session.

“I feel noticeably calmer,” says one of our former patients, “less detached and able to interact better with people as my patience level has dramatically improved. My depression has lessened as well.”

“Equine Therapy isn’t about the horses, it’s all related to recovery and the 12 Steps. This is a different way of doing group therapy… It’s about learning what we need to change, about how our behaviours are effective and not so effective and looking at how can we learn to change them.” -Aureol Gillan, Equine Therapist, Castle Craig.

Why Does Equine Therapy Work?

Horses can put their 50 million years of successful existence down to healthy boundaries and expert communication on a non-verbal level. Engaging with them and our activities offer alternative ways of relating to the world around us.

• As prey animals, horses have an instinctual fear of danger and can read the intentions of another from a great distance. This means they can accurately tell what we are feeling – even if we are not yet aware of it. Thus, they act as a mirror to what is going on in our lives, giving instant, honest feedback which catalyses our healing.
• Horses are masters at self-regulation or the ability to ‘ground’ themselves after any difficulty or trauma. Being close to their calm energy can allow us to do the same, eventually incorporating this learning into our everyday life.
• Due to their sheer size and physical presence, the horse can incite different reactions and emotions in us depending upon our life experiences. This creates a natural opportunity to examine the power dynamics within our relationships.
• Horses are naturally curious, social creatures who do not worry about ego, looks, or qualifications and have no ulterior motives. They stay in the present moment and provide unconditional acceptance, a significant factor in the healing process.

An Example of an Equine Therapy Task

One exercise involves acting as a team to guide a horse around a field, with participants embodying different “sides” of the brain. The simple task of bridling and leading a horse can become a complex challenge, highlighting communication, trust, and problem-solving skills. The team may face obstacles together, revealing personal tendencies like control issues, showcase difficulty in letting go, and where there is a tendency to ignore instructions. These reflections mirror real-life struggles and provided useful insights that can be applied beyond the session and discussed as a group or with a therapist afterwards.

References:

1. EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) is the Global Standard in Equine Therapy.

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