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HOME | WHY HORSES? | ADD/ ADHD PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN | OUR HORSES |
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MEET GAIL LINN | WHAT HORSES TEACH US | THERAPEUTIC RIDING | PROBLEM SOLVING | CONTACT |
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| For over 40 years,
horses have been recognized and used extensively in Europe for their
therapeutic value in helping people of all ages. Horses are
responsive animals with awareness and sensitivity to their
surroundings and people. Like people, each horse brings his own
personality into a relationship, along with his own limitations and
abilities. A person is accepted on that person's level of trust,
confidence, awareness, and interpersonal skills. Therefore, a
horse will often teach us what we need to learn to change to succeed
in personal relationships. A horse builds a person's
self-confidence and self-esteem as the relationship between horse and
person deepens.
Horses give us immediate and honest feedback about ourselves by reading our verbal and non-verbal communication. They often "mirror" back to us our feelings of anxiety, sadness, happiness, trust and a variety of other feelings. Whether working on the ground with a horse, grooming him, or riding through a series of challenging exercises, the horse is constantly reading our emotions. There are many ways to relate to a horse. Tactile and touching - by grooming or giving him a massage; verbal - the way you talk to a horse can reveal how you relate to people; riding and ground work - leading the horse from the ground or in the saddle can reveal your sense of power or helplessness you feel in your world. As all this transpires, the licensed professional counselor is working with you side-by-side and helping you process feelings and offer insight. Horses offer hope and encouragement. All ages of clients, whether they are having trouble with relationships, trouble with school, or trouble with life, see something with horses many have never experienced before - love and acceptance. Almost everyone walks away having learned lessons in hope, trust and respect that can be applied to everyday life and relationships. Horses are large and powerful, which creates an environment for a person to overcome fear and develop confidence. Accomplishing a task involving a horse provides a person with tools that he or she can take into the "real world" when challenged with other difficult situations in life. This is why horses can be a valuable partner in counseling and emotional healing. We are available to answer any further questions you may have about the fascinating world of therapy with horses. |
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"If you learn anything from horses, the first thing is the give and take of love." - Ron Harding, horse trainer |
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