LEADING WITH HORSES
LEADING WITH HORSES
LEADING WITH HORSES
About Our Services
We are proud to bring the benefits of equine-assisted activities to the most vulnerable and underserved demographics of youth through an inclusive and sensory-rich environment. EAP offers a comprehensive approach to building resilience and conquering the negative health and behavioral consequences of trauma and toxic stress. We empower individuals to improve their quality of life by providing life-changing experiences that inspire the mind, strengthen the body, and lift the spirit.
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OUR THREE PROGRAMS ARE;
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The Pursuit of Harmony - a program designed for youth who are facing cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges to discover their full potential. A safe place and healthy activity that does not include professional therapy, but a therapeutic environment. This is available to schools, other nonprofit youth groups, and individuals on a case-by-case basis.
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Military Support Group and Equine Art Class - this gathering is dedicated to providing fellowship and a healthy activity for military families through a creative outlet.
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Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning - a service for licensed mental health professionals to incorporate equine-assisted psychotherapy into their existing treatment plan
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Pursuit of Harmony: Discovering balance and truth through the wisdom and connection of horses
The SCR farm and herd is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment. It's a safe haven for youth facing cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges to discover their full potential and improve their quality of life through equine-assisted activities.
Well-structured equine activities have been proven to be an effective therapy. Research has shown that it can lower blood pressure and heart rate, relieve stress, and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. This approach helps individuals gain a deeper understanding of their behaviors and fosters personal growth, including the development of essential life skills, effective communication, problem-solving, teamwork, taking responsibility, and building confidence.
Our diverse programs are designed to foster a sense of belonging and connection. Alongside one-on-one time with the horses, we offer a variety of activities involving art and music to tap into the power of creativity. We are here to support and empower individuals on their journey to healing and self-discovery.
Military Support Group and Equine Art Class: A supportive space for military families
We are honored to support military families through our transformative art class and equine activities.
Our goal is to offer a supportive environment where military members can come together for a rejuvenating art experience, surrounded by their own community. And, where they can experience the profound impact and solace that these majestic animals can bring.
Guiding the art sessions is Katie Staib, former Director of Education for the Washington Museum of Art and Culture (MAC). This all-age friendly program includes specially tailored activities for kids, ample space for personal reflection, and meaningful interactions with our magnificent horses. Soon to be included will be music therapy.
The Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning (EAPL)
part of our program is a platform for mental health professionals to incorporate EAPL into their existing treatment plan as an alternative to conventional talk therapy.
The dynamic collaboration between mental health professional and equine specialist expands the role horses play in education, mental health and overall well-being. A special collection of distinguished retired sport horses at SCR provide an adjunct alternative to conventional talk therapy for both therapist, or families visiting independently. We also offer EAPL workshops and certification programs through H.E.A.L for mental health professionals to best utilize horses in their therapy sessions.
Our program is available to anyone who is currently being treated by a therapist, licensed counselor, or enrolled in a program with one of our partners. Our focus is on military families, youth development and family counseling. SCR offers the only EAPL program in Washington that is free to the community if your visit is through your therapist. We are funded by public donation, grants and program service fees from our mental health partners.
EAPL is an evidence based therapy which has proven its effectiveness throughout a wide range of mental disorders and emotional trauma. In most cases the therapist works privately with their client and the horse(s). Our HIPPA certified equine specialists are only there as much or little as needed to ensure privacy. Therapists address a multitude of issues effecting both adults and youth such as depression, PTSD, anti-bullying, domestic violence, and suicide intervention and awareness.
Our special collection of retired sport horses have been together for more than a decade and are distinctively trained to partner with people. In a number of ways, they demonstrate their exceptional capacity of teaching and healing abilities. We are building resilience in families and addressing the negative health and behavioral consequences of trauma and toxic stress. Our program delivers an environment that fosters emotional growth and allows therapists / doctors an effective tool to counsel those who are moving forward from trauma.
Our program does not include riding or riding instruction at this time. EFP is focused on human skills, not horse skills. Allowing horses and client to interact naturally and of their own free will is what leads to change in people’s lives. Of course there are boundaries and safety training involved – still, it’s more about the relationship between the horses and clients, not the relationship between the facilitators and clients. Professionals are there to facilitate opportunities and bring perception or realization to the lessons being learned.
How It Works
By integrating the horse-to-human connection, we offer experiential learning where the meaning and the process is solely based on the individual’s personal experience, rather than being “taught” through someone else’s experience. Often professionals find their clients to be more receptive of accepting information from the horses through this non-verbal, alternative to talk therapy. And, as well, more open to expressing themselves, than if directly speaking about their issues. By allowing them to process information in a different way, it allows professionals to observe their client’s triggers and respond to them in real-time counseling. The professional and client can work freely in a safe environment to elicit, decipher, prove and encourage their clients healing and growth. This team approach of licensed mental health professional and equine expert offers a safe, controlled environment for the client. Sessions are structured and facilitated to specifically address the reasons clients come to therapy, and designed to best create metaphors to “real life”. Clients have shown us that the they truly do have the answers they seek, when given the opportunity to discover them.
Why Horses?
The unique nature of the horse is what makes the therapy so successful. Horses reflect the behavior and emotional state of the people around them and provide us with immediate and effective feedback. The most important element of therapy is trust. There is an unspoken truth that horses don’t lie or deceive. Not because they are altruistic, but because they are incapable of deceit as an animal who cannot concoct an alternate tale of reality. As the horse builds trust, they connect deeper with the person. This quite often provides the client with a feeling of comfort and the opportunity to break down barriers and address the challenges they have been facing. Horses have a majestic and powerful presence. For people who lack confidence, being put in a position of leadership over a 1000lb animal and successfully managing that animal can build self-esteem and self-confidence. Or even those who have false overconfidence, the horse teaches humility through example as these powerful creatures live peacefully and cooperatively with us.
The three basic aspects of learning from equine therapy;
Metaphoric Learning
Horses share much of the same personality traits and emotions as humans; they are dynamic, playful, curious, emotionally sensitive – but more consistently, honest, and unbiased. Activities with the horses challenge participants to work together to find solutions through positive communication and collaboration. It is an experience that becomes a metaphor for real-life situations. The unpredictability of these activities and their outcomes require participants to apply and develop important relationship and life skills. The most important aspect of these activities is not whether the goal is achieved but rather identifying patterns of behavior and emotional response that relates to the modern-day experience.
Experiential Learning
The strength of experiential learning is that the meaning and the process is solely based on the individual’s personal experience, rather than being “taught” through someone else’s experience. As prey animals, horses have evolved exquisitely sensitive perceptual abilities that far exceed that of humans. As herd animals, they have developed a refined ability to read body language and emotional incongruence. Horses are masters of presence. The horses are powerful teachers of the integrity of will, intent, energy, and alignment. Quite simply, horses change the way we see ourselves.
Non-Verbal Communication
People typically learn best by doing. Life lessons take deeper root when individuals understand them in their minds and experience them in their bodies. Horses respond with unique insight into exactly who we are in the moment. They are profoundly gifted reflectors of our true selves because their very survival depends on reading us correctly. Subtle changes in our actions or behaviors can provoke responses that give us immediate feedback about ourselves – they are an excellent source of organic biofeedback able to mirror our emotions and provide non-judgmental feedback. Through interaction with the horse, even running a hand over a neck, or putting fingers out to touch a muzzle, can do much to open a door to ideas or thoughts not before disclosed. In a world of technology, voice, the spoken kind has seemed to have lost its importance. What horses offer to the community is an exploration of the self and self-discovery. A model of the show and not tell.
Leading with Horses has created a safe place for coaches, therapists, researchers, and individuals to explore their behaviors. We believe horses are uniquely adapted to coach humans. SCR offers a curriculum and structure that provides opportunities to teach critical life and communication skills.
Benefits of EAP
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Honest, non-judgmental feedback gains immediate trust – clients are willing to be more emotionally vulnerable.
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Stimulus/Response: immediate responses by the horse demonstrates patterns of behavior and belief systems by both equine and handler
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Non-verbal interaction tests ideas of connection and attachment. Horses communicate mostly with body language and limited vocal communication. Thus, clients are able to observe and practice how non-verbal communication might be impacting or influencing others in their lives.
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Awareness and Focus. Handling a large and powerful animal or dealing with the unknown creates a need for boundaries, awareness, and horsemanship/handling requires that we are observant, focused, and attentive.
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Confidence: Horses are a majestic and powerful presence. For those who lack confidence, successfully managing and training a horse can build self-esteem and self-confidence. Or even those who have false overconfidence, the horse teaches humility through example as these powerful creatures live peacefully and cooperatively with us.