Equine Assisted Therapy

At Rio de Esperanza, equine assisted therapy involves clinical professionals that have been specially trained and experienced in guiding others to expose, understand, and address emotional and behavioral issues through interaction with horses. This experience is not about riding but rather interacting with horses for the purpose of gaining insight and awareness of habitual patterns that may or may not be helpful. The horse mirrors the unconscious emotional state of its handler, this process hleps clients develop a deeper connection to their emotions, behavior and any blocks to recovery. The experiential process facilitates lasting change within the self because the transformation is occurring on multiple levels. Equine assisted therapy has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of mental and behavioral health challenges.

How it works: Horses are powerful teachers as they are sensitive to your conscious and unconscious emotions as well as the actions and intentions behind them. It is common language to say, "A horse can sense your fear," however, in actuality horses are aware of all your feelings and emotions. The horse's ability to read non-verbal communication is a well developed survival skill and very much a part of how the horse has evolved and survived as a species. Because they are preyed upon in nature, these sensitive, mindful creatures have maintained a highly developed ability to respond to their handlers subtle changes in stance, muscle tension, breathing and emotional arousal levels. Horses therefore respond to both positive and negative changes in the handler's behavior, offering people constant feedback and timely rewards for their actions. The Equine Guidance horses will assist you in creating lasting internal change that can support your recovery, relationships and life.