How to Choose an Equine Therapy Program

Equine therapy programs are growing in popularity as an intervention for teens with emotional and behavioral issues. Why? Because equine therapy works. It is also a favorite form of therapy for teens, in large part because it doesn’t feel like therapy.

Many therapeutic boarding schools and residential treatment centers offer equine therapy programs for teens. But not all equine therapy programs are of the same quality and effectiveness. Here are a few questions to ask when researching equine therapy programs for your teen:

What is the program’s philosophy on horses?

Different equine therapy programs have different philosophies about horses and how they can help troubled teens. Some programs focus on teaching teens to get a horse to complete certain tasks or obey commands, while others emphasize the teens’ relationship with the horse.

Aspen Ranch, an adolescent residential treatment center with a renowned equine therapy program, views horses as co-therapists that can mirror the teens’ emotions and behaviors. Students learn to respect the horses rather than viewing them as objects to be controlled. The key to equine therapy in programs like Aspen Ranch is the close bond students develop with their horse companion.

How much interaction do teens have with the horses?

Some programs for troubled teens feature equine therapy as one small component of their treatment plan. Often, the program hires an outside service to bring a horse on campus once a week. The teens practice commands and spend time learning about the horse, but they may never ride, which limits their ability to establish a relationship with the horse.

Because some of the most important lessons teens can learn in an equine therapy program, such as trust, leadership, communication and empathy, stem from the close bond formed between horse and teen, these programs miss valuable opportunities for growth.

By contrast, the equine therapy program at Aspen Ranch is integrated into every aspect of student life. In addition to attending school, participating in experiential activities and meeting with their therapist, teens spend a significant amount of time with the herd of more than 30 horses.

From the beginning of their stay, the teens at Aspen Ranch start learning about horse behavior and herd dynamics as well as how to work safely around horses. Every student starts out riding bareback (without a saddle) to help them understand how to communicate with the horse using body movements rather than a bridle.

Once they demonstrate the necessary knowledge and skill, the students earn their saddle, which makes them eligible to go on off-campus trail rides and learn more difficult riding skills, such as jumping, barrel racing, training a young horse or penning the steers at the ranch.

Located on a sprawling ranch in southern Utah, Aspen Ranch is surrounded by national parks, green mountains and beautiful red rock desert. Because of its remote location, students can enjoy trail rides and other outdoor activities year-round, going up into the mountains during warmer months and into the desert during the winter.

Are therapists and staff certified? How rigorous is the certification process?

Another feature that distinguishes the best equine therapy programs is the level of training and experience of the staff.

There are numerous types of equine certifications available, and even among certified equine staff there are variations in knowledge and skill. For example, some equine certification programs only require one weekend of classes and training, while others take years of schooling and hands-on experience.

The Aspen Ranch certification program is among the most rigorous in the field. It features three different levels: basic, proficient and advanced. At the basic level, participants accrue a certain number of hours of riding time, practice group facilitation skills, and demonstrate an understanding of basic horse and human psychology.

At the proficient level, candidates must log 100 hours of riding time, begin to train horses and demonstrate proficiency in conducting equine-assisted psychotherapy activities with students. Those with advanced certifications demonstrate complete proficiency as both a horse trainer and therapist.

All of the therapists at Aspen Ranch have earned their basic certification and are working toward advanced certification – a process that takes more than three years and is comparable to a master’s degree in equine therapy.

How many horses does the program own? Are there any specialized equine programs?

Some equine therapy programs have only one horse that they bring to a school or residential treatment center once a week. Although these programs can be beneficial, programs that have a herd of horses have more therapeutic value.

Like people, different horses have different personalities. Having a number of horses to choose from allows the equine specialist to choose a horse that is appropriate for each teen’s goals. For example, a particularly stubborn horse may be paired with a strong-willed teen, providing more opportunities for the student to see himself mirrored in the horse.

The students at Aspen Ranch work one-on-one with a herd of 35 horses in horsemanship classes, therapy sessions, group activities and on trail rides.

In addition to a riding herd, some equine therapy programs offer specialized programs for teens with particular issues. For example, Aspen Ranch offers an equine hospice program that consists of a small herd of horses with terminal illness or other health problems that require specialized attention and care. The equine hospice program is ideal for teens with grief and loss issues, attachment problems or other emotional disturbances. Students participate in every aspect of caring for the ailing horses, from feeding, exercise and grooming to riding and end-of-life decisions.

Aspen Ranch also houses a small herd of untrained young horses, or mustangs. These horses are an ideal match for teens who are struggling with aggression, anger or defiance. As the teens realize how difficult it is to interact with a willful mustang, they gain a new appreciation for the people in their own lives and develop patience and improved communication skills.

Is the focus of the program on horsemanship skills or equine therapy?

Under the umbrella of “equine therapy” are two distinct types of programs: one that focuses primarily on horse handling and riding techniques (i.e., horsemanship), and one that focuses mostly on the therapeutic benefits of the relationship between adolescent and horse. Although both programs can be beneficial, teens in the latter type of program take the lessons learned with the horses, including positive communication, trust, leadership and anger management, and apply them to their own lives using analogy and metaphor.

Aspen Ranch offers a unique balance of horsemanship skills and equine therapy. Students’ equine sessions include grooming, observation, ground work, riding in an arena and trail rides, and therapy happens in a variety of settings, including an office and on horseback. The teens participate in structured activities with the horses and then process their feelings and behaviors with their therapist and peers.

By learning how to work with horses as well as how emotions and behaviors are mirrored in the reactions of the horses, teens begin to examine their negative behaviors and understand how to make positive changes.

Getting answers to these questions, and many more, will help you choose the best equine therapy program for your teen.