- What are Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy?
- Do I need to be a Counselor to do it?
- Do I need my own facility and horses?
- How long does it take (and how much does it cost) to certify?
These are just some of the questions that came up when I polled students within the Healing Hooves training program to find out what they needed to know – both when they first became interested in the field and once they embarked on their training journey.
This blog series answers the most frequently asked questions, plus gives you the opportunity to ask us new questions.
Each article in this series answers one specific question, starting with a quick answer for those of you who are super busy or prefer to skim, followed by a more in-depth answer for those of you looking for that.
If you have a question which hasn’t been answered in this series, or if my answers create new questions for you, please post these as a comment below and I will endeavor to answer them. We update this blog each year to keep it current and love to add new posts to answer new questions!
Our first article in the series answers the question, What is Equine Therapy? defining some of the different, and often confusing, terms and acronyms people use in this field, and what it all means. After that we will start answering your questions about training, certification, the role of the horse/ other animal and some practicalities about working in this exciting field.
If you’d like some answers right away, watch this short video from the TV series, Wild about Animals:
To see some more of the Healing Hooves horses and get a feel for how we work we encourage you to check out the rest of our website.
And remember to let us know what other questions you would like us to answer in the comments section below!
Wow. The short video from Wild About Animal: Healing Hooves was incredibly inspiring! Since entering the Child and Youth Care field 15 years ago I have always envisioned my career incorporating horses and other animals. Horses have had on amazing impact on my life and I have seen first hand, on many occasions, how even a small amount of exposure to animals can impact a child or youth in a positive way. I am so excited to begin this new stage of my career with such an amazing agency.
Thank you Kerie! I am looking forwards to meeting you in May!
Seeing the story of Luke and Dubh was striking. It is quite something to be able to see your therapist years later; in some ways, Dubh is an old friend and this video speaks to the power of a horse-human bond. Thanks for sharing this video on your blog!
I really enjoyed the video which really portrayed the power horses can have in a person’s journey of healing. I know the difference my horse made in my young life as a child and the impact horses had with the foster children I have been associated with. I am really excited to have this opportunity to continue this as a career choice.
I love this little intro video! It is fantastic to see what a lasting difference EFW has made in the lives of these two boys. Sue do you find that your client relationships/extended care are longer lasting in this line of work than say in a clinic setting?
I find they do Tara, yes. I believe its at least in part because you have an additional relationship happening – between the client and the horse (or other animal) and that can be a very powerful and long lasting relationship. I’ve had quite a number of clients come back to visit ‘their’ horse ten years after finishing a program with me!
Sue, do you have a cap on the number of sessions you provide (if the client is paying out of pocket and not limited by funding). I could imagine people pursuing ongoing counselling with the motivation of maintaining relationship with both animals and facilitators. How do you navigate this?
If people are no longer needing counselling but still want the animal/ horse connection I will usually refer them to another program (and sometimes even somewhere where they can volunteer with animals) which is a better fit for where their needs have progressed to – and likely cheaper for them too! We will also sometimes go to an ‘as needed’ basis with some clients where they know longer need regular sessions but want to have occasional check ins
Watching the video was both emotional and inspiring for me. I am in awe of the power of horses and excited for the opportunity to learn more from Healing Hooves and your staff and animals.
Thank you for sharing this video Sue. Watching this video provided a nice quick overview of what equine therapy has to offer and the healing that can take place on such profound levels. I look forward to meeting you, the horses and your team at Healing Hooves in May.
I really enjoyed the video. Is so nice to see the lasting impact these animals have in peoples lives.
The video, Wild about Animals is extremely inspiring! It’s a powerful video expressing the healing capacity of these magnificent creatures. It brought up some emotions within myself as it brought me back to my first experiences with horses and how ‘connecting’ with them changed my life (for the better of course!).
Great intro! I think the power of the interactions we have as kids are often underestimated. The bonds we make with people or memories we make with animals can have a profound impact on our character as we mature. After watching that short clip I can instantly bring to mind a list of people and critters that are cemented in my memory! Looking forward to delving into more of this 🙂
Great Stuff.
At work I get to see these interactions. I’m excited to see how to how I could possibly enhance these interactions between horses and rider.
what a wonderful healing experience for these people
These videos bring a lump to your throat! What a wonderful program.
This was a great video. I have worked with a lot of little boys who I could envision really finding this approach powerful. Very excited to see how I can learn and use horses to invite others to experience change making moments.
Such a sweet video. I can’t wait to hear more stories like Luke’s.
I can’t wait to meet Dubh and the rest of the herd! Super inspiring video 🙂
Do you have an age minimum for clients?
We do! Age 7. Younger than that we usually recommend that we work with the parent
What a great video! Love it!
I’m so happy to have enrolled in the Introductory course, and watching the film confirmed why this type of healing is so empowering. People can find it difficult to receive counselling from other people but animals seem to carry such magical, healing powers. Just watching this film made me emotional and realize that I’m embarking on a wonderful journey by enrolling.
Such a powerful message to show how the bond can last so many years and that the feeling he got when he was six has carried forward with him to this day!
Such a wonderful video with a beautiful explanation and a little insight into the benefits a program such as this can have on the people involved. Excited for the future !
Horses have the ability to show unconditional positive regard and form a therapeutic connection so quickly. I think humans can learn a lot from a horse’s approach.
Its great to see how impactful the relationship can be between an animal and client.
This is a very well made video hilighting your program Sue ! I am excited about being part of the introductory program starting this week, and really look forward to meeting you and your equine partners at Healing Hooves as soon as we are safe to do so.
Very touching – I always love to see the lasting impact that something can have on someone, in this case, a boy and equine therapy. It’s so nice to see Luke’s journey has been such a positive one, as he has grown into young adulthood, and seeing the relationship / bond that he still had with that beautiful horse after so many years seems to be evidence of a great experience.
What an incredibly moving video. Who wouldn’t fall for Dubh, he’s absolutely beautiful.
And he’s turning 30 this year!
Watching this video was a wonderful snapshot of the healing power that this work invites. My clinical training has invited me to consider that the impact of trauma, distress, or stress are all held in the body- the body remembers as we say. What is hope instilling and profound is that the impact of healing is also a felt sense on a deep somatic level. On a personal level, being in the presence of horses has always felt like a “coming home” for me to what it is to slow down and listen to the wisdom of the body’s capacity to calm, to regulate. Watching this video roused that felt sense for me. I feel such a sense of honour and privilege to begin this journey into EFW with this agency and with you all!
I appreciate how this video depicts the versatility of EFW. The young boy engaged in a number of therapeutic and regulating activities such as leading the horse through an obstacle course, riding the horse, grooming the horse, etc. Another interesting piece I picked up on is the incorporation of fine and gross motor skills that other, more traditional therapeutic practices, do not always incorporate. For example, the young boy tying the horses lead, walking with and riding the horse, grooming the horse and preparing the horse to be ridden (e.g., saddling the horse, etc.) I also appreciated the commentary around individuals accessing EFW when other therapies have failed them or not met their needs. In my practice, I work with high risk youth that have often suffered significant amounts of trauma and pain. The harm that has been brought to them is usually perpetrated by another human. As such, the presence of an animal can build the trusting relationship that the video spoke to and hopefully help to extend the client’s intimacy barrier and lend the trust to the facilitator and then generalize to other healthy individuals!
That’s a good point about the fine and gross motor skills development!
We can feel the energy of Healing Hooves throught the video.
I remember the first time I was touched by the soul of a horse … it will stay with me for a lifetime.
Watching this video again over a year later was just as enjoyable, and I still marvel at the healing potential of just being in the presence of an animal. Very touching to see how people remember their animal therapists so clearly no matter where their journeys take them.
Watching this video again reminded me of a time in my life a horse came in to my life. This special horse made a difference during a very tough time. I believe that is what was the start of a love for horses for myself through the years.
Thank you for sharing this video! It was lovely to get a glimpse of the work that you do at your center. It reminds me how important connection is for all species and that sometimes it is animals who only provide that acceptance in some peoples lives.
It was great to watch the video! I found it really useful to hear for the clients how important the connection was for them and how it was connected to healing and their therapeutic process. Thank you for sharing!
Such beautiful animals!
I really enjoyed this video. The part about a visit 13 years later and the connection that someone still feels after that amount of time is profound. It really shows how the holding on piece is important in this line of work.
very touching to hear Luke’s 6yr self claim “they like me!”
I love this video Sue! I’ve watched it at the beginning of my training with you and now again after I’ve gone through integration training. It gave me goosebumps then and it did as I watched it again today. It’s so amazing to see the power of connection with these animals and how that connection stands the test of time. My guess is that these connections will last a lifetime. How wonderful!
Yes – I’ve had quite a few clients return yen or more years later to visit with the horses and it has been quite profound how the connection has, as you say, stood the test of time. Shows how powerful attachment is!
Very powerful video!
A feeling of belonging can be created by human or animal, so wonderful to see this in action. Defining the terms used in this field adds so much clarity and allows to better articulate to others.
Such a great video showcasing what we do in the Equine Facilitated Wellness industry. I will have to share this video with others to show them what EFW is.
please do!
I so enjoy that you have captured the acceptance and positive regard from horses and how powerful this can be for individuals who have never experienced this with people. Such a great video!
This whole section is a valuable review and search engine for the course(s).
This is a gentle and gorgeous introduction to the world of equine facilitated wellness. From a learning perspective, it’s also very helpful as an exercise in empathy and an invitation to contemplate when and where I first found my connection with horses and remember what that felt like, just like our clients will do!
Such a powerful video and introduction to the work. This brings me back to when I met my first horse; feels like long ago, but forever in my heart!
Yes – these experiences stay with us!
Great video, and it reminds me of how good being around horses first felt when I was a child. I remember feeling very shy and awkward at school, but I could be myself when I was with the ponies and other kids helping out at the local riding school. I truly felt accepted and part of something important.
Such a great video. That feeling for individuals of being accepted and liked for who they are is so powerful. I bet if we looked at stats, many clients who thrive in EFW/AAT have tried other more traditional
therapies and not felt successful.
I think you’re right there Sue! Certianly many of our clients have tried many other approaches before coming to us!
Really helpful to recap the articles answering the questions above and love how the young people in the video are powerfully impacted by their encounters at healing hooves, and how this has stayed with them, and continues to have a positive effect on them even many years later.
Very well done video sharing the power of healing within a human horse connection! I love how Luke articulately sums up the process “when you have parallel struggles with an animal you can share that struggle together and when that happens healing starts to takes place on profound level.”