Equine assisted coaching is a form of therapy using horses to help promote emotional growth. Horses can respond immediately to our behaviors and give feedback to our actions. They are also able to mirror our emotions. Because horses behave like we do in their social and responsive behavior, it is easy for us to establish connections with horses and gain insight into ourselves and others in the process. At Blue Ray of Hope, equine assisted coaching is a key aspect of our approach to achieving holistic health and wellbeing, where we combine the restorative beauty of the West Virginia countryside with proven equestrian therapy techniques.
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
– Winston Churchill
Benefits of Equine Assisted Coaching
Equine assisted coaching can benefit anyone and is especially helpful for adults and children with mental health issues, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, autism, dementia, delays in mental development, Down syndrome and other genetic syndromes, depression, addiction, eating disorders, trauma and brain injuries, and behavior and abuse issues. Using equestrian therapy techniques, we focus on the following:
- Building a sense of self-worth and self-concept
- Improving communication and assertiveness
- Building trust and self-efficiency
- Developing socialization skills and decreasing isolation
- Learning impulse control and emotional management
- Setting perspective
- Learning limits and boundaries
- Improving stress tolerance and flexibility
- Becoming more independent and socially responsible
At Blue Ray of Hope, our goal is to build hope and create joy where it has been lacking or lost. We work with those who are on the journey to learning how to embrace life and live fully, now and into the future. Equine assisted coaching helps the individual, the family, and the community overcome obstacles that prevent us all from moving forward. Sometimes, we simply lose sight of our inner strength due to an ocean of fears, trauma, and pain. For many, a horse provides the bridge over that ocean and reconnects us to our true selves capable of reaching our full potential.
While working with horses under the guidance and supervision of an equine coach, you also have a unique and effective opportunity to identify behavior patterns, process thoughts and emotions, and note any tendency to engage in self-defeating and otherwise negative thoughts and actions. These realizations provide excellent bases for discussion and processing both during and after the equine assisted coaching experience.