I read a very interesting article about Equine Therapy in Eating Disorder Treatment. Aimee Liu also talks about the use of horses in eating disorder programs in her book Gaining. Here is what I learned:
Horses, as animals of prey, are "extremely sensitive to fear, stress and confusion" in those that handle them. To calm a horse, the handler must become "calm and focused". Clients need to express themselves and they cannot hide how they are feeling.
Clients are given exercises were they have to persuade horses to do certain tasks without speaking.
If handlers move to quickly, impulsively, erratically, impatiently, or in a rush, the horse can become distressed, scared and not respond. And, in contrast, as in the case with many restrictive anorexics, if their approach to the horse is "too quiet and timid" the horse will not respond at all.
The relationship between the horse and these patients helps them experience unconditional acceptance (horses will not judge, criticize) and at the same time will help clients safely experience relationships, interactions and situations that, as Aimee Liu says, are far from perfect and unpredictable, just as life is far from perfect and unpredictable.
According to Carolyn Costin, the only way clients can complete exercises in Equine Therapy, is by "slowing down, paying attention to what they are thinking, how they are moving, and what they are feeling".
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So if you were to ride a horse right now, how do you think it would respond? What would it sense from you?
peace, hope and love,
Lily
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