The different types of Equine Therapy and which might be right for you.
Did you know that there are multiple types of Equine Therapy? There are quite a few and sometimes facilitators use multiple names to describe the same model of Equine Therapy, so it can be confusing.
Currently there is no universal language used to describe these different models or types of Equine-Assisted Activities. On top of the lack of a universal descriptive language there is also no specific certification or degree required to provide Equine-Assisted Activities. So how can you, the seeker of these unique services, be an informed consumer and find the right fit for you?
I can help bring some clarity. In this post I will share my takeaways from an article, as well as share the reference, that attempts to create a common language about the different types of Equine-Assisted Activities. I will also share some resources for finding providers that are certified. That way, you can be have some of the knowledge you need to find the type of service and certified professional(s) you are looking for.
To begin, I would like to state that most of what I am going to share is from an article or an agency, but this is also from my personal experience of finding a path to Equine Therapy and researching different certifying agencies.
Ok. Let’s jump in.
The article I am referring to is titled “Optimal Terminology for Services in the United States That Incorporate Horses to Benefit People: A Consensus Document” in which multiple types of Equine Therapy agencies came together to discuss and recommend common terminology within the Equine Therapy industry. I will be quoting from the article as well as paraphrasing, but please feel free to read the article in its entirety if you are interested, simply click the name above. The “unifying term” that they suggest is “Equine-Assisted Services” or EAS. Under the umbrella of EAS they categorized three different types of services “Therapy,” “Learning,” and “Horsemanship.” Overall, they defined twelve different types of services that incorporated horses as part of the process.
Therapy Services in partnership with horses:
Within the realm of therapy there were five distinctions made: “counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and speech-language pathology.” These EAS would include a licensed therapy professional that would be practicing within the scope of their experience and license while also incorporating horses. So, for example, a therapist who has a doctoral degree and has obtained the appropriate state license, such as Clinical Psychologist licensed in the state of California, then offers services with horses as part of the therapeutic process. This would be referred to as Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, where the emphasis is on Psychotherapy and horses are used to help with the psychotherapeutic process. Another example might be a physical therapist who has obtained a doctorate degree and passed their state licensing exam and decides to incorporate horseback riding as part of the physical therapy treatment, as such they might explain their services like “physical therapy using equine movement.”
Learning in partnership with horses:
Within the realm of learning, there are “three distinct non-therapy services,” which include “equine-assisted learning in education, equine-assisted learning in organizations, and equine-assisted learning in personal development.” Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) in education if focused on working with different people or various ages during the learning process within an academic or education environment. Some of the things that might become a focus during these sessions include, skill building or critical thinking. Professionals who provide EAL in education should have extensive training, certifications or knowledge that is “related to learning theory and teaching methodology.” EAL in organizations works with companies, organizations or work groups with a focus on team development and work place enhancement. Professionals who provide EAL in organizations providers should have certification, knowledge and/or training in the realm of coaching, teaching or the like. EAL in personal development providers work with individuals and/or groups and they help them “discover new ways to face life challenges and opportunities by developing skills in effective problem-solving, decision-making, critical and creative thinking, and communication.” Within all EAL services, providers should make a clear distinction about their services and how they differ from psychotherapy services. Overall, EAL is when “qualified professionals leverage experiential learning activities involving interactions with horses, mounted and unmounted activities, and the equine environment.”
Horsemanship
Horsemanship is a broad term that includes knowledge of working with horses, such as riding horses or training them. Within the realm of Equine-Assisted Activities horsemanship is a little more specific, and in the article they explain that: “equine professionals may offer four distinct non-therapy services that are adapted from traditional equine disciplines of horseback riding, driving, and vaulting. These include adaptive equestrian sport, adaptive riding or therapeutic riding, driving, and interactive vaulting.” In general, across the four distinct services, “these activities may help participants attain individualized horsemanship skills, and allow for the naturally healthful benefits of riding and other horsemanship activities to occur.”
Choosing a service
So, I just laid out a ton of information and terms that are potentially still confusing. You might be thinking, alright I just read about these different models, but I’m still not sure how they are different or how I chose which service is right for me…
Well, I think the easiest way to choose the right service is based on the professionals providing the service. Ask yourself: What are their credentials? What is their title (i.e. PsyD, PhD, Coach, Trainer, etc.)? How do they explain what they are doing? As a horse person, one thing I believe is that any type of interaction with horses can be therapeutic, however that doesn’t mean that it is therapy. If you are looking for therapy that involves being with horses to learn about yourself I would suggest finding a therapist who is offering Equine-Assisted Activities.
Another way to distinguish one professional from another is to check and see if they are certified in Equine-Assisted Services. A certification is typically a post degree training program that cost money to attend and teaches you a specific set of skills. I am Eagala certified and I did this during my clinical psychology graduate school training, so now I have both a certification in EAP as well as a PsyD and CA state license to provide clinical services. Eagala stands for Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association and is a large, international certifying agency. There are many different certifying agencies, and none of them are governed by an overarching agency. This can make it challenging to know the quality of training being provided. In which case, I would suggest looking up the certifying agency and seeing what you can find out about the training model. Ask questions such as: how intensive is the training program? Does the agency share information about the model on the website? Has there been research done involving the efficacy of this model with different populations?
Here are a couple links to two certifying agencies I have experience with/heard about:
Eagala: https://www.eagala.org/index (Eagala has a great resource on their website to help you find a certified individual or organization, head over to “Find a Program” at the top of the page)
HERD Institute: https://herdinstitute.com/
Biggest takeaway
Do your research. Look up these different agencies, ask trusted professionals or friends, and be open to talking to a variety of different providers before settling on one person or organization providing Equine-Assisted Services. You should never feel trapped into a service. Even if you have done your research, think you found the right fit, scheduled your first appointment and then go out there and really don’t like the model, approach or perspective of the professionals you are working with then talk to them about it. Don’t be afraid to speak up about your needs or if something doesn’t feel right. You can always find another service or person that is a better fit, but sometimes you have to try a few places before you find the right match.
Two of the wonderful horses I get to work with posing in front of the poster for a program that is a part of Veterans and Equines Together, the organization I partner with.
Make strides in your story!