Archives February 2023

Using Equine Therapy as Mental Health Treatment

What Horses Bring to the Therapeutic Process

Animals can offer an extraordinary amount of emotional support. Beyond the pet-owner relationship that many of us have lovingly experienced, animals are sometimes used in therapeutic settings to help clients navigate challenging emotional experiences.

What Is Equine Therapy?

Equine-assisted psychotherapy incorporates horses into the therapeutic process. People engage in activities such as grooming, feeding, and leading a horse while being supervised by a mental health professional.

Goals of this form of therapy including helping people develop skills such as emotional regulation, self-confidence, and responsibility. With mature horses weighing anywhere in the range of 900 to 2,000 pounds or more, it might feel a bit intimidating to have such a large, majestic creature participating in your therapy sessions.

However, equine-assisted therapy is growing in popularity due to its experiential approach and some burgeoning evidence of its effectiveness. There are a variety of terms used to describe or reference equine-assisted psychotherapy, including:

  • Equine-assisted mental health
  • Equine-assisted counseling
  • Equine-facilitated psychotherapy
  • Equine-assisted therapy

The last term, equine-assisted therapy, can also often refer to other forms of therapy where horses are used, such as with occupational therapy.

SAWMGA & SANESA Qualifier Event

DATE: 1 & 2 April 2023 VENUE: Ranch Bella Mia TIME: 9:00am

Western Mounted Games is the action packed, precision sport of the equestrian world. A good WMG horse does not only require the speed of a racehorse, but the turning ability of a cutting horse and the control and responsiveness of the stock horse.

Western Mounted Games in South Africa only includes the American Gymkhana Events:
Barrel Racing * Keyhole * Hurry Scurry * Pole bending (Poles 1 & 2) * Quadrangle * Bi-Rangle * Single Stake * Fig 8 Flags * Fig 8 Stake * Speed Ball * Big T * Speed Barrels

A selection of 5 events is run in each Western Mounted Games Qualifier show. At the National Competition 12 of the 13 Events are selected to be competed in over three days.

The level of a rider/horse combination is determined by the average level of times ridden and recorded through the year at Qualifier shows according to a Rating “Matrix”. The “Matrix” is a timetable used to determine the level of competence of a rider. In South Africa the highest average level of competence is level 4.

SAWMGA adheres to the requirements of the Sports Act, SASCOC, and the SAEF. We are also a member of SANESA (South African National Equestrian Schools Association).

Emotional Horsemanship I Lockie Philips

USING:  A Welfare Protocol and Training Techniques

How to express your gratitude to a horse in a way they understand?

1. When the horse doesn’t give you what you want, try smiling about it. Breathe-in. Wait. You can always repeat the question in a moment. And maybe they didn’t understand you or can’t do that thing today. Or maybe their lesson for you today is not about you getting what you want, but something else.

2. When the horse does give you what you want in two seconds or less, permit yourself to feel joy about that. Smile like a maniac. Don’t be entitled or demanding (Unless in an emergency of safety). Tell that horse, in your language, that it was wonderful what they did. And feel what you say, so that the horse feels you too.

3. The 1-Minute Ride. Once in a blue moon (For established, hardworking saddle horses). Catch, groom, tack, warm up, mount. Sit for one minute quietly. Get off. Finish. Say THANK YOU to the horse and give them some extra hay that day.

4. When correcting a horse who has problematic posture, movement issues, or behavioral issues. Remember that it is their body not yours. Maladaptive responses exist for a really good reason and taking those away from a horse too quickly and absolutely could deprive the horse from an important coping strategy that is holding them together. Go slower in your reformation of what you deem incorrect, so that the horse has a chance to contribute to it too. They may not adhere to the rules of the system you are using, so give them a chance to SHOW you, what they need.

5. Give your horse the absolute best quality of life you can.