Equine Therapy

Residents of Seasons Of Hope Center (SOHC) will have a unique opportunity for personal growth and discovery through therapeutic interaction with horses. We will guide participants in discovering the "Reigning Spirit" inside them. Each one of us has a spirit reigning inside us, whether it is a spirit of anger, depression, bitterness, pride, etc. Our goal will be to biblically guide participants in learning to live life with the Holy Spirit of God guiding them, rather than destructive life controlling behaviors.

Why Horses?

Horses have unique characteristics that make them excellent teachers for humans. Horses are prey animals and are always concerned with their personal safety; therefore they constantly search their surroundings for danger and inconsistencies. Horses are purely instinctive and cannot lie or be manipulated as humans can, so they "force" humans to make their actions congruent with their feelings, allowing the human to explore their true self. Participants gain self-awareness and self acceptance of parts of themselves that may have been denied or repressed in addiction and/or abuse. The majority of the interactive work will not involve riding or horsemanship, but rather be on the ground. Activities will be set up which will require them to use creative thinking, non-verbal communication, problem solving, and respect in relationships. They will learn responsibility, face fears, learn to set and meet goals, as well as gain confidence and learn trust.