Just curious as to experiences with this type of therapy used in conjunction with regular therapy.
Especi...
I have been riding for about a year now (actually a little over a year now) and I found that equine therapy in conjunction with ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) is really a winning combination. A little background on me. I suffer from Complex PTSD: I was physically abused as a child, when I was 18 my girl friend was raped and then murdered in front of me, I suffered occupational trauma in my early 20's from my time as a mortuary transport, I suffered combat trauma from my time at war with the United States Marine Corps, then I suffered more occupational trauma as my time as a firefighter before I was medically retired for PTSD.
I think everyone with PTSD suffers some form of dissociation, ranging from mild to severe. I mean even "day dreaming" is considered a form of dissociation. Typically when you hear the word you think of complete dissociation and that isn't always the case. Why working with horses helps, I don't know, but it does. It keeps you grounded in the present, in the now. Maybe because it's a 1,000 pound animal with a brain and a will of it's own. Maybe because a horse is a great reflection of ourselves and our emotions; if we're wound up and agitated the horse is going to be wound up and agitated it's going to draw your focus right back in on yourself. You learn to watch your breathing, to slow your heart rate, to calm yourself down; the horse is a much a student as it is a teacher.
After working with horses long enough it becomes second nature. You start to bring those skills home with you. You start to do all those things in your daily life that you would do with your horse. I know when I start to get low and my life starts to spiral out of control, sometimes just the thought of the ranch can bring me out of it. If not the thought of it, just the drive up there or even those smells when I first open the door (leather, saddle soap, hay, horse manure) bring up such fond memories that I'm almost centered upon just arriving.
It's also a huge confidence booster. You start to do things you would never imagine yourself doing. I can't describe the feeling the first time I cantered or the first time I jumped. PTSD had almost destroyed my self confidence but equine therapy is slowly building me back up. Everyday I try something new I am teaching myself that I can do things, that I'm not worthless, and that all the bullshit that I've been telling myself is just that BULLSHIT!!! I could go on and on for hours about my horses and all the benefits they bring me, but maybe it would be better to answer any specific questions you might have. I will say this though. If you have the opportunity to do this, you would be foolish to pass on the opportunity. I have had nothing but good things come to me because of the equine therapy I do.
I did start a thread here (kind of a journal if you will) about my experience with equine therapy and how it has helped me. If you would like I can post the link to the thread here and you can read through it if you like. Just let me know.
