- Self-Confidence. Horsemanship helps build the self-esteem necessary for recovery.
- Body Image. Although skeletal, anorexics see themselves as fat. The anorexic's awareness of her size in relation to the horse's helps to correct her distorted body image.
- Communication and Trust. Eating disordered persons have unhealthy communication habits and difficulty trusting people. The non-verbal relationship that develops between patient and horse will help her in future dealings with humans.
The pastoral setting of a ranch is conducive to treatment, according to Greg Kersten, founder of Equine Services, and Lynn Thomas, Residential Director of Aspen Ranch. Aspen runs an adolescent treatment boarding school. Kersten and Thomas note that the open space and physical freedom associated with horseback riding is "much more non-threatening than an office environment, especially with adolescents." As at Remuda, Aspen patients care for the horses they ride.
According to an article written by Kersten and Thomas, psychotherapists and certified equine instructors team up to treat patients. Therapy at Aspen includes riding a horse guided by an equine instructor who uses a "lunge line," a 20-foot rope attached to the animal and held by the instructor. To foster concentration, the horse is ridden "bareback" (without a saddle). The instructor works with the horse, while the therapist converses with the patient. Because the rider must focus on the horse's body language, there is no time for deception or dishonesty. It is in this way, note the authors, that patients are able to get in touch with their feelings while building self-confidence.
O'Connor noted that, as of the date of her writing, few insurers were willing to cover treatment for equine therapy. But if history is any guide, that situation is likely to change. Fifteen years ago, there was little coverage for complementary therapies; now that more industry standards are in place, insurers are far more accommodating.
To be sure, equine therapy is not for everyone. But if you like animals and the outdoors, it could be just the ticket to getting your recovery up and running.
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