What Is Equine-Assisted Therapy? Finding Equine Therapy Programs Near You

Equine-assisted therapy is a powerful supplementary treatment during rehab. Horses can play an important role in providing emotional support and helping people overcome certain challenges throughout the recovery process.¹ If you are struggling with addiction and are wondering, “What is equine therapy?” keep reading to learn how equine assisted therapy can help you during your rehab journey and how you can find an equine therapy program near you.

What Is Equine Therapy?

Equine therapy refers to the use of horses as an , which may be used during the treatment of various addiction and mental health conditions.²

People generally perceive horses as displaying motivational and nonjudgmental responses, which can help them feel connected to the horse and thereby improve their behavioral awareness as well as their sense of self-esteem, confidence, efficacy, and mastery.³ Additionally, caring for animals may help people engage in the recovery process.³

Studies have found equine therapy effective at improving certain symptoms associated with different disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, and preliminary research shows that it may benefit psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia.²  Additional research suggests that it can also be useful for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and those at risk of suicide.²

Equine therapy can involve a variety of interventions, such as therapeutic horseback riding (THR), grooming, horsemanship, and ground-level work with horses, with the assistance of a therapist and a trained horse to help people achieve improvements in their emotional, cognitive, motor, and social functioning.²

Therapeutic Riding Program

A therapeutic horseback riding program (THR) is a modality that falls under the umbrella of equine therapy.² It involves the use of specially trained horses who, alongside trained staff, assist patients as they work toward specific goals.² As the name implies, the primary therapeutic activity involved in THR is horseback riding.²

Equine-Assisted Learning

Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is an animal-assisted experiential intervention involving a specific learning curriculum to promote interpersonal growth and personal and professional goal-achievement through the use of horses.⁴ Unlike other interventions, EAL takes place outside in an arena with a therapy team that includes a horse, an equine therapist, and group members.⁵

In addition other equine-assisted therapy offerings, Oxford Treatment Center, offers a weekly EAL process group program to people who are involved in our residential program. Oxford’s EAL program involves demonstrations by the equine therapist, and interactions between the horses and group members. Different activities are designed to focus on a variety of recovery concepts, such as:⁴

• Powerlessness.
• Self-esteem.
• Triggers.
• Communication with others.
• Positivity.
• Emotional regulation.
• Problem-solving.
• Boundary setting.
• Trust and patience.

Equine-Assisted Therapy for Mental Health & Addiction

Equine-assisted therapy is a flexible intervention that may have benefits for a variety of populations and conditions. For example, research has shown it to be effective for Veterans, adolescents, at-risk youth, people with special needs, and others.¹ Studies that have examined equine-assisted therapy have shown that it can be useful for people recovering from different mental health and substance-related disorders, such as:^1,2,5

• PTSD
• Anxiety.
• Suicidal thoughts.
• Depression.
• Autism spectrum disorder.
• Addiction (SUDs).

Benefits of Equine Therapy

Equine-assisted therapy can support addiction and mental health treatment and may provide various benefits for people in recovery, such as:^1,3,5

• Improved self-esteem.
• A sense of self-efficacy.
• A restored sense of trust.
• A sense of mastery.
• Enhanced emotional regulation.
• Better communication skills.
• Improved confidence.
• Reductions in certain mental health symptoms, such as anxiety.
• Reduced cravings.

Equine therapy may be a beneficial adjunct to behavioral therapies that are commonly used in addiction and mental health treatment because it has been shown to help people become more aware of their behaviors, help them see the potential for behavioral change, and foster insight.³

Will Insurance Cover Equine Therapy for Addiction?

Per the Affordable Care Act (ACA), substance use disorder and mental health treatment are essential benefits, which means that all Marketplace plans must provide some level of coverage for the treatment of these conditions.⁶ However, equine therapy is considered a supplemental treatment, so it’s a good idea to check your individual policy for coverage levels. Even if you don’t have insurance or your plan doesn’t fully cover the costs, there are other ways to pay for treatment, such as financing, payment plans, scholarships, or other forms of financial aid offered by some rehabs.

You can use our online tool to verify insurance coverage for addiction treatment right away.

Finding an Equine Therapy Program Near You

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or co-occurring disorders and want to find treatment that offers an equine therapy program, we can help. At American Addiction Centers, we provide evidence-based addiction-focused healthcare that includes a variety of experiential therapy options, including equine therapy.

To learn more about your treatment options or how to start admissions, give our helpful and knowledgable admissions navigators a call at . They’re on hand to answer your questions and help you find treatment that works for you, from residential to outpatient options. If you’re not ready to talk, we also offer a confidential and free text support line.

Recovery is possible, so don’t wait. Reach out today.