One of the great things about living in 2014 is how much medical science has evolved. We know more about our world and ourselves now than ever before. One of the interesting developments over the course of the past decades is the rising prominence of holistic therapy. Once thought to be the psychobabble of ex-hippies and well-wishers, holistic treatments are gaining their proper place alongside traditional medical treatments in helping people cope with life’s hardest struggles.

One of the most interesting and unique holistic treatments available today is equine treatment. Simply put, this is a form of treatment that uses horses to help someone work through a particular issue. It’s been noted for its effectiveness in helping people wrestling with mood disorders, bipolar, substance abuse, multitude of addictions, trauma, depression, communication issues and differences, etc. There is even an extensive list of equine therapy providers specializing in working with people living with autism. The list is extensive and so are the positive results.

The reason equine therapy has been so successful is due in large part to how horses function. They are large, powerful, intimidating creatures. Working with a horse takes a lot of patience, time, effort, and skill. This is why all equine therapy is done with skilled professionals and heavily supervised. This is also why you want to work with a therapy facility that will provide you with the best treatment while keeping you safe.

Working with horses is a great way to learn about a unique, complex animal, which in turn will teach you something about yourself. Each equine therapist approaches their clients differently based on their needs. Typically, however, the sessions are small group, or possibly one-on-one with an emphasis on listening to the horse’s needs by reading how the horse is reading your body language. From here, you are effectively examining yourself through the horse.

Animals are increasingly being used in more and more in holistic therapy. Dogs have been used to service people dealing with vision loss, an array of animals are used now as comfort companions, so it only makes sense to discover what large, complicated animals like horses are capable of.