Horseback riding is one of the most popular sports in the world. Many equestrians spend hours of practice and training in preparation for a long daily ride. The enjoyment continues long after the horse is ridden. Many horses appreciate the companionship of a good rider. With this in mind, there are plenty of people who make a living by being an instructor in horsemanship.
However, some people are unable to pursue this career due to a myriad of reasons. Perhaps they have a disability that prohibits them from operating a horse. Maybe they just don’t want to deal with all of the extra work. Or maybe they simply don’t possess the skills and training to provide quality horse care. If you fall into any of these categories, you may want to think about working with a EAGALA certified psychotherapist.
What exactly is an EAGALA certified horse therapist? An EAGALA certification means that the therapist has met and passed the American Horse Association’s minimum requirements. These requirements involve both classroom work and hands-on horsemanship training. A horse therapist will need to pass both a written test and a skills test before he or she can officially become an EAGALA certified therapist. If you are in need of therapy for a physical or mental condition, check to see if the therapist you are considering has met the required standards.
What are the benefits of using an EAGALA certified therapist? First of all, you’ll receive an individualized psychotherapy session that is customized to your horse. This means that he or she will address your specific horse problem and not just using techniques that may have been used in previous sessions. This may mean that your horse doesn’t need a full session to solve the problem – the therapist may simply need to spend a couple of minutes addressing the issue to begin the process. Depending on the severity of the issue, your horse may only need one or two individualized therapies to get back on track.
In addition, EAGALA certified therapists are able to customize a horse-psychotherapy session to meet the unique needs of each horse. For example, many horses suffer from fear and anxiety issues that can be solved by an intensive EAGALA psychotherapy session that addresses those problems. Others simply need to learn to trust and work well with their therapist in order to overcome behavioral issues that can be corrected during the therapy session.
If you are considering using EAGALA therapy to treat your horse, you should take into account several factors. First, you should ask a qualified, experienced therapist about any questions or concerns that you have about your horse’s health. The more information you have before beginning your horse’s psychotherapy, the more likely you will be able to get the most from the session and get back your horse on the road to health quickly and efficiently.
Next, be sure to choose a good psychotherapist. You can usually tell if the therapist has experience in working with horses by asking for references and talking to people who have worked with the therapist. You should also ask about the methods they use to help your horse. Some use only EAGALA, while others may also use other horse-related methods such as horse exercises, acupuncture, breathing techniques, massage or hydrotherapy. Your chosen equine assisted psychotherapist should be able to discuss all of these methods with you in great detail.
