Working with horses requires discipline and self-control, Susan Garon says, two things in which some of her younger therapy patients could use some practice. Garon speaks with Austin Carter on Sounds Good about how she combined her love of horses with her training as a family therapist to found Equine Assisted Transitions in Cadiz, Kentucky.
Garon started the program to keep kids with behavioral issues from being institutionalized.
“So I did a pilot program utilizing horses to teach the kids about horses, but have them interact with the horses, ride the horses, and train the horses. And it was an incredible outcome for a lot of these young people. They really had to learn about their own self-control and ability to communicate and relate to something other than themselves and their families,” Garon said.
After the pilot program, Garon continued learning about therapy with horses and farm animals and became a certified therapeutic riding instructor. She says her training as a family therapist combined with certification in therapeutic riding has expanded her ability to treat people with mental and emotional issues along with physical disabilities.
“We’re basically just teaching a riding skill, but with that comes along a lot of other life lessons that benefit our riders,” Garon says.
The horses Garon uses for therapy are even-tempered and desensitized to things that may spook them, like wheel chairs and certain gestures. She says most were donated because they didn’t fit the needs of their previous owners.
“Some do have bad days. And if they do, they get the day off,” Garon said. “We have a pretty easy schedule so we don’t work them too hard and we make sure they’re very happy. So it’s kind of rehabilitation for them, as well.”
Garon says working with horses is effective as therapy because the massive animals demand people to be in the moment with them, to forget the past and the future. Horses also require people to be calm and gentle for a good outcome, Garon says, helping reduce stress.
“They’re very honest. They usually [have] unconditional positive regard for the person in front of them. They’re going to treat you with kindness if you treat them with kindness and respect,” Garon said.
