EAP uses the unique and ancient bond
between human and horse to break through the barriers often encountered in traditional therapeutic modalities. EAP is not
about riding or horsemanship. It is about personal growth and development. In fact, 90+% of the activity takes
place, not on horseback, but on the ground, with individuals who have never touched a horse before.
Each
EAP session consists of pre-planned tasks for the patient to accomplish with the horse in which the patient has a specific
objective to achieve. The EAP therapist designs each task/objective to address the patient’s particular psychological/emotional
issues and problems. The patient’s attempts to accomplish the objective of the task reveals the patient’s characteristic
dysfunctional and/or functional behavior patterns. The therapist then works with the patient to help him/her understand the
problems that they are encountering with the horse. These discussions provide a bridge for the patient to develop insight
into how this same dysfunctional behavior affects the patient’s day to day living.
