Troy* was a Navy veteran who had lost several friends to suicide. He had also attempted suicide himself and struggled with PTSD from this experience. Despite his best efforts, Troy found himself overwhelmed by grief and anxiety. He was struggling to find a way to process his emotions and move forward. One day, his cousin suggested he try equine assisted counseling.

When Troy arrived for his first session, he was highly anxious. He had never worked with horses before and wasn’t sure what to expect. He was immediately drawn to a horse named Sassy who was the first to approach him. Despite her bold approach, there was something calming about Sassy that drew Troy toward her.

As Troy spent more time with Sassy, he began to notice how her behavior changed when his emotions changed. Recognizing changes in Sassy’s behavior helped Troy begin to gain a greater awareness of his own emotions and new perspective on how he was feeling. With Sassy by his side, Troy felt more comfortable to talk about his experiences, even the traumatic ones, with more ease. He found that having a hand on Sassy’s neck helped him stay calmer during these conversations.

Through his time with Sassy, Troy also began to explore his own sense of self since leaving the military. He realized that he struggled with decision-making and was often unsure of what he wanted. But, as Troy continued to work with Sassy and the other horses, he became more confident in recognizing how they communicated with him. In turn, Troy became more confident in recognizing his own needs and communicating them to the horses.
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As Troy approached the end of his time in equine assisted counseling, he recognized many ways that the horses had helped him change. He noticed that he was more confident, more self-aware, and better able to manage his emotions. Troy expressed gratitude for the experience and how he would continue to use the skills learned from his time with Sassy for the rest of his life.

You can help military veterans like Troy during Mental Health Awareness Month! For every donation of $15 or more during the month of May 2023, North Texas Giving Day and The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation will add an extra $15, amplifying the impact of your contribution.
Donate at https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/stepswithhorses
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*Names and details have been changed to protect client privacy and identity

Katie approached the horses much like her entry into the barn – an uncontrolled ball of energy. Startled by Katie’s approach, the horses immediately ran to the other side of the play area. Katie ran after them. Despite the counselor’s efforts to help Katie understand that the horses were frightened by her running, she was frustrated and angry when the horses didn’t want to play with her. In a huff, Katie settled down to play in the sandbox instead.  As she grumbled about the horses being “mean” and ran her hands through the sand, Katie began to relax. A few minutes later, the horses made their way back to Katie and allowed her to pet them.

Prior to living with her aunt and uncle, Katie had a difficult life. Although her mother had tried to provide the very best for her daughter, she had her own struggles. From the time Katie was a baby, her mother would park her in front of the TV to keep her quiet. As Katie got older and became bored with the TV, her mother would yell and scream and even hit Katie. To provide Katie with a safe and secure home, the state awarded her aunt and uncle custody when Katie turned six.

As a result of Katie’s early life trauma and neglect, she had difficulty regulating her emotions and would often become aggressive when upset. She struggled to make friends and didn’t understand why the other kids didn’t like to play with her. As Katie’s time in play therapy progressed, she gradually began to see how her behaviors influenced the horses’ responses to her. Soon Katie began to use the horses’ behaviors as “clues” for understanding her own feelings and behaviors. As her empathy towards others developed, Katie made her very first best friend at school.

​Katie’s story is not unique. As many as 20% of youth suffer from a mental health disorder. Most of these children go untreated, avoid treatment, and drop out of treatment prematurely. With an improvement rate of 90%, our evidence-informed services can be life-changing not only for the child but for the entire family. It is crucial that at-risk youth receive needed mental health care in order to grow, thrive, and become happy, healthy, and well-adjusted.

You can help children like Katie during Mental Health Awareness Month! For every donation of $15 or more during the month of May 2023, North Texas Giving Day and The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation will add an extra $15, amplifying the impact of your contribution.
Donate at https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/stepswithhorses
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*Names and details have been changed to protect client privacy and identity

STEPS is proud to provide equine assisted services to our North Texas community! All of our services including therapeutic horsemanship, equine assisted counseling and  psychotherapy, and equine assisted learning involve our herd! All eleven of our equines are essential to our STEPS team and the therapeutic process. Our herd members include miniature horses, Quarter Horses, a Paint Horse, a miniature donkey, an Arabian horse, a Palomino, a Draft Mix, and a Mustang! Read more to find out more about our amazing therapy herd!

What do therapy equines do during counseling sessions?
During each session, counselor, client, equine specialist, and equines are present. Each bring their own unique element to the therapeutic process.

Our therapeutic approach - Relational Equine Partnered Counseling (REPC) - allows our herd to be respond naturally and organically during each session. This is important because equine have the ability to recognize human emotion by noticing cues such as heart rate, facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. The equines then respond to us based on what they have noticed about us. REPC allows them to decide how to participate in sessions and interact with clients. Meaning, our herd members have the freedom to move about the pasture and express themselves genuinely and authentically without human control. This allows both equine and human to form a mutally-beneficial relationship that each choose to be a part of. Many of our clients establish particularly close relationships with specific equines, which promotes long term collaboration and communication.

What does it take to be a therapy equine?
All of our herd members are rescued equines or retired show horses. Any breed of horse or donkey can make a great therapy partner! We work with mares and geldings (no stallions!) of many different breeds in the STEPS program. Becoming a therapy equine can be a great second or even third career for a former show horse. All of the STEPS herd members come from a unique background and have a story of their own! They all have special gifts in working with our clients from playing with children, to giving feedback, and teaching clients how to ride. Meet our herd members here! Some may have experienced trauma or neglect which allows clients who may have also experience trauma to feel seen and understood. Like humans, equines experience emotions such as anger, joy, sadness, and fear. This makes them excellent partners in counseling and allows a genuine connection to form with client and equine. 

How do equines benefit?
Equines are herd animals, meaning their survival is dependent on the proximity of other equines. They rely on one another for safety and social and emotional connection, much like humans! The bonds they build with one another are just as important as the bonds they build with their human herd. Through relationship building with humans, our equine partners can also build trust, social awareness, empathy, and communication skills. The human-equine connection can be beneficial for both equine and person. 

You can make a difference in the lives of our special therapy herd members! Join your favorite equine's Carrot Club today!

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Who?
Clients​
This form of equine-assisted counseling is designed for children ages 4-10.
 
Providers
Services are provided by licensed mental health professionals (or graduate student interns supervised by a licensed professional) who are trained in EACP. Qualified equine professionals co-facilitate with the counselors to maintain a safe environment for all involved. Equine professionals have extensive experience with equine behavior, herd management, and safe equine interaction practices. Some counselors are dually-qualified and can serve as both counselor and equine specialist.


What?
Equine-Partnered Play Therapy is an approach to counseling for young children that utilizes play (the natural language for children) to express themselves as well as process feelings and emotions. Equines are partnered into each session creating a sense of calm and well-being which provides emotional security for the child. In doing so clients can establish a therapeutic relationship with the equine and counselor where they can feel full acceptance and understanding. Through these interactions and play, children can develop social skills, impulse control, empathy, and self-awareness. 


Where?
Play Therapy sessions take place in our tranquil pasture in an enclosed space designated as our "play area". The play area includes a safe space for children to express themselves with a variety of toys and developmental instruments. As partners in play, our two miniature ponies will be free to move about the space and interact with them as they desire. This allows for both equine and child to develop a relationship mutually beneficial to one another. 


Why?
Many children have an innate interest in and desire to interact with animals. Children are able to facilitate interactions with animals in ways that they are unable to do with toys or adults. Through these interactions equines enable children to receive nurturing, ​cope with stress, express feelings, and facilitate qualities such as impulse control, self-regulation, or positive adjustment. ​