 Suzy* was a quiet and timid girl with debilitating social anxiety that made everyday interactions with her peers overwhelming. For months, she had been working with Bob and Mama Mia in equine assisted counseling, overcoming her fear of larger horses. The miniature horses helped her feel safe, and through her sessions, she had started to come out of her shell with family and close friends. However, she still struggled to communicate and connect with her peers at school. Seeing her progress and understanding her goals, Suzy’s counselor recommended she join STEPS’ therapeutic horsemanship program, focusing on riding with a therapeutic riding instructor. The goal was to help her build confidence, make decisions, and express herself in new ways. This meant stepping outside her comfort zone and working with one of the larger horses in the herd. Suzy was both nervous and intrigued when she met Snoop. His golden coat shimmered and his tall, elegant frame felt imposing compared to the miniature horses she had grown comfortable with. Despite her initial fear, something about Snoop’s calm demeanor and curious gaze reassured her. In her first riding lesson, Suzy was hesitant. She needed the instructor and a volunteer to guide Snoop as she sat stiffly in the saddle. The instructor gently encouraged her to hold the reins and give Snoop simple commands, but her voice was barely above a whisper. Snoop responded slowly, as if giving her time to gather her courage. Over the next several weeks, Suzy’s confidence began to grow. With each lesson, she became more comfortable in the saddle and started to trust Snoop. Her instructor praised her for every small step forward—taking the reins more firmly, sitting tall in the saddle, or clearly saying, “Walk on.” Snoop’s steady pace and his tendency to glance back at her, as if checking in, gave her the encouragement she needed. One day, the instructor suggested Suzy try steering Snoop through a simple course of cones. At first, she hesitated, unsure if she could guide such a large horse on her own. But with a deep breath, she squeezed Snoop gently with her heels and said, “Walk on.” To her surprise, Snoop responded immediately, moving forward with his smooth gait. As Suzy maneuvered him through the cones, her voice grew stronger. “Turn left, Snoop. Now right.” Her instructor and the volunteers cheered her on, but it was Snoop’s consistent, responsive nature that gave her the confidence to keep going. By the end of the lesson, Suzy was grinning from ear to ear. In the weeks that followed, Suzy continued to improve. She learned how to trot with Snoop and began to look forward to their rides together. The shy, uncertain girl who had once been afraid to speak up was now giving confident commands to a horse much larger than herself. But the biggest victory came at school. One day, her teacher noticed Suzy raising her hand during group activities and speaking up during class discussions. “I feel braver,” Suzy later told her riding instructor. “If I can ride Snoop, I can do other scary things too.” Snoop had helped Suzy find her voice and a sense of courage she didn’t know she had. Together, they had formed a partnership built on trust and mutual respect—one that carried Suzy toward a brighter, more confident future. *Name and client details changed to protect client identity and privacy. Photo does not depict actual client. To work with Snoop as a client, fill out our Counseling Interest Form! To support more clients like Suzy, donate today!
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AuthorSTEPS With Horses Archives
May 2025
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