"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."
Winston Churchill
According to Franklin Levinson, founder of Equine Facilitated Learning Center, "Horses react as a mirror to the person who's with him" says Franklin. "He's a prey animal so he wants to feel safe and is always on the lookout for predators. A horse will become very fearful if he's with someone who's aggressive, noisy, disrespectful or too controlling. On the other hand, if the person makes requests rather than demands the horse will begin to cooperate. He is always looking for a leader."
This is why horses are so good to use as therapy for your daughter. The horses essentially become "co-therapists." Horses don't lie, manipulate, or cheat. They are direct in their communication and they respond to direct and clear communication from others. As your daughter works with the horses, she will begin to realize that lying, manipulating and cheating doesn’t work; she will begin to form bonds and to expand her horizons beyond herself. The interaction between your daughter and these powerful creatures fosters patience, understanding, compassion, and respect, but most of all, it teaches her about boundaries and how critical communication is in any relationship.
