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The golden One - painting by Anne Krocak
In today’s stressful world, healing pathways are crucial. At AHH we combining trauma-informed care, loving-kindness, and interaction with horses offers a profound approach to nurturing mental and emotional wellbeing for both equines and humans.
Understanding Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care recognizes the impact of trauma* and integrates this understanding into practices. It emphasizes safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity for both humans and horses.
*Trauma: Trauma is when we experience very stressful, frightening or distressing events that are difficult to cope with or out of our control. It could be one incident, a Pandemic, or an ongoing event that happens over a long period of time.Most of us will experience an event in our lives that could be considered traumatic. But we won't all be affected the same way. Trauma can happen at any age. And it can affect us at any time, including a long time after the event has happened.
The Therapeutic Power of Horses
Horses have an extraordinary ability to aid in emotional healing. Their intuitive nature and responsiveness to human emotions make them ideal partners in trauma-informed therapeutic experiences. Interacting with horses can promote trust, reduce anxiety, and build emotional resilience.
Integrating Loving-Kindness and Horse Interaction
Combining trauma-informed care, loving-kindness, horse interaction and art creates a powerful therapeutic experience:
Safety and Trust: Horses require a safe and trusting environment, helping individuals learn to trust again.
Emotional Regulation: Horses respond to human emotions, providing feedback that helps individuals recognize and regulate their feelings.
Mindfulness and Presence: Caring for horses requires full presence and mindfulness, promoting compassion and awareness.
Empowerment and Confidence: Successfully working with horses boosts self-esteem and a sense of empowerment.
Connection and Compassion: The non-judgmental nature of horses fosters deep connection and compassion.
Art, Heart, and Hoofbeats
At programs like Art, Heart, and Hoofbeats, participants engage in therapeutic art activities alongside horse interaction. This combination amplifies the healing process, allowing individuals to express their emotions creatively while benefiting from the calming presence of horses.
Practical Tips for Incorporation
Create a safe, supportive environment. Practice loving-kindness meditation, focusing on compassion for oneself and others. Spend time with horses through volunteering at an equine rescue, or being in their presence. Observe changes in your emotional state and let the bond with horses enhance your healing journey.
The synergy between trauma-informed care, loving-kindness, and horse interaction offers a holistic approach to healing. Programs like Art, Heart, and Hoofbeats exemplify this powerful combination, promoting mental and emotional wellbeing through the therapeutic presence of horses.
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