Equine therapists teach ways in which horses learn, react, and follow instructions. In 2015, Azlyn’s Stables of Hope started with 3 horses to conduct therapy sessions with children and adolescents who have been victims of sexual abuse. Sexually abused children are likely our community’s most vulnerable population. They typically suffer in silence for years, and are victimized by people they love
and trust. These children often feel isolated, stigmatized, and may suffer severe emotional trauma. Azlyn’s Stables of Hope strives to meet the needs of these children by harnessing the power of equine-assisted therapy to help the child trust, feel connected, heal, and recover. Much of equine therapy is facilitated by non-verbal communication skills. Horses, like many other animals, communicate non-verbally. They use body language and often mirror the emotions and behaviors of the child that surrounds them. This nonthreatening environment allows sexually traumatized children a safe opportunity to learn skills that were taken from them by their abuse. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a collaboration between the therapist, equine specialist, child, and horses. It involves groundwork and other activities which allow traumatized children to build skills related to trust, safety, empathy, relationship building, emotional growth, confidence, self-esteem, problem solving, team work, personal responsibility, attitude, respect, establishing healthy boundaries, assertiveness, and empowerment.
