- Find Meeting Information
- Access help and resources
- Get 24-hour guidance & information
800-934-9518
Sponsored
You’ll learn something about yourself just by hanging around a horse, and we don’t mean Mr. Ed. That’s how equine therapy works, which has spread from experimental programs into treatment centers, recovery ranches and outpatient practices across the country. It’s earning a place in alcohol recovery as a complement to counseling, medication and AA programs.
One program in Colorado uses horses to assist people working through addiction and mental health challenges. Its founder is also recovering from alcohol after nine months of intensive outpatient treatment.
Horses Sense
Horses are evolutionarily attuned to register breathing, posture, tension and mood. They then mirror everything back. Someone in alcohol recovery can see their emotions reflected right back at them.
“Horses have the ability to tune into our nervous system,” the program founder noted.
Working with an animal that weighs 10x what you do also requires a lot of care. Grooming, leading and groundwork keep attention fixed on the here and now. This builds the same self-regulation skills as relapse prevention training.
A Doorway for People Words Don’t Reach
Talk therapy is the backbone of alcohol recovery, but it might not be the right first step for everyone. Folks sometimes can’t articulate what they feel, especially when dealing with traumatic stuff. Experiential approaches offer an alternative through action. You gain insight via the horse’s responses rather than through discussion.
Confidence is at play too. Guiding large animals or even pets requires patience, consistency and calm. These are the same qualities daily sobriety asks of a person. These same qualities apply to daily sobriety. They complement regular counseling and AA meetings.
Find Horse-Assisted Programs
Equine-assisted services now appear across the full range of alcohol recovery settings, from residential and faith-based programs to private practices and community nonprofits.
A free community event in Colorado teamed up guided horse experiences with live music to show how these programs serve as gateways for folks curious about recovery but aren’t ready to walk into a treatment center.
The free Sober App can help you track your sober streak, set goals and find support whether your path is abstinence or moderation.
AA Still a Top Tier Option
AA remains a strong option and first step to build a peer support network outside of horses. Your peers understand your experience and offer a shoulder to lean on, no questions asked. Like horses, your chapter stands by during good and tough times.
Getting started with AA is made easier with our online directory. You can search for chapters in any neighborhood in the USA, organized by location. Feel free to also dial
800-948-8417
Sponsored
to speak with an expert.
Eric Owens is a writer and editor with a bachelor degree in Philosophy, which has helped him with presenting complex information in a simple way that all audiences can understand. He specializes in the mental health and addiction recovery space. He’s also passionate about the environment and has extensive experience in creating content related to sustainability issues
View ProfilePeter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history. His primary focus is on the Cold War era. His academic work examines the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century.
View Profile