Horse sense: Veterans reap benefits of equine therapy
As Sarah Janos stood stock-still, Arion, the big thoroughbred gelding, slowly sidled up behind her. Sarah kept her eyes forward as Arion drew closer. Within a few seconds, Arion was beside Sarah, and he nuzzled her shoulder, which brought a huge smile to the former Army medic’s face.
A bond had been established between the two — a bond of trust, caring and unspoken communication.
This is known as a “join up,” and it’s just one of the many benefits of equine therapy for Veterans served by the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.
Working with the horses, specialists and volunteers at MKE Urban Stables, social workers and mental health experts are finding success using equine therapy to help Veterans struggling with PTSD, depression and other mental health problems.
“It’s been very, very successful,” said VA social worker Briana Johnson, who oversees the group with fellow social worker Nicole Powers.
Johnson said the group was started about a year ago as an alternative to traditional group therapy.
“Veterans are sometimes resistant to groups … but with the horses here, they’re more willing to try,” Johnson said. “This gets them outside of the traditional hospital setting and gets them to engage with horses.”
Participants are referred to the program by their mental health providers. Groups are purposely kept small to assure one-on-one interaction between the Veterans and the horses and for better therapeutic outcomes.
MKE Urban Stables provides specialists trained in equine-assisted therapy, and they work in partnership with VA mental health specialists.
Each session begins with an opening circle, with the Veterans standing by their horses, talking about their week and expressing their thoughts and concerns.
Johnson said this “grounds” the session and sets the tone for how the group will proceed.
“Horses pick up on our body language,” she said. “If we come in stressed and restless, the horses (will sense) that. We really want to be present in the moment rather than bringing in all those stressors.”
From there, different activities take place, such as grooming and taking the horses through an obstacle course. There is no riding; instead, the focus is on the Veteran connecting with the horses, guiding them through the activities.
“Every week we build on these skills,” Johnson said, noting the benefits for the Veterans include building confidence, becoming mindful, setting boundaries and establishing trust.
“They can use these skills to manage their symptoms or their relationships,” Johnson said, noting that at first, Veterans may just enjoy the peacefulness of the setting and the interaction with the horses. But they’re gaining more than that.
“They will say things like, ‘I have increased my confidence in the way I communicate,’ or, ‘I’ve learned to set boundaries,’” Johnson said. “That’s where we notice that these things are beneficial.”
U.S. Army Veteran Andrew Gitzlaff said the equine therapy has helped him battle depression. He admitted he’s not always comfortable being around other people, so the group setting has also been beneficial.
“It’s been good. I feel like I get something out of each session,” he said. “I’m more willing to let myself be open with other people … and being around people who potentially have the same problems I do makes me feel like I’m not the only one.”
Janos said she too has seen benefits from the therapy.
“I love it,” she said. “It helps with my anxiety a lot because horses just feed off our emotions, and this is so relaxing. This is the best thing the VA has offered for me. It’s really awesome and an amazing experience.”
Another Veteran noted that working with the horses taught him to slow down and take things at a different pace.
“In the beginning, I was rushing (the horse). … My mindset was very task-oriented, and it became this anxious thing,” he said. “But then I thought, ‘Slow down. This is supposed to be relaxing for me.’ And I started to see that I do that a lot of times in my life. … I get so in my head and overwhelmed. I have to remember to just be in the moment.”
Johnson said horses have traits that many Veterans can appreciate: They are powerful but also can be docile, and they can be wary of humans or very trusting.
“It feels good to have a connection with an animal this big,” Gitzlaff said as he stood with Bracken, a Dales pony gelding. “That takes trust.”
Johnson and Powers have recently brainstormed ways to expand the program to include after care for Veterans and workshops for VA providers.
“We really want VA providers to see for themselves the impact of the program and understand what treatment looks like once they refer a Veteran to our program,” Powers said.
The group currently lasts eight weeks, but MKE Stables offers other programming for Veterans outside the VA. Johnson said a number of Veterans served by the VA take advantage of those offerings, and some are now volunteers with MKE Stables.
“Termination from therapy can be difficult, but it is a sign of progress and completion,” Powers said. “At our graduation ceremony, we offer an opportunity to our Veterans to process their treatment experience by discussing how it has impacted their lives and how they will maintain the gains they have made moving forward. It is very rewarding to see the progress our group members are making.”
Click here to see more photos from an equine therapy session.