The Horses Know What I'm Thinking

Today's guest on Lon Woodbury's Internet Talk Radio Show: Parent Choices for Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio , Kristi Seymour, a certified Clinical and EAGALA therapist, was asked "Do horses really know what you are thinking?" Kristi's answer immediately, was yes, "they (the horses) read our body language and are very intuitive. They can read or sense how a person is." And so began an interesting segment today with co-host Larry Stednitz, PhD.

Kristi uses an 'on the ground modality' EAGALA model in her work with teens and young adults, which is experiential and solution focused. When asked if there was a difference between "breaking in a horse and equine therapy", Kristie responded "we use horses to build relationships and help them (the horses) to help us, unlike a 'cowboy' who will try to dominate the animal. I look at horses as co-facilitators in the work we do and they are taken care of as much as any staff member."

"The best part of working with horses is that they are in the present and those in therapy with them need to adjust their ways of communication in order to work with them. Additionally, the horses have their own personalities and issues that they bring to the relationships, so it can get very interesting and you get to see how they can draw out some unusual behaviors." As the clients and horses work together over time, relationships are built and, as Lon shared, "the healing within grows."

Much like the fabled 'Horse Whisperers' equine therapists work with both the clients and the horses, with small baby steps. It takes patience to build the relationships.

To listen to the full interview go to: The Horses Know What I'm Thinking! on LATalkRadio.
Also available in Podcast

Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent choices for Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio Mondays at 12:00 Noon, Pacific Time, Channel One.

Larry Stednitz Ph.D., is an Independent Educational Consultant and an affiliate of Woodbury Reports. He is located in Moro Bay, California and co-hosts some of the Parent Choices for Struggling Teens Internet Talk Radio Shows.

Kristi Seymour, LPC, MBA and certified EAGALA therapist has fourteen years experience working with children and adults in the behavioral health field and over 36 years experience in equestrian activities and equine therapy. Kristie has just recently re-located to Anchorage, AK to work with the Hope Community Resources.

This Segment is sponsored by Grand River Academy, www.grandriver.org , a transition boarding school for boys in NE Ohio.