SAFETY OR CONTROL?
While attending an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) level I training as a returnee I gained valuable insight regarding the issue of intervention for the purpose of safety. During one of the sessions I became aware that what I had assumed was just about safety was really more about control.
I was relaxing into the “been there done that” frame of mind when the first exercise began. Partway through the session, I witnessed one of the volunteer participants being walked on, pushed and circled by the horse she had caught. She was neither alarmed nor distressed by the horse repeatedly standing on her foot. When the spectators were asked for feedback I expressed concern regarding the safety of the volunteer.
When asked about the horse being close to her, she explained that the horse was not standing on her toe but on the edge of her boot and she was not harmed. It was clearly brought to our attention that what we perceive or imagine is not always what is going on for the participant or client. It is usually best to ask. The incident led me to question my assumptions regarding safety and control.
In my experience with horses, I was always taught to keep the horse at a safe distance. To me this has always made perfect sense. However in EAP, determining how the client relates to his or her environment is what is beneficial for the client. It was becoming clear that I needed to rethink some of my standard practices.
As a horse professional, I believe it is my responsibility to provide appropriate horses and to keep the sessions safe. While it is very important that this safety be observed, it must be maintained without interfering with possible growth for the clients. I have considerable horse experience and have seen and been in some spectacular wrecks. I have never failed to gain wisdom from these incidents. As an experienced horse professional I can usually anticipate a dangerous situation developing. My natural tendency is to 'fast forward' in my mind when I see situations arise that look like they could lead to a possible problem. For example, I did a fast forward when I saw the volunteer being crowded by the horse and fully envisioned the volunteer having her toe pinched, foot broken, falling down, being trampled and dragged around the arena – creating a less than positive experience.
Indeed this would not be ideal and was far from what occurred. In an actual session I would try to pay more attention to my 'fast forward' thoughts and pause to be sure the purpose of my intervention is truly a safety issue. I may bring the safety issue at hand to the attention of the co-facilitator before I proceed. In the case of the volunteer participant the question about the horse standing close did bring some awareness to her in terms of boundaries.
There is risk involved when interacting with a horse. The physical stature of a 1200-pound animal is awesome. To quote the National Society for Experiential Education website, “The goal is not to give up control, but to practice 'due diligence'—create an environment with a level of risk calculated to allow for short term failures and long-term successes. Success, in these terms, includes the mental, physical, and emotional health of all involved. Minimally, the maxim 'do no harm' should be followed by everyone. One of the challenges for those involved in Experiential Education is distinguishing between discomfort and risk. Assumptions, stereotypes, and/or expectations can all cause discomfort where no real risk is involved. Such discomfort is real, however, and should never be taken lightly.”
As a safety-first riding instructor I get a lot of strokes and praise for being safe and having few incidents at my stable. I follow logical horsemanship rules and use well-schooled horses that are appropriate when teaching riding. However, EAP does not teach riding and the client is not served well with an over controlled environment where risk is kept to the minimum. “Life is unpredictable and these activities are designed to help participants deal with the inconsistency in life,” say Randy and Patti Mandrell (EAP III) when speaking about EAP sessions. As indicated in the EAGALA Level I training manual, the safety concerns I keep in mind include:
- Recognize the sharp and protruding bones that could come into contact with the human body i.e. horse's head and feet.
- Recognize the neck as a soft and safe area to show affection or to embrace in the emergency dismount.
- Knowledge of horse movement helps you position and react to movements without coming into harmful contact with the horse.
- Keep a safe distance when behind the horse to avoid startling the horse possibly causing the horse to kick.
- Keep both hands on the horse when grooming; one hand to hold the brush and one hand to balance and brace against the horse so that the participants can adjust their position.
- In group activities keep alert to where you and your horse are in relation to other people and horses in the arena. Be sure not to turn your horse toward someone without first warning them.
- If a horse comes toward you quickly and unexpectedly, stand tall and “make yourself big”; shrinking, cowering or covering your head is not useful.
- Follow the barn rules as posted by the facility, for example, do not hand feed the horses. It has been valuable to take the opportunity to re-examine my safety regime and reconsider what opportunities for growth may be being missed by remaining too safe, or rather, too controlling. EAP continues to challenge my belief systems and old patterns of thinking and I look forward to further learning as this field thrives and expands.
Articles of Interest
What it's about: the benefits of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, how it works, and the issues EAP addresses.
Article #2 Title: EAP from a Gestalt Therapist's Perspective by Catherine Johnson
What it's about: the principles of Gestalt therapy that are basis of EAP and their application to the work.
Article #3 Title: EAP at Work in the World by Jeannette Galarneau
What it's about: a camp program for 'at risk' teens and the benefits gained by participants.
Article #4 Title: Safety First on the Ground by Greg Kersten
What it's about: safety tips for being around horses.
Article #5 Title: Straight from the Horse's Mouth: The Truth about Equine-Assisted Therapy by Greg Kersten and Lynn Thomas
What it's about: how EAP began, what happens in an EAP session, the type of clients that can benefit, and the outcomes.
Article #6 Title: Equine Assisted Growth and Learning: Q & A Sheet by Winning Strides
What it's about: Frequently Asked Questions.
Article #7 Title: Why Should Administrators Support EAP? To Sierra Boys Ranch
What it's about: how to pitch EAP to your agency's administration team.
Article #8 Title: Safety or Control by Laurie Messner
What it's about: the controversy about whether or not keeping clients safe is really about too much control.