Equine Therapy for Addiction Treatment

Recovering from drug and alcohol addiction is not a linear process, nor does it look the same for everyone. What works for one person may not work for the other. Thankfully, there are a variety of therapeutic approaches that a person can choose from and incorporate into their recovery plan. For some, one of those therapies may be equine assisted psychotherapy. 

This article will provide an explanation of what equine therapy is, how it works, what participants can expect, and how horses can help in the treatment of substance use disorders.

What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?

Equine assisted psychotherapy, or simply “equine therapy”,  is a type of therapy led by licensed mental health professionals that brings horses and humans together in a healing, collaborative environment.¹ For years, equine therapy has served as an experiential therapy option for individuals who are looking to identify, address, and manage the social, emotional, and behavioral challenges related to their addiction. 

Most effective as a complementary addiction treatment option, equine therapy has proven to not only aid in the treatment of substance use disorders, but in the treatment of other conditions and issues, too. These include, but are not limited to, the following:¹

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Eating disorders
• Low self-esteem
• Poor motivation

What Does an Equine Therapy Session Look Like?

Horses and humans can interact in several different ways as a means of helping to treat addiction. During an equine therapy session, participants may engage in one or more of the following commonly practiced exercises:

• Grooming – The physical act of grooming a horse involves repetitive movements of tools such as brushes, combs, etc. These repeated actions can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. 
• Feeding – Feeding a horse can promote accountability, building and upholding routines, and a help establish a sense of acceptance. 
• Guiding – Guiding a horse, such as through an obstacle course set up on the ground by a therapist, helps to improve problem-solving skills, communicate wants and needs effectively, and build self-confidence. 
• Observing – Simply watching horses interact with their surroundings gives individuals the opportunity to do things such as identify positive and negative behaviors, read reactions, and consider cause and effect. This type of observation and interaction often helps individuals to open up about themselves to their therapist and/or others in the group.  

Contrary to popular belief, participants generally do not ride the horses during their sessions, and for good reason. Riding naturally creates an environment where an instructor is consistent in providing a rider with a great deal of correction, which can sometimes leave a rider feeling defeated, unconfident, and stressed.² This can be counterintuitive to building strong self-esteem and self-reliance, which are essential for those recovering from addiction.²

Benefits of Equine Therapy for Addiction

Horses can be a critical part of an individual’s recovery from drug and alcohol addiction and provide them with long-term, lasting benefits. Through exercises like those discussed above, individuals seeking treatment from addiction can obtain benefits that are vital to their recovery, including learning to:  

• Foster positive connections.
• Set appropriate boundaries.
• Practice mindfulness.
• Properly regulate emotions.
• Communicate effectively.
• Build strong self-assurance and self-reliance. 

Additionally, equine therapy is typically offered at a local farm or stable as opposed to at a treatment center or outpatient facility. For many, this becomes their favorite form of therapy, as they can leave the four walls of their therapist’s office and transition into an active, outdoor environment where they can truly be hands-on with their recovery. 

Is Equine Therapy for Addiction Effective?

Scientifically speaking, simply interacting with horses has shown to be effective in many ways. One study published in Veterinary Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol. 10  determined that there are marked, positive effects associated with equine therapy, including:

• Increased levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that influences behavior, mood, appetite, and anxiety.⁴
• Decreased levels of cortisol, a hormone released during a stress response.⁵
• Increased levels of oxytocin, a hormone that plays an important role in physiologic processes, as well as emotions related to coping and healing.⁶
• Increased immunity, improving the body’s ability to ward off sickness and disease.⁴

Additional studies also exist that support equine therapy as being effective in promoting emotional regulation, self-efficacy, mindfulness, and self-esteem.⁷ Some individuals using equine therapy in their recovery have experienced an improvement in behavioral problems such as aggression, over-activity, disruptive behavior, agitation, and even intentional self-harm.⁸ Most importantly, research has shown that overall, equine therapy helps to reduce problems with drug or alcohol misuse or addiction on the whole.⁸

While science continues to study equine therapy, it is also important to remember that the healing done alongside a horse is often unrelated to science, but is instead highly spiritual and emotional – making it effective in ways that cannot be measured through research, but rather through experience and connection. 

How to Find a Rehab Center with Equine Therapy

Depending on where you live (and if you want to stay local or not), finding equine therapy at a facility near you can be challenging. Facilities often have to iron out several logistics in order to provide equine therapy in their programs, and the majority of facilities simply do not have the space or resources to do so. However, if you want to include equine therapy into your treatment, there are many facilities that offer this form of experiential therapy.

To get started, use our treatment directory tool to find a rehab near me that offers equine therapy. Simply type in the keyword “equine” (or similar) and start browsing a list of facilities that provide this programming option.

Equine Therapy at AAC 

At AAC, we strive to offer as many types of effective therapies to our patients so that they can work an individualized plan that meets their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Equine therapy is one of those therapies, and at AAC’s Oxford Treatment Center, patients can receive it.

Located in Etta, MS on 110 acres of land, Oxford Treatment Center offers a range of equine experiences for patients. Our equine specialists conduct clinical process groups, speciality groups, and even therapeutic trail riding groups. With 14 horses housed in an on-site stable, patients can easily begin benefitting from the inclusion of equine therapy in their program.

To learn more about equine therapy at Oxford, call us at AAC right now at to be connected to an experienced, informed admissions navigator who can answer any questions you may have about equine therapy, specialized rehab treatment programs, admissions, and more.