Working with horses may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about inpatient addiction treatment, but equine therapy has grown to prominence as a surprisingly effective treatment. Recent studies have even shown that equine therapy is effective for individuals struggling with substance abuse.
Equine-assisted therapy involves working with horses in their environment to help build emotional growth and confidence. Residents participate by grooming, feeding, walking with, and riding horses. Since horses express similar behaviors to humans, such as social responses, residents often make emotional connections with the animals.
If you’d like to learn more about equine therapy at First Responders First, don’t hesitate to contact us! Our many therapy programs have helped hundreds of our first responders heal, resulting in the restoration of careers, relationships, and lives.
Check out the video below to learn about our ranch and our relationship with LAPD horses:
