<p>In the past I have found CC to be the best resource for all kinds of information.
Equine assisted psychotherapy
My HS senior has been searching for what she wants to do in life. (as only a 17 yr old can do) Her latest idea is EAP. She has long expressed a possible desire to become a Marriage Family Therapist (she knows it requires further education). Last night she came up with the idea of doing therapy with horses. She is a devoted horse person. She has volunteered at a Equine Therapy center for people with physical disablities but this is not her interest. She would like to use horses as a form of mental health therapy. She has participated in one session of EAP with a family member a few years ago.
Does anyone have further info on this field? Is it one of those areas that sounds great but hard to find work in the real world?
Am I right that the road of education would be an undergrad degree in psychology and grad school for an MFT or psychology PhD? Along with continuing to spend time with horses. Or maybe find a school that she can have a minor in some equine field.</p>
<p>I think you’d be right about her educational path. Focus on the therapy education, and either attend a college with equestrian access or find a related volunteer/internship position with horses.</p>
<p>I’d also recommend having her contact folks who are running a program like the one she wants to be involved in and ask how they got started. </p>
<p>This program is in California, which might not be close to you, but may still be a good started point. [Dreampower</a> Horsemanship - Welcome](<a href=“http://www.dreampowerhorsemanship.com/start.html]Dreampower”>http://www.dreampowerhorsemanship.com/start.html)</p>
<p>My naturopath is a member & runs classes & workshops.
[Welcome</a> | EAGALA Primary Site](<a href=“Eagala - A Global Standard in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Personal Development”>http://www.eagala.org/)
also has worked with
[Human-Equine</a> Alliances for Learning](<a href=“http://humanequinealliance.org/]Human-Equine”>http://humanequinealliance.org/)
and
[PATH</a> International](<a href=“http://www.pathintl.org/]PATH”>http://www.pathintl.org/)</p>
<p>Rutgers has an equine-minor that might be worth considering for the hands on experience. Not too many schools have equine minors, as horses are expensive to keep if they aren’t doing research, so you will have to look around. </p>
<p>[Catalog</a> Navigator : Minor in Equine Science (18-21 credits)](<a href=“http://catalogs.rutgers.edu/generated/nb-ug_current/pg740.html]Catalog”>http://catalogs.rutgers.edu/generated/nb-ug_current/pg740.html)</p>
<p>Bridgewater State in VA has an equine studies minor on their website. I would check that out. It is a small school and have read and heard some good things about the school, although I do not have first hand information.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the links</p>
<p>Anthrozoology- a major and minor offered at Carroll College in Montana. Sounds interesting.</p>
<p>Another school to look at is New Mexico State. It offers an undergrad degree in Family and Child Science (which includes Marriage & Family Therapy), has a strong equestrian program with huge new stables on campus, and runs it’s own therapeutic riding program (thru the animal science dept). The animal science dept offer multiple equine science/horse classes including on the Human-Companion Animal Bond.</p>
<p>FCS dept home page</p>
<p>[NMSU:</a> Family and Consumer Sciences - Family & Child Science (FCS)](<a href=“Error 404 | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future.”>Error 404 | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future.)</p>
<p>NMSU therapeutic riding program</p>
<p>[NMSU:</a> RidingProgram](<a href=“Error 404 | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future.”>Error 404 | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future.)</p>
<p>BTW, DelCampo of the FCS dept is very well known in Marriage & Family Therapy circles:</p>
<p>[NMSU’s</a> DelCampo Wins National Award from Marriage and Family Therapy Association](<a href=“Error 404 | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future.”>Error 404 | New Mexico State University - BE BOLD. Shape the Future.)</p>
<p>Like others have mentioned, Carroll College in Helena, MT, has the unique Human Animal Bond (HAB) program that combines well with psychology. I know two psychology faculty members at Carroll (they were TA’s at my undergrad university, and we’ve stayed in touch), including one who has an appointment in HAB program, although with the canine side of things. If the other faculty are anywhere near as awesome as they are, the students there are certainly quite lucky! 
</p>
<p>Here’s what the site says about the equine aspect of the HAB program:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[Carroll</a> College - Anthrozoology](<a href=“http://www.carroll.edu/academics/hab/]Carroll”>http://www.carroll.edu/academics/hab/)</p>
<p>I am going to pass along all the information. Her other area of interest is speech and language. It looks like regardless of her eventual major both speech and language and pyschology have some overlap in coursework.
I am going to have her look at Carroll. She has already applied to Univ of Montana as a speech and language major.</p>
<p>Check out the University of Kentucky… They do know a thing or two about horses and have a well respected Clinical Psychology program as well.</p>
<p>Prescott College in Arizona also has an equine assisted undergrad and master’s degree program. It seems to be a well respected program, and I know several people who have taught there - all are excellent.</p>
<p>[Equine</a> Assisted Mental Health (EAMH) - Undergraduate](<a href=“http://www.prescott.edu/learn/on-campus-undergraduate/areas-of-study/psychology-and-human-development/emphasis-in-equine-assisted-mental-health.html]Equine”>http://www.prescott.edu/learn/on-campus-undergraduate/areas-of-study/psychology-and-human-development/emphasis-in-equine-assisted-mental-health.html)</p>
<p>[Equine</a> Assisted Mental Health (EAMH) - Graduate](<a href=“http://www.prescott.edu/learn/master-of-arts-counseling-psychology/areas-of-concentration/masters-counseling-psychology-equine-assisted-mental-health.html]Equine”>http://www.prescott.edu/learn/master-of-arts-counseling-psychology/areas-of-concentration/masters-counseling-psychology-equine-assisted-mental-health.html)</p>
<p>You can find an article about the different applications of equine assisted work at
[Different</a> EA Models | Horses, Teaching and Healing](<a href=“http://www.horsesteachingandhealing.com/?page_id=113]Different”>http://www.horsesteachingandhealing.com/?page_id=113)</p>
<p>If you are on a tight budget, check-out Truman State University in MO.</p>
<p>Ag Science major/minor in Equine Science.
Major in Communication Disorders.</p>
<p>[Truman</a> State University](<a href=“http://www.truman.edu/]Truman”>http://www.truman.edu/)</p>
<p>Wow I want to go back to College and go to Carroll…what an interesting major!</p>
<p>Equine assisted learning and psychotherapy sounds like something for Mr. Ed, but I guess it is a different kind of assistance. :)</p>
<p>Earlham College in Indiana has both a unique [Equestrian Program](<a href=“http://legacy.earlham.edu/equestrianprogram/”>http://legacy.earlham.edu/equestrianprogram/</a>) and a Psychology program. Earlham is small enough, personal enough, and flexible enough that your D may be able to work the equine angle into a Psych degree.</p>
<p>Mom60. I know someone “up here” who is doing that kind of work. I’ll pm you.</p>
<p>Yes, Paul Smith, who teaches in the equine assisted program at Prescott College, attended Earlham College. I believe I read that someone hosted him at Earlham a while back.</p>
<p>@Bogney - equine assisted means that the horse helps in the teaching and healing process…new name for what horsemen have always known <g>.</g></p>
<p>pamequus- My D thinks like you do.
Earlham has been on and off the list.</p>
<p>Saint Mary of-the-Woods in Indiana has developed a well-rounded curriculum that will prepare students to work in the real world with real career preparation. You can see a link to it and other colleges with related programs at
[Colleges</a> with Equine Assisted Certifications and Degrees](<a href=“http://www.equineassistedopenforum.com/showthread.php?83-Colleges-with-Equine-Assisted-Certifications-and-Degrees]Colleges”>http://www.equineassistedopenforum.com/showthread.php?83-Colleges-with-Equine-Assisted-Certifications-and-Degrees)</p>
<p>a forum dedicated to all models of equine assisted work.</p>