Why we use horses to help children and adults?

Horses have the ability to relax peoples’ defenses and the walls they build up around themselves. This opens the relationship between oneself and others. Horses are a bridge to self-esteem and emotional strength, establishing trust bonds that overcome fear and aggression. This bond tends to inspire productive behaviour, caring attitudes and a philosophical orientation to life.

The Arabian Horse Reading Literacy Project encourages responsibility, trust and positive relational skills. By inviting the children (and adults) into the barn, the horse’s environment, they are forced out of their asphalt and concrete world into a natural, safe place. This ‘barn environment’ encourages individuals to be relaxed, creative as well as discover the importance of respect, boundaries and resulting freedom.

Horses are not only beautiful creatures to be with, but they offer a gift of love and healing to all of us, no matter what our situation or circumstances, and they do so without judgement.

Gary Millar

Founder of the Arabian Horse Reading Literacy Project