Case Study #2

R.K. is a 46 year old South African Male who came to Equine Assisted Therapy with the intention of "developing his ability to set and act on identified goals". R. was a very intensely focused individual who had worked in the world of finance and stock brokerage firms.

During the first session, he shared that he had been on the telephone with a colleague when the 9/11 disaster occurred. He had experienced the trauma of his friend’s ultimate death in the ensuing collapse of the World Trade Center. During a three day, nine hour experience, R. was able to identify his difficulty in staying in the present, responding only to what is currently happening and not attempting to anticipate all possible outcomes.

By working with the horse in the round pen, he was able to practice responding to the immediate situation, incorporating feedback on his choices while controlling the intensity of pressure on himself. He also practiced identifying strategies for achieving smaller outcomes as gratifying indicators of larger goal achievements.

Three months later, R. reported that the sessions with the horse had significantly improved his capacity to manage financial transactions and had improved his confidence in decision making. He also volunteered that "my wife thinks I’m a lot easier to live with, too".