Negative influences on children abound these days—in mass media, pop culture, and the digital world. Teenagers are spending vast amounts of time using screens as a form of leisure and entertainment, spending on average over seven hours on their phones a day according to a new report by Common Sense Media. But the good news is that those who participated in outdoor extracurricular activities were significantly less likely to engage in recreational screen-based activities and had a higher level of life satisfaction and optimism.

This is where Equine Assisted Therapy steps in for parents who are looking for a way to help their kids unplug and reengage with the outside world. The pasture and stable offer a natural outdoor setting that helps teens relax and unwind from the stress of school, peer pressure, and social media. Horses require an immediate response/reaction which can generate the same coping skills students use under duress in their lives.

Horses illustrate the law of cause and effect perfectly and often mirror our emotions. One quickly learns their behaviors and actions trigger responses and that if they modify or reassess their communication methods or body language – then the horse will give them a different outcome, just as is true with human interactions. Success can be seen or felt immediately when the horse begins to respond to the individual, and this quickly builds self-esteem, teamwork, self-leadership, and a sense of personal control.

Teens who struggle with relationships and authority will often accept the horse’s presence and feedback more readily and develop that relationship based on respect, trust and patience which then equips the students to form healthy relationships with people. Horses are excellent experiential teachers and teens are naturally rewarded when they exercise patience, creativity, and resilience.

Horses also are able to illustrate respect for others and authority figures simply by the nature of their size and strength. In many cases the “toughest kid on the block” is actually experiencing feelings of insecurity and fear. In this instance the horse’s size and strength alone can help the teen to realize that they can get along with others well by building their confidence and self-esteem, rather than with intimidation techniques.

Powerful yet gentle, perceptive yet without any judgment – horses can help at risk youth gain knowledge about their insecurities and their inherent strengths. A horse does not care if you have dropped out of school, been in jail, are unpopular, or have a learning disability – they only care about what you exhibit in the moment.

The ability of the horses to help students identify healthy vs. non-healthy behaviors within themselves is among the most beneficial components of the Equine Assisted Therapy programs offered at Teens Voice USA. Our multi-faceted programs are effective in helping students unplug from the digital world, overcome personal challenges, and recognize their full potential.