Natural Horsemanship Philosophy and Equine Therapy at Beartooth MT Ascent

Our Beartooth MT Ascent Program develops the minds, bodies and souls of troubled young men through active involvement with our horses. The first phase of domesticating a horse starts at its birth: when a new foal is born it must immediately receive human contact or it will always perceive man as a dangerous predator. The action of placing ones hands on a newborn foal is called “imprinting;” a miraculous process that transfers love from one species to another and forms an indelible bond. Beartooth Mountain Ascent uses “imprinting” as a therapeutic means to demonstrate the sublime and transformative powers of love and affection to the troubled young adult. We have pioneered an equine therapy program that is successful in developing the virtues necessary for establishing long-term human relationships: communication, commitment, patience, and love.

Horses play an integral role in traditional ranch life. The Ranch at Beartooth MT Ascent has thirty-five head of horses for ranching purposes. We are very proud of our herd. Like the young men at BTMA, these horses come from many backgrounds. They are primarily Quarter Horses, with some Arabian, Paint Horse, and Mustang breeding represented as well. It is amazing how quickly the young man will pick out a favorite horse among the herd. There is an old saying that goes, "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man." This has proven true here at BMTA.

As stated on the BTMA homepage, most troubled young men who suffer with addiction and other self-destructive tendencies have deficient communication abilities. The non-verbal communication that is exchanged between man and horse during equine training decreases aggression, feelings of alienation, despair, and other negative emotional states that prevent the individual from having significant contact with others. In equine training, the young man is taught that success can only occur through patiently earning the trust of the animal: he must become both receptive to every movement and gesture of the horse, and also capable of responding in a manner appropriate to the situation. We have found that the young men who spend extended periods of time in equine therapy become “better listeners” and are able to “think before they speak.”.

Students ride horses as part of our young adult program. Combined with our outdoor work adventure, this helps young men overcome substance abuse.

Since Beartooth MT Ascent is not a "Dude" Ranch, we do not recommend that the troubled man ride our horses while he makes his initial adjustment to the first phase of our program. Trust, work ethic, self-motivation, and a sense of responsibility are key factors in behavior improvement and in determining the young man's progress as he becomes more closely associated with the horse. Riding a horse has many responsibilities attached to it; successful horsemanship requires many hours of study and a desire to learn about horses.

Equine therapy is for improving lives

Equine therapy has many applications.  It is noted for its improvement in the physically handicapped and disabled in teaching them how to find success in meeting their life challenges.  However, its applications in psychology show profound success at providing daily success, changing behavioral approaches to challenges, and putting out the fires of inflamed tempers and inappropriate social and family reactions.
 
Horses carry many learning opportunities, too

The chief purpose of equine therapy is to give opportunities for young men to enjoy successes in their daily lives in any setting.  Experiencing success helps them to rebuild self-esteem and self-confidence as well as self-discipline.

What is Equine Therapy?

Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) is an emerging treatment modality that utilizes horse-handling activities to generate powerful therapeutic metaphors-metaphors that reflect how each young woman relates to herself and others. With the support of peers and Fulshear's equine specialist and attending clinical therapist, young women examine these metaphors to gain insight into their fears, habits, and unconscious ways of relating. As issues arise within the equine setting, students have en-vivo opportunities to work toward the understanding and healing of those issues.

Equine therapy is an effective method for teaching teamwork, communication, and problem solving. It provides a natural setting in which to face fears and increase confidence and self-esteem. Equine-assisted therapy also provides a safe context for addressing emotional blocks and developing new, pro-social ways of relating. Students find this part of our program highly social, challenging, and fun, yet therapeutically powerful and often life-changing. The bond formed between our horses and our students-even those initially unaccustomed to or even afraid of horses-is nothing short of transformative.

Our equine therapy program is facilitated by a licensed therapist and an experienced EAGALA-certified equine specialist. EAGALA is the premier professional association providing education, standards, and support for professionals providing EAP.