Equine Assisted Therapy for Anorexia and Bulimia

Using Horses in Recovery at an Eating Disorder Treatment Facility

Dec 21, 2006

Remuda Ranch adds assisted equine therapy in their recovery programs for anorexia & bulimia. This eating disorder treatment facility uses horses to develop assertiveness.

One of the largest and most well-loved parts of treatment at Remuda Ranch eating disorder treatment facility is their equine assisted therapy component. Using horses to help the girls learn cognitive behavioral skills, it teaches them more than just how to ride in their recovery from anorexia and bulimia.

From the youngest on the ranch to the adults, everyone in the inpatient program participates at a certain level. The sessions are called experientials and each patient goes through at least 1 one-hour session with an equine assisted therapy specialist and her therapist.

Each experiential is designed with the patient’s individual needs in mind. Sessions can focus on a variety of skills including communication, assertiveness, asking for help and other therapeutic tools that they can take home with them. It’s also important for demonstrating solutions to life problems that are not as effective just in talk therapy.

The children’s program, especially, incorporates the family if they are present and opens up dialogue between parents and siblings that sometimes never existed before. It’s a way for the family to understand the confusion and fear their daughter or sister has been going through at the eating disorder treatment facility and what their role in her recovery needs to be.

Many of the women at Remuda Ranch are at very different levels in their recovery; some cannot participate in the physical activities because of dangerously low weight, osteoporosis, or other physical limitations. The girls with extremely low weight are usually able to take part shortly after arrival, as their weight increases.

For these patients, alternate recreational activities are created. For example, children and those who aren’t stable enough to ride horses are able to participate with a driving pony, giving them the relationship with the animal without the strenuous activity. They will also join the others in grooming the horses and their therapists can recommend experientials like bathing them.

The copyright of the article Equine Assisted Therapy for Anorexia and Bulimia in Eating Disorder Recovery is owned by Lori Henry. Permission to republish Equine Assisted Therapy for Anorexia and Bulimia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.