A Horse With No Name

When people come to work with our horses at Four Directions, they frequently ask “What’s his name? Is this one a girl or a boy?” Our response often surprises people. At Four Directions, the horses are considered a part of the team in our equine therapy sessions. Each person who comes to our equine center has a unique opportunity to explore and create their own story using the relationships they form with the horses. Because of that, we don’t share the names, ages, or gender of them. For example, if we say that this horse’s name is Speedy, clients may associate that horse with being fast or spirited. Because the horses can represent anyone or anything during the session, the less one knows about each horse, the better.

One day someone came out to a session and stated that the big black horse was his sister, explaining that his sibling is always moving and interacting with everyone. On another day, that same black horse represented a client’s co-worker who was stand-offish and rude. Sometimes the horses even represent a place like home or a vacation spot.

The horses at Four Directions also vary in size which opens up more opportunity to create metaphors. At Four Directions, our Mini horses offer a chance for someone who hasn’t been around horses to interact in an easy manner. Watching and interacting with the horses often brings joy and laughter as the horses provide an opportunity to create their story in a unique way. Other times, difficult issues arise and the team of horses, the equine specialist and the mental health therapist provide a space for clients to find their own solutions to problems they may be facing.

So, for your first visit to Four Directions, be prepared to get very little information about our equine team members. Allow them to be whoever and whatever you want them to be! It’ll be an incredible experience, and a great alternative or addition to traditional therapy.