The O.K. Corral Series
Post Office Box 1137
Yerington, Nevada 89447
ph: 775-463-6565
toll free: 866-391-6565
fax: 775-463-6564
admin@okcorralseries.com
Yerington, Nevada 89447
ph: 775-463-6565
toll free: 866-391-6565
fax: 775-463-6564
admin@okcorralseries.com
the original and ultimate training in the practice of EAP and EAL
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Equine-Assisted History
In the early 1990s, Greg Kersten created the term "Equine
Assisted Psychotherapy" to describe the specific work he was
doing with horses and at-risk youth who were incarcerated or in
treatment. At the time, no one had ever used the phrase
"equine-assisted" to describe the powerful healing and informative
powers of horses on the lives of humans. Kersten published the
first Equine Assisted Psychotherapy training manual in 1995
through his corporation, Equine Services, Inc., and began to
certify professionals in the practice of EAP, using core
philosophies and specific exercises he had found to be particularly
effective in his work.
Since that time, other organizations and agencies have embraced
the term "EAP," but have altered the definition to suit their own
programming, philosophies, and exercises.
In the early 1990s, Greg Kersten created the term "Equine
Assisted Psychotherapy" to describe the specific work he was
doing with horses and at-risk youth who were incarcerated or in
treatment. At the time, no one had ever used the phrase
"equine-assisted" to describe the powerful healing and informative
powers of horses on the lives of humans. Kersten published the
first Equine Assisted Psychotherapy training manual in 1995
through his corporation, Equine Services, Inc., and began to
certify professionals in the practice of EAP, using core
philosophies and specific exercises he had found to be particularly
effective in his work.
Since that time, other organizations and agencies have embraced
the term "EAP," but have altered the definition to suit their own
programming, philosophies, and exercises.
EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EAP) & EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL)
Equine-assisted work honors the natural behavior of horses and herds. Horses are skilled at keeping
themselves safe and adept at survival; their natural behaviors are optimal for mental and physical health.
In many respects, humans have lost the instinct to keep themselves safe and healthy. We entrust horses to
show us the way back to health. Work and observation in the horse world lends itself to extremely
powerful metaphors into our own patterns, strengths, and the nonverbal messages we send out.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy implements the power of equine-assisted philosophies and exercises to
introduce therapy clients to themselves in a modality that has been found to be more efficient and less
threatening than traditional talk therapy.
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is a field of practice based on the successes of Equine Assisted
Psychotherapy. We have learned that everyone can benefit from equine-assisted work - not just therapy
clients. EAL uses equine-assisted philosophies and exercises in a variety of "arenas" from corporate
retreats, to church groups, personal coaching, parenting and family dynamics and more!
PHILOSOPHIES OF EAP
Particular philosophies and exercises (based on equine behavior) are integral to the understanding
and practice of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. There is valuable training in the world of
equine-facilitated work, but if it does not include the following components, it is not genuine EAP as
intended by the Founder of the field.
PRESSURE/PAIN: Awareness of how our equine counterparts respond (physically or mentally) to
pressure (physical or emotional) and pain (physical or emotional) can give us insight into our own
responses. Do we know when we are feeling pressure versus pain? Do we respond appropriately and
healthfully? Horses teach us how to evaluate and respond to the world around us.
ATTENTION/AT-EASE: Both aspects of life are essential, but not necessarily in equal parts. Horses
have mastered their individual balance between time at attention, and time at-ease. We learn to identify
our own needs and imbalances, as well as those of the people around us. This simple, yet profound
philosophy teaches us to be more effective communicators, businesspeople, friends, and human beings.
RE-CIRCLE PROCESS: New and unknown circumstances elicit a notable response from horses.
Typically physical, this response demonstrates a safe, measured, and therapeutic way for humans to
confront the more fearsome aspects of life. A mental metaphor can be made to signify the physical
Re-Circle Process to optimize our way of perceiving and thinking about situations we encounter every day.
PUSH/PULL: Horses provide both physical and emotional metaphors into our own behavioral patterns.
When do we push? When do we pull? Do we do one more than the other? When do we push and when
do we pull? How does our pushing and pulling behavior affect others?
THE NONVERBAL ZONES: Do you know what you are saying when you aren't saying anything?
Horses make good use of their body language to convey the most basic and important messages to each
other. Humans do the same. Sometimes what our mouths say is not in alignment with what our bodies
say. The three nonverbal zones identified in EAP instruct us to be more effective communicators by
aligning our verbal and nonverbal messages.
FUNDAMENTAL EAP EXERCISES
The following signature exercises were created by Greg Kersten with the help of countless at-risk youth he
served in the 1980s and 1990s. The exercises were first published and copyrighted in the Equine Assisted
Psychotherapy training manual, published by Equine Services, Inc. in 1995.
New exercises are being created every day, but these exercises have become synonymous with Greg
Kersten and EAP. The most effective equine-assisted exercises will always be the most basic and
straightforward. Complicating exercises with two many components, rules, or consequences tends to cloud
the meaning and make metaphors more difficult for clients to understand.
CATCH AND HALTER
LONGEING
THE LIE DETECTOR TEST
GROUND TIE
TEMPTATION ALLEY
EXTENDED APPENDAGES
LIFE'S LITTLE OBSTACLES
Equine-assisted work honors the natural behavior of horses and herds. Horses are skilled at keeping
themselves safe and adept at survival; their natural behaviors are optimal for mental and physical health.
In many respects, humans have lost the instinct to keep themselves safe and healthy. We entrust horses to
show us the way back to health. Work and observation in the horse world lends itself to extremely
powerful metaphors into our own patterns, strengths, and the nonverbal messages we send out.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy implements the power of equine-assisted philosophies and exercises to
introduce therapy clients to themselves in a modality that has been found to be more efficient and less
threatening than traditional talk therapy.
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is a field of practice based on the successes of Equine Assisted
Psychotherapy. We have learned that everyone can benefit from equine-assisted work - not just therapy
clients. EAL uses equine-assisted philosophies and exercises in a variety of "arenas" from corporate
retreats, to church groups, personal coaching, parenting and family dynamics and more!
PHILOSOPHIES OF EAP
Particular philosophies and exercises (based on equine behavior) are integral to the understanding
and practice of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. There is valuable training in the world of
equine-facilitated work, but if it does not include the following components, it is not genuine EAP as
intended by the Founder of the field.
PRESSURE/PAIN: Awareness of how our equine counterparts respond (physically or mentally) to
pressure (physical or emotional) and pain (physical or emotional) can give us insight into our own
responses. Do we know when we are feeling pressure versus pain? Do we respond appropriately and
healthfully? Horses teach us how to evaluate and respond to the world around us.
ATTENTION/AT-EASE: Both aspects of life are essential, but not necessarily in equal parts. Horses
have mastered their individual balance between time at attention, and time at-ease. We learn to identify
our own needs and imbalances, as well as those of the people around us. This simple, yet profound
philosophy teaches us to be more effective communicators, businesspeople, friends, and human beings.
RE-CIRCLE PROCESS: New and unknown circumstances elicit a notable response from horses.
Typically physical, this response demonstrates a safe, measured, and therapeutic way for humans to
confront the more fearsome aspects of life. A mental metaphor can be made to signify the physical
Re-Circle Process to optimize our way of perceiving and thinking about situations we encounter every day.
PUSH/PULL: Horses provide both physical and emotional metaphors into our own behavioral patterns.
When do we push? When do we pull? Do we do one more than the other? When do we push and when
do we pull? How does our pushing and pulling behavior affect others?
THE NONVERBAL ZONES: Do you know what you are saying when you aren't saying anything?
Horses make good use of their body language to convey the most basic and important messages to each
other. Humans do the same. Sometimes what our mouths say is not in alignment with what our bodies
say. The three nonverbal zones identified in EAP instruct us to be more effective communicators by
aligning our verbal and nonverbal messages.
FUNDAMENTAL EAP EXERCISES
The following signature exercises were created by Greg Kersten with the help of countless at-risk youth he
served in the 1980s and 1990s. The exercises were first published and copyrighted in the Equine Assisted
Psychotherapy training manual, published by Equine Services, Inc. in 1995.
New exercises are being created every day, but these exercises have become synonymous with Greg
Kersten and EAP. The most effective equine-assisted exercises will always be the most basic and
straightforward. Complicating exercises with two many components, rules, or consequences tends to cloud
the meaning and make metaphors more difficult for clients to understand.
CATCH AND HALTER
LONGEING
THE LIE DETECTOR TEST
GROUND TIE
TEMPTATION ALLEY
EXTENDED APPENDAGES
LIFE'S LITTLE OBSTACLES
Greg Kersten and "Chip"
| The O.K. Corral Series Mission Statement The O.K. Corral Series will educate, promote, and support professionals in the practice of authentic equine-assisted work. Authentic equine-assisted work honors and integrates natural horse and herd behavior as a model for human mental and emotional health using the equine-assisted philosophies developed by Greg Kersten, Founder of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. |
| © 2012 Greg Kersten's O.K. Corral Series |