Equine Program Helps Students Overcome
Obstacles, Embrace Success

Since the day SUWS opened in 1981, we have dedicated our efforts toward incorporating both time-tested techniques and innovative emerging methods in order to provide the premier therapeutic wilderness experience for teens and adolescents.

In the months leading up to our 30th anniversary, we are proud to continue this tradition by adding an equine therapy component to the list of therapeutic experiential activities that are available to all SUWS students.

About Equine Therapy

For decades, horses have been employed in therapeutic programs throughout the United States, where they have helped thousands of people who are struggling with both physical and emotional challenges.

For teens and adolescents who have a history of defiance, low self-esteem, social disorders or developmental delays, equine therapy can offer life-changing opportunities to work through internal struggles and rebuild positive interpersonal relationships.

How it Works

Our equine program involves a partnership with a local specialist who is certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), and who works alongside SUWS staff members to guide and supervise our students as they work with the horses.

Regardless of whether a student has years of experience with horses or is seeing one of these majestic creatures up close for the first time, our guided activities are designed to provide the ideal blend of challenge and support in a manner that meets the specific needs of each participant.

As the students interact with the horses, they let their guard down, lose their sense of self-consciousness, and focus on both the task at hand and their four-legged partner. Because horses are both non-judgmental and highly perceptive, the students quickly learn to remain in the moment, to exude positivity and to not let temporary frustrations derail their pursuit of their goals.

Many Benefits

Our equine program offers a range of benefits to our students, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Focusing on the task at hand
• Developing effective communication skills
• Overcoming fears and self-doubts
• Accepting the limits of control
• Resisting the urge to express frustration in a destructive manner
• Embracing a sense of teamwork
• Appreciating the power of positivity

Studies have shown that spending time with a friendly animal such as a horse increases the amount of endorphins that are released into the body and decreases the levels of a chemical called cortisol - which is a hormone that controls stress and arousal.

Because many SUWS students struggle with issues related to controlling their emotions and responding to stresses, guided equine interactions can provide immediate and lasting benefits.

Learn More

For more information about our equine program – or any other of our innovative experiential activities – call (888) 879-7897 or visit our Contact Us page. We look forward to answering all of your questions about SUWS, and discussing the many ways that our program can help your family.