“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
— Often attributed to Winston Churchill
When developing the model for Align Adolescent Recovery, I knew a robust horsemanship program had to be one of its pillars. This decision was informed by both research and experience.
The data is compelling. Horsemanship combines physical activity, emotional connection, responsibility, and confidence-building in a way that few other activities can. These elements are essential to the therapeutic experience at Align.
The emotional benefits alone are significant. First, horsemanship builds self-confidence. Learning to control and communicate with a 1,000-pound animal gives our young men a powerful sense of accomplishment. Second, it reduces anxiety and stress. The rhythmic movement of riding and time spent outdoors can be calming and helps regulate emotions. Third, it improves self-esteem. Success with horses comes through patience, consistency, and practice, helping our guys develop a healthier self-image.
Horsemanship also teaches accountability, empathy, perseverance, and trust. Horses respond honestly and immediately to human behavior and emotions. They cannot be manipulated, and they do not judge. They simply react to what is presented to them in the moment. For many adolescents, this creates a unique opportunity to learn self-awareness and emotional regulation.
Volumes have been written about the efficacy of horsemanship with adolescents.
“A horse doesn’t care what happened yesterday, what diagnosis you carry, or what mistakes you’ve made. It responds to who you are in the moment.”
— Author Unknown
This research-based effectiveness plays out almost every time one of our young men is working with his horse.
So yes, I was informed by the research. But that is only a small part of why I have been committed to our horsemanship program since we opened our doors in 2004.
As Paul Harvey used to say, “And now for the rest of the story.”
(And if you immediately recognize that reference, it may be time to schedule a colonoscopy.)
In 1996, I was granted permission to work with ten young men who were in serious trouble with the courts. All had some level of gang involvement. They were on probation for violent offenses and came from different gangs and backgrounds.
Was I a little crazy? Definitely.
I took these young men to a ranch and embarked on a twelve-week journey using horses as the primary therapeutic intervention.
My words could never do justice to what I witnessed.
The young men worked together. They laughed together. Slowly, they dropped the masks and pretenses of their street personas. They became kids again. What emerged was a remarkable journey of transformation.
I was sold.
Eight years later, when Align Adolescent Recovery opened, I knew we would have a horsemanship program no matter what it took to afford it. I believed then, and I believe now, that horses can help young people heal in ways that are difficult to achieve through traditional approaches alone.
Over the years, I have watched young men from all over the United States—and even from other continents—arrive with absolutely no interest in horses and leave with a profound appreciation for them.
One young man told me on his first day, “I’d rather eat a horse than ride one.” He later graduated from the program and volunteered in our equine program for more than two years.
Horses became an important part of his recovery journey.
Another young man arrived with dreadlocks and loudly informed his parents that he didn’t want to attend a program with “stupid horses.” Today, he is considered one of the premier horse trainers in the United States.
Stories like these are not unusual.
From day one, I never wanted horsemanship to be optional. I knew that the outside of a horse could create healing on the inside of our youth.
More than two decades later, I remain convinced that horsemanship is one of the many reasons we continue to see extraordinary growth, resilience, and transformation in the young men we are privileged to serve.