The hUMBLE Approach
Horses Utilizing, Mindfulness, Balance, and Logos in the Environment
The hUMBLE Therapy approach is organic and the principles are designed to be incorporated into other treatment modalities and settings.
Horses
People have been using horses and horseback riding as a form of therapy for thousands of years. Horses are sensitive to non-verbal communication, and they stay mentally and physically balanced in the present moment. Horses are conditioned to react and respond under extreme stress.
The relationship between horses and people has a connection on many levels. The mutual building of trust, with such a large and powerful animal, aid in building or restoring healthy communication skills and boundaries.
Effective communication with a horse requires emotional awareness and regulation. In turn these healthy skills are used in other relationships. This process requires mutual respect and emphasizes mindfulness, balance, patience, and humility.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the process of purposely bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment without judgment. Horses are natural examples of mindfulness and are not concerned with the past or the future. Just a horse's presence induces mindfulness to those around them.
Practitioners of mindfulness aim to cultivate self-awareness and compassionate feelings and thoughts toward themselves and others. Many people tend to be unaware of their current feelings, emotions, and body sensations. Conditioned thought patterns focused on the past and future add to symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, and stress.
The hUMBLE Therapy approach assists in staying grounded and in tune with our current state of mind and environment. Horses can also help others to focus on breathwork and encourage positive attitudes to achieve a healthy and balanced mental state.
Balance
Balance is addressed on several levels during a holistic hUMBLE Therapy session. Holistic treatment simply means that a person works to maintain a good working balance between mind, body, and spirit.
Although each of us at one time or another suffers from an imbalance in certain areas, nature's way is to seek balance in a quick and appropriate manner. Where appropriate to the treatment plan, balance while mounted on the horse can be used to work on physical posture alongside emotional and spiritual centeredness.
Logos
Logos is the Greek word for meaning. Logotherapy, developed by Viktor Frankl, suggests that human nature is motivated by the search for a life purpose. Logotherapy principles and values are used to treat many mental health challenges.
Logotherapy promotes an individual to take a different perspective on the present moment to find meaning. Frankl argued that body and mind are what we have, but our spirit is what we are, or our essence.
"I call my horses 'divine mirrors'—they reflect back the emotions you put in. If you put in love and respect and kindness and curiosity, the horse will return that."
Environment
The environment represents the last letter in the hUMBLE Therapy acronym but could possibly be the most therapeutically beneficial. The holistic value of nature can be vastly underappreciated. Being outside bestows a sense of connectedness.
Your surroundings can affect the way you think and feel. Being in spacious outdoor environments promotes opening your mind to humbling life perspectives. The very act of being in nature promotes mindfulness, gratitude, and humility.
Admiring the peacefulness of nature's chaotic balance can be viewed metaphorically to finding peace of mind.