Equine Activity of the Day

Problem Box


Population

This exercise is well suited to individuals, small groups and families.

Objective

The objective is to engage students in the process of assessing the reasons they are in treatment.

Area Needed

This exercise works well in an arena. A smaller area can be used if the activity involves only one student.

Set Up and Execution of the Exercise

The student is asked to build a box using cones of various sizes. The box needs to be large enough to hold both the student and the horse. Next, the student is asked to choose a horse from a previously selected group of horses. The horses are already haltered with a lead rope. Next, the student will take the horse into the box and stand in the box with the horse. The student is asked to talk to the horse about “how I got into this box of problems”. The student will be asked to describe their thoughts and feelings about being in “the box of problems”. The student will explain to the horse the consequences they now face as a result of being in their box of problems. After completing their discussion with the horse, the student will be given a bucket of grain and the horse will be allowed to eat some of the grain. The student then places the bucket of grain outside the box and works to get the horse to stay comfortably in the box without the grain. The student then leaves the box and shakes the bucket of grain while keeping the horse in the problem box. The student is then asked to discuss with the horse “what temptations are keeping me in my box of problems”. After the completion of the activity the student is asked to feed the remaining grain to the horse and work on building a relationship with the horse.

Basic Rules

Students must treat the horse with care and concern.

Students have the responsibility to keep themselves safe at all times.

Students need to maintain a safe distance from other groups.

Students need to respect confidentiality of any information that is discussed by others.

Possible Discussion Questions

Did your horse listen to you?

What did your horse do that made you feel the horse was or was not listening to you?

Things for the team to observe

The team should observe the interaction between the student and the horse. Does the student appear to be talking to the horse? What is the horse doing? Does the horse seem to be responding to the student discussion?