DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — You might have heard of dog therapy, but have you heard of pony therapy?

Pony therapy; how one decatur school is bringing a new way of behavioral work to the classroom

"Horse brains operate in a really similar way to people who have gone through trauma, always on swivel hyper awareness," said Kim Stout, LPC. 

Stout has a passion for equine therapy, and now she's bringing her program to Muffley Elementary School in Decatur. Twice a week, Stout brings two ponies, Tucker and Louis, to work with students.

Horses are prey animals, which makes them more of a mirror image to the human brain. Their feelings of stress, fear, and anxiety, mimic human behavior, according to Stout.

One technique Stout encourages her kids to use with the ponies is attachment and detachment. She also teaches consent and the ability to respond to actions of others. 

"As a species, just like horses, we're wired for connection. It's necessary to our ability to feel safe and be able to function in the world" she said. "If we can practice relationships through the relatively non-threatening lens of practicing with horses, can we start to practice those skills with others."

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