Reviews
With themes central to the human experience, Veronica Lac’s new book highlights relationships, meaning, and embodied experiences in facilitated interactions with horses. She braids philosophy, inclusivity, and personal narrative along with case studies that are not about the activity. Lac has created a needed and much welcomed resource for those who want to include horses in their services.
Nina Ekholm Fry, Director of Equine Programs
Institute for Human-Animal Connection, University of Denver
Veronica has written an amazing companion to her first book! It’s Not About the Activity is immediately useful, with important ideas in succinct, bite-sized chapters. The Foundations section articulates the theory of growth and change, and how to help others achieve them with horses. I’m really grateful for the lucid and simple distinction between Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy and Equine-Facilitated Learning! The Applications section is a great reference point for those seeking structure in their practice, without “one-size-fits-all” limitations. The Case Studies bring it all together, demonstrating theory in practice. Thank you so much, Veronica!”
Shannon Knapp, MA, NLC-EAP & Trainer
Author of More than a Mirror: Horses, Humans and Therapeutic Practice and Horse Sense Business Sense: Starting your own Equine Assisted Program
This book was an absolute delight to read. Chock full of ethics, scope of practice, principles, theory and philosophy, and, importantly, specific examples, interventions, and case studies. This is such a rich resource for all equine assisted/facilitated students and practitioners to deep dive into the HERD model—a relational, ethical and professional approach founded by author Veronica Lac.
The book title itself pinpoints such an important topic in the equine assisted/facilitated field as it encourages students and practitioners to reflect on ‘what is this work really about at its core?’ When I hear people ask for a list of activities with horses, I fear they have not had the opportunity to understand what equine assisted/facilitated practice is really about: awareness in relationship. This book begins to address this issue head-on from the HERD perspective. It is indeed a sad day when horses are used as activities or metaphors for humans to learn, grow, and heal—for both the humans (who are unaware of what is missing) and the horses (who are objectified, with good intentions, perhaps). Similarly, there is a new trend in the field to include “certified therapy horses” (and “certified therapy animals”), rather than actually training and certifying the practitioner! Quick fixes and appearances of best practice cannot replace substantial training, supervision, and qualification in the animal assisted/facilitated field. It’s Not About the Activity introduces readers to the depth of what equine assisted/facilitated work can include and gives diverse case studies to illustrate the HERD process. Thank you, Veronica!
Meg Kirby, Founder of The Equine Psychotherapy Institute and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute,
Mental Health Social Worker and Gestalt Psychotherapist of 23 years
Veronica is incredibly skilled at holding the balance between structure and process. She encourages readers to think beyond activities and to focus on the relationship that is unfolding between horse and client. This book also provides one of the clearest delineations I’ve seen between equine-facilitated learning and equine-facilitated psychotherapy with practical steps to demystify program development and session planning and case examples for each scope of practice. A valuable resource regardless of your primary approach to facilitating horse-human interactions.
Sarah Schlote, MA, Founder of EQUUSOMA® Horse-Human Trauma Recovery
I truly loved every page of this book—going back repeatedly until I was sure I’d grasped each concept and could apply it. No other book on this subject demonstrates the complexity and depth of skill required by an Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy and Equine-Facilitated Learning practitioner. It seamlessly combines the science, philosophy, psychology, relationships, and personal inner work that every practitioner needs to understand in order to do this work safely. Every practitioner should buy this book, devour it over and over again, and continue to deepen their own process in service of both horses and humans.
Jude Jennison, Founder of Leaders by Nature and Author of Leading Through Uncertainty
