While ESCT is designed to work as a PTSD therapy in horses, it also combines with training and other healing therapies. In fact, you can use ESCT whenever your horse becomes "stuck," no matter what his temperament, discipline or background. The most dramatic improvement is noticed with horses who have suffered trauma, but even minor stresses and mixed-messages can be unraveled with ESCT. Here are a few situations that are improved with ESCT:
- Use ESCT alone as a protocol in a series of healing therapy sessions.
- Use ESCT before or after another treatment modality, such as massage, acupressure or acupuncture, to relax and prepare your horse.
- Use ESCT as a training tool to help overcome resistance to a higher level or learning or to the introduction of a new challenge.
- Use ESCT as a reward for your horse for a job well done.
- Use ESCT to center yourself and your horse when one or both of you are having a bad horse or bad people day.
- Use ESCT on-the-spot when your horse encounters a spook or difficult situation.
- Use ESCT in learning acceleration situations when a little relaxation will get him to the next level of achievement.
- Use ESCT in a learning plateau situation when your horse has lingered too long at a level and is having difficulty improving.
Of course, keep your horse’s ability, maturity, overall training and health in mind when you ask more of him. Horses usually have a good sense of where they need to be in any given routine, and you can read their level of comfort by watching for the body signals that show enthusiasm and engagement of the horse’s volitional brain.
