Equine Therapy is a weird idea, right?
Therapy with… Horses? You mean, the animals that we ride, race or jump? How can they help me with my relationships with my family, kids, partner, or myself?
Horses are prey animals. They are designed to sense the tiniest things in their environment because that is how they have survived.
They are 1,000 times more sensitive to cues in their environment than we are. Their eyes, ears, noses, and skin are highly attuned to even the smallest shift in their surroundings. They can tell if we’re breathing, how fast our hearts are beating, the energy of our thoughts, and if we’re present, distracted, or self-aware. They show us their experience of how we are through their movements, reactions, and expressions.
Horses are also herd animals, which means they are relational.
They seek and move towards trustworthy, honest, and confident beings. When we hide our feelings (even from ourselves), hold ourselves back, and don’t admit what is real and true for us, they respond. When we are open, vulnerable, self-aware, and assertive, they move in. The don’t care what we’re feeling, but they trust us when we own it.
These qualities are essential for making healing easier. Learning to be more honest with ourselves and others, to feel our feelings more fully, and to regulate ourselves when we’re anxious, stuck or afraid, are all skills and experiences that make therapy effective and helpful.
Additionally, working with horses means being outside, being in your body, taking a break from your life and the weight of your problems, and a chance to feel good, connect, and be heard.
If you’re looking for a different experience in therapy, working with horses may be the answer.
Contact me for more details… and a chance to meet the herd.
