Equine Therapy
Research has confirmed the many equine therapy benefits. On a physical level, it lowers your blood pressure, heart rate and reduces overall stress. Equine therapy also has mental and emotional benefits such as reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Equine therapy assists people struggling with relational challenges, suppressed emotions, self-esteem, addictions and mental illness. Additionally, there are several life skills that a horse can teach better than any person and therapist. Horses intuitively show us the lessons we need to learn and assist us in finding our answers in an experiential way. It is common to be able to more comfortably express feelings and emotions when in the safe presence of a therapeutic horse. Their presence can be healing. Their magnetic field alone is 400% larger than ours, so simply being in their amazing presence begins healing us in a profound energetic way.
As your coach in this therapeutic approach,
together we will identity your health and healing challenges.
Whether that be suppressed emotions like sadness, trauma, or anger, you will be coached to partner with the horse to release those emotions in a positive and experiential way. Finding healthier ways to cope productively with your emotions is the ultimate goal. Connecting with your feelings and emotions through your relationship with the horse becomes a magical and healing experience. When in the presence of the horse energy, your coach will guide you in a process of connecting to your heart space, rather than your mind and head space (which is often where we are most comfortable in our culture). This may be a challenge for those struggling and stressed, but this equine facilitated experience will heal deep layers of emotional suppression with time.
Horses have a unique ability to sense emotions and react accordingly. If your energy is angry or aggressive, the horse may become obstinate. If your energy is anxious, the horse may get skittish. Yet when approached by someone who is open and calm, the horse is more likely to respond softly and gently. Witnessing the horse’s response promotes self-awareness and can help people see themselves in a more realistic way. Horses are the best energetic sensors and require us to show up honestly and authentically.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
Horses teach us how to connect and bond in such a way that is transferable to other relationships. Through working with horses, people recognize their patterns of interacting with others. Horses are excellent communicators. Learning to understand horse behavior can help people learn the way their behavior impacts others. Exercises as simple as haltering, leading and grooming teach people how to approach others with respect and awareness of space, energy and boundaries. In equine therapy, people talk about what they see and feel. The therapist guides the person to see the horse’s responses with an objective lens. Thus, they begin to recognize the ways in which their perceptions are accurate or misguided.
Overcoming Fears
Horses are large animals. Their strength and size can bring up unmet needs, fears, past trauma and feelings of inadequacy or lack of control. In a safe environment with a horse as a partner, clients learn to face their physical and metaphorical fears. They build confidence in their ability to overcome challenges. Often people feel intimidated and nervous at first. Later, they discover how quickly they process those feelings and find comfort in their relationship with the horse. Empowered by this experience, people may develop the confidence to address other fears. They can then transfer these lessons to their day-to-day life.
Trust
Horses are soothing, loving and gentle animals. They are straightforward in their interactions without lying or manipulating. They do not judge or blame. When people open themselves up, they grow in their ability to build relationships and to ask for help.