How can Equine Therapy help me get better?

During a session, the horses will exhibit behaviors that mirror what a person is feeling, a phenomenon some scientists refer to as affect contagion—the unconscious transfer of feelings between living beings. The horses often repeat certain gestures or patterns of movement to emphasize unconscious behaviors that may need addressing. They react when a person acknowledges a suppressed feeling, resulting in blood pressure changes in both the person and the horse.

The facilitators closely observe and capture each reaction of the horses. When the horses enact a change in dynamics, exhibit a pattern of behavior, or react uncharacteristically, the facilitators bring this to the client's attention, offering them the opportunity to explore parallels in their own life.

Examples of pivotal points from recent sessions:EXAMPLE A

Facilitator: "After a period of activity, I noticed that the horses stood very still and close to you, with their heads low. What was that about?"

Client A: "I realized that amidst all the anxiety, there was deep sadness. I felt I needed to stop for a moment rather than trying so hard to get rid of the feeling. The horses seemed to be telling me that it was okay, and for the first time, it actually was."

EXAMPLE B

Facilitator: "I noticed that one of the horses was repeatedly nudging you with his nose and followed you very closely everywhere you went. What was going on for you when this was happening?"

Client B: "It reminded me of how other people treat me—constantly badgering me for things and stepping into my space. Maybe I need to be clearer about my boundaries and think about what I want for a change."

From a herd perspective, the horses are simply attempting to establish harmony by ensuring the emotional stability and congruence of each member of their herd, even if that member is only a weekly visitor. When there is harmony, they can relax and return to grazing. When they sense an imbalance or difficulty, such as unresolved trauma or emotional turmoil, their innate reaction is to bring this to the person's awareness to facilitate a change and return to harmony.

From an attachment perspective, there is evidence to support that animals are capable of fulfilling safe-haven and secure-base functions. In therapy sessions, people often gravitate towards one of the horses. Likewise, the horses seem to "choose" who is most suitable for the role, sometimes resorting to defending their position with the other horses by chasing them away from the person. Studies have shown that bonds with animals can be experienced as more secure than those with romantic partners. Research into the existence of morphogenetic fields confirms this invisible yet deeply connected bond.

From a biological perspective, the horses are reacting to changes in blood pressure, heart rate, body posture, and breathing patterns—just as detectable from the far side of the paddock as they are up close with the client. A horse’s heart has an electromagnetic field stronger than ours—able to reach up to 50 feet around them compared to our range of 8-10 feet—and it has been proven to have a direct influence on our heart rhythm.

Considering that a horse can sense if a nearby predator is hungry or has recently eaten—forcing a critical split-second decision on whether to flee or return to grazing—it's easy to see how these refined sensory skills can be applied in interaction with a person.

There are two overarching principles that allow Equine Assisted Psychotherapy to help people overcome emotional difficulties and mental health disorders:

1. Reconnection: It involves getting through multiple layers of subconscious thought to enable the client to see their situation clearly. Covered in the first session(s).

2. New Pathways: This allows clients to experience new ways of being and behaving to effect change in their lives, a process psychotherapists term experiential learning. This is often covered in subsequent sessions and sometimes fully integrated within the first.

As an example, Reconnection may reveal the need to set boundaries of personal space (reference example B above), and New Pathways may involve setting these boundaries with the horses and observing their reactions to develop a greater sense of self within relationships.

There is evidence to suggest that clients notice change over a much shorter period compared to traditional therapy models. EAGALA, the Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association, recommends programs of approximately four to six weeks at weekly intervals with sessions lasting one hour each.

Hatty Bowles, Integrative Child Psychotherapist, notes:

"I am struck by how quickly the horses seem to reach the core of the feelings brought by the client and the profound meaning this can bring to the surface as a result."