Therapeutic Benefits of Equine Interaction

In the presence of equines, there are opportunities for real-time learning through mindful interactions. This can help to strengthen your sensory and bodily awareness, noticing internal sensations and tuning in to your senses, supporting you to feel more present and connected. Horses are prey animals, and therefore are highly attuned to sensory information and their surroundings. They are also social animals, relying primarily on nonverbal communication. They demonstrate respect, boundaries, and cooperation with one another.

When we are in their presence, they can feel our energy fields that are influenced by our moods, thoughts, and emotions. They are aware of the state of our nervous systems, whether we are anxious or relaxed, and are responsive to us in the moment, often sharing immediate feedback through their behaviors that can be helpful for increasing self-awareness and insightfulness. They are authentic in their ways of being, and encourage us to be honest with ourselves as well. They are also highly communicative, and we can learn to understand what they are saying in order to build relationships with them.

Relationships are reciprocal, in the way that every interaction with an equine teaches them something new too. How we choose to engage with them matters. They are learning and making meaning of their experiences as much as we are. The equines are respected as having their own wants, needs, personalities, histories, and preferences. Their interactions with us are based on consent, rather than forcing them to engage with us in any particular way. This allows for more emotionally regulated, safe, and authentic relationships and interactions to emerge.

Many people also notice that they feel a sense of calm in the presence of the horses, which perhaps is not surprising, given their powerful spirits and large hearts with electromagnetic fields that are much stronger and larger than ours. This can invite us to slow down, learn to trust ourselves, and learn to be more mindful and grounded in our own experiences as well.