Therapy with Horses: Equine-Assisted Therapy
What is Equine-Assisted Therapy?
Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) is a powerful healing method that involves working with horses to develop emotional awareness, build trust, and regulate the nervous system. Horses are highly attuned to human emotions and provide nonverbal feedback, making them exceptional therapy partners.
The Importance of Herd-Living Horses & Free Will
For equine-assisted therapy to be truly ethical and effective, it should only be conducted with horses that live in a natural herd environment and have the freedom to choose their participation. Horses are highly sensitive beings, and their ability to co-regulate with humans is only authentic when they are physically and emotionally well themselves.
Mutual Respect: Therapy should never be about using horses for healing, but rather engaging in a reciprocal process where both horse and human benefit.
Emotional Well-being of Horses: Horses forced into isolation or controlled environments may experience stress, which impacts their ability to provide genuine interactions.
Authentic Connection: True healing happens when horses have the freedom to engage or disengage, offering feedback based on natural herd dynamics rather than training or coercion.
This perspective ensures that equine-assisted therapy is conducted in a way that honours the integrity of the horses and deepens the healing experience for humans.
Learn more about Ibiza Horse Valley
Benefits of Equine Therapy
Emotional Regulation: Horses help individuals recognize and manage emotions in a safe environment.
Trauma Processing: Supports those with PTSD, anxiety, and past emotional wounds.
Improved Mind-Body Connection: Encourages presence, mindfulness, and self-awareness.
How It Works
Nonverbal Feedback: Horses mirror emotional states, offering insight into subconscious patterns.
Somatic Awareness: Encourages tuning into body signals and nervous system responses.
Electromagnetic Field: A horse’s heart is 5–6 times larger than a human heart, creating an electromagnetic field that extends far beyond our own. Simply being in the presence of horses (especially a herd) can have a naturally calming effect. Additionally, a horse’s heart beats about three times slower than a human’s, helping clients regulate their nervous systems and find a sense of grounding.