Healing with Horses

Healing with Horses

Written by Holly Whitmore, LMFT

Shoreline Counseling Center

December 13, 2019

The historic connection between horses and humans dates back centuries. This connection has resulted in people finding an innate desire to be close to and bond with these large, instinctual creatures.  In a time where connection is lacking, horses offer an opportunity to bring humans into their bodies and outside of their heads in a very healing way.  As fight or flight animals, horses have the ability to know when danger is near and have the largest amygdala of all domestic animals.  The amygdala is the portion of the brain known to be key in processing emotions such as fear, sadness, and aggression using memory.  Through their natural state of being, horses have the capacity to create a therapeutic environment that may work when other forms of talk therapy are limited in efficacy.  The use of horses in a psychotherapeutic approach invites setting boundaries, developing confidence, and resolving trauma.  Horses act as a mirror to human emotion. This sets the stage to highlight the hidden areas that need therapeutic work or resolution. Gaining insights through the biofeedback loop provided by the horse, clients can discover their Truth and quiet the chatter in the mind.  Being with the horses causes clients to slow down, use caution, and activate the kinesthetic parts of the self using experiential psychotherapy. Engaging with a non-judgmental and sensitive animal outside in the quiet, fresh air can allow for a deep reflection, bringing up buried emotions, goals, behaviors, and thoughts. Once highlighted through activities and interactions had with the horse or horses, the client can share these feelings with the therapist. The horses act as a metaphor for the individual and relational habits of the client only reflecting back what the client puts out. In order to accomplish goals with the horse, clients will need to shift their approach if the horse is not responding to their efforts. Thereby, this teaches the client a new way of approaching other challenges that might exist in their personal lives. These shifts in behavior and approach can be monumental in creating the changes the client seeks in the bigger picture of their life.  This experiential and reflective therapy can lead to breakthroughs that can change a client’s entire trajectory. When talk therapy in an office setting is intimidating or ineffective, horses can create a healing space that might unlock the self in a powerful and transformative way.  Additionally, using the horses as a supplement to traditional psychotherapy can be useful for anyone in treatment who is open to this approach. All work is done from the ground and there is no experience with horses required.  The magic of just being in the presence of horses can help heal unresolved history in a unique and impactful way.

 

Healing with Horses