The Healing Power of Equine Therapy 

BY: Sarah Martin

For Survivors of abuse, Equine-Assisted Therapy can offer deep emotional healing in a safe, unbiased, and accepting environment. Where abuse and trauma can cause a mistrust of the world around, a herd animal, like horses that are attuned to non-verbal cues and emotions, can provide calming and non-biased feedback, helping Survivors find a safe place to confide and heal. 

What is Equine Therapy?

During Equine-Assisted Therapy, Survivors can build a deep, trusting relationship with the horses they work with and gain valuable skills for healing. Equine therapy involves learning to respond to the animal’s feedback and having a non-verbal being to share with, as well as learning to establish safe boundaries. These boundaries can be constructive for Survivors who struggle to process or share their trauma. 

In addition, working with horses often involves hands-on tasks such as grooming, preparing for rides, and training, all of which not only give Survivors something to focus on as they heal, but also help them build confidence as they achieve and overcome challenges. The chores associated with horses also allow Survivors to create routine and structure. 

What Makes Horses More Attuned to Emotions and Able to Help Survivors Than Other Herd Animals?

According to Tori Conner, LLMSW/Trauma Therapist, “Being highly intuitive animals, they (horses) reflect human emotions, fostering genuine bonds and creating a strong dynamic of trust and empathy. As the participants grew more at ease, the horses showed signs of relaxation, curiosity, and connection. This authentic feedback helped Survivors become more aware of and process their feelings, leading to profound realizations about their emotions and how they express them.” (Conner, 2024).

For Survivors who have PTSD or anxiety from their abuse and find trust and reliving their trauma so difficult, working with horses during therapy takes the focus off their trauma and gives them a way to establish a deep bond and feel safe as they process. For those who struggle with emotional regulation due to their trauma, the responsiveness and connection with a horse can help them to practice regulation and learn to pick up on non-verbal cues from the horses. 

According to “Equine Assisted-Therapy” in Psychology Today, “While engaging in activities with the horse, the client will attempt to recognize how the horse’s behaviors might be due to their own emotional signals—a client who is angry or anxious, for example, may see the horse pull away or otherwise respond negatively. This “mirroring” process helps the client identify what they are feeling and potentially modify their emotions for the better, all in a nonjudgmental environment.”

This remarkable process with Survivors and horses can help Survivors remember how to regulate their emotions again and thus help them better process their trauma.

Equine Therapy is a growing field; more and more locations are offering this healing opportunity. To find Equine Therapy in your area, consult reputable websites that list certified facilities.

Long-Term Benefits 

Several research studies are showing scientific evidence of the long-term benefits of Equine Therapy in preventing and changing patterns of abuse. One study done by Ann Hemingway at The Department of Medical Science & Public Health, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK found significant reductions in Domestic Violence and children in need for those families who had a member or members attend and complete the equine‐assisted intervention under study,” (Hemingway, 2022). In this study, the families chosen all had instability in the home and at least two of the following issues: Crime and antisocial behavior, education, poor life chances, poor living standards, Domestic Abuse, Domestic Violence, and mental/physical health issues. This is just one of many research studies showing just how effective Equine Therapy can be for abuse Survivors to heal and to help change patterns and end cycles of abuse in families.

In Conclusion 

Equine Therapy is a genuinely remarkable option for abuse Survivors to find healing, emotional regulation, and confidence. These animals also benefit from human interaction, and it is a profoundly mutually beneficial experience. 

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Sources: 

Conner, T. (2024 August 2). The Transformative Power of Equine Therapy for Survivors. https://resiliencemi.org/equine-therapy-group/

Equine Assisted Therapy, Psychology Today (2022 May 25). https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/equine-assisted-therapy

Hemingway, A. (2022 February 18). Reducing the Incidence of Domestic Violence: An Observational Study of an Equine-Assisted Intervention https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9310829/