When people think of equine therapy, they often think that it’s only meant for people with significant physical or operational therapy needs. While equine therapy can have miraculous benefits for people in need of those services, that is far from the only population of people who could benefit from equine therapy. Horses are incredibly healing animals, often being able to draw out emotions and help unpack issues you didn’t even know you were holding on to. Their strong nature and stoic disposition is often beneficial to anyone who may be struggling.
Even if you think that your struggles are less significant by comparison, equine therapy can help you realize the validity of them through the healing relationships horses can provide. Here are just a few examples of how horses can help you work through everyday problems.
Anxiety
Anxiety can have so many layers, causes, and effects on a person. It can make someone isolate themselves, cause panic attacks, make them worry to an extent that is detrimental to their health, and a multitude of other symptoms. Many people with anxiety struggle to regulate their thoughts and emotions, while also feeling like they’re alone in their feelings.
By pursuing equine therapy for anxiety, many people who struggle find relief after just one session. Horses have an incredibly powerful energy about them, and when trained and well suited for the task, can help regulate people struggling with anxiety. Horses live in the moment, and can help you do the same, one breath at a time. Many studies have shown that horses even have the ability to sync their own heartbeat with yours, and help bring the rate down if it’s elevated.
Even more than that, through repetitive tasks such as grooming and the tranquil rhythm of a horse’s gait while riding, you can be brought back to the present moment with calmness and gain the ability to address the roots of your anxiety, one step at a time.
Depression
For some people who struggle with depression, it’s obvious. They stop being able to care for themselves, they don’t leave the house, their performance at work plummets. For others, they appear on the surface to be having the time of their lives, only for the reality to be that they’re struggling to cope and are crippled with this weight of sadness and fatigue.
No matter how depression might affect you, it is often very isolating and lonely for those who struggle. Getting up and socializing is likely one of the hardest things to do, but can be made much easier when the being you get to socialize with is a large, soft, stoic animal with nothing but a listening ear and complete lack of judgement. Maybe you don’t even have the words to describe what you’re feeling, but horses can understand you anyway, without saying a word.
For those who struggle with depression, horses at the very least can help greatly with reminding you that you’re not alone, and someone is excited to see you. After an equine therapy session, you will have accomplished something big, and made a new friend if nothing else. One small step towards feeling better is all it takes to get the momentum going, and horses will walk right beside you on this journey together.
Building Self-Esteem
Both children and adults can suffer from self-esteem issues, and it can be incredibly difficult to move through the world with a positive outlook when you suffer with these issues. Maybe something caused these feelings to come about, or they have been a life-long struggle, but equine therapy and horseback riding lessons in general can significantly improve someone’s self esteem.
One aspect of equine therapy that can help with self-esteem is the act of caring for the horse in the first place. Horses need to be groomed thoroughly, handled with care, tacked up safely, ridden with confidence while maintaining a gentle attitude. All of these tasks are huge accomplishments, and not only will you feel better about these successes, but so will the horse that you took such great care of. Even the smaller wins can help someone feel better about themselves even after just one session.
Equine therapy can also build self-esteem through the trust that comes with time spent bonding with a horse. Gaining the trust of a large prey animal who is weary of everything is no small feat, but proves to you how much you matter to this animal that you care so well for.
PTSD
PTSD can be a difficult thing to address, and has a multitude of causes. Maybe you had a recent traumatic event that you’re recovering from, or a chronic trauma over the course of years that you’re just now safe enough to address. Either way, the symptoms that come with PTSD can be detrimental to a person’s well-being, and make functioning in the world very difficult.
Horses can see you in a way that no one else can. They may not have gone through everything that you have, but they are there as a shoulder to lean on and a breath to bring you back to the present moment. PTSD often takes you back to the trauma that caused it, trapped in your own mind in the past, but horses are incredibly gifted at keeping you grounded and focused on the here and now. With each stroke of the brush and each step of the ride, they keep you here and remind you that you are safe, loved, and resilient. Even when you don’t feel like you can, horses will meet you where you are and stay with you while you heal.
For anyone who may be struggling with any mental or physical illness, equine therapy can be an incredible tool for recovery and healing, regardless of what you’re going through. Horses are profoundly good at meeting you where you are in your journey and walking you through it, but they are especially good at reminding you that there is joy to be had, even in the darkest of times.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is equine therapy?
Equine therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses interactions with horses to support emotional, mental, and physical healing.
2. How does equine therapy help mental health?
Equine therapy helps regulate emotions, reduce stress, build confidence, and promote mindfulness through interaction with horses.
3. Who can benefit from equine therapy?
People of all ages, including those with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and self-esteem challenges, can benefit from equine therapy.
4. How does equine therapy support people with depression?
It provides companionship, structure, and a sense of accomplishment through caring for and bonding with horses.
5. Is equine therapy only for people with severe conditions?
No, equine therapy can benefit anyone seeking emotional growth or stress relief.