Being with horses requires people to be calm, centered, focused, and fully engaged. Horses teach us mindfulness, which helps us to become more aware and observant of our thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and sensations.

Being around these big animals forces us to be self-aware and calm which promotes emotional awareness and regulation, as well as impulse control. Great for children and youth who would benefit from developing skills to improve self-control.

Horses are great teachers of leadership and boundaries. As herd animals, horses are very aware of their boundaries- it’s in their nature to tune into themselves and their environment. For survival they can read body language, and can show us how to protect our physical and emotional personal space. Horses teach us to slow down, and start noticing what feels right and what doesn’t.

Equine assisted therapy can be more inviting than a traditional office-based therapy. Having horses present may offer a sense of peace, as they only will react to the our behavior and emotions with no threat of bias or any judgment. Often people report that equine therapy feels less threatening which can be especially beneficial for anyone who may be reluctant or therapy resistant.