Why Heal with Horses?

Horses offer such a unique perspective on life. A perspective we, as humans, have lost for the most part in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. Horses' innate ability to correctly perceive danger, adjust their energy, and co-regulate with surrounding company, are just some of the ways horses can be great guides when it comes to healing.

My healing journey began with horses well before I was even aware it happened. Summers spent in North Eastern Montana at my grandparent's farm was my favorite time of the year. As soon as we would arrive my feet would hit the ground running towards the pasture. My grandpa, whom we lovingly call Bapa, would usually attempt to have coaxed the large herd of horses in before my arrival. However, he quickly learned it was easier if I did it...ponytail barely bobbing above the tall grass with a curious herd of horses trailing closely behind. No grain or bribes was necessary, just an excited young girl with more love in her heart for horses than almost anything else.

I now know, those horses interacted with me because I emitted feelings of safety, which allowed the horses to be inquisitive. A horse's life depends on their ability to correctly perceive threat. They do this by co-regulating with the nervous systems around them. Dr. Rebecca Bailey gave a great example of this...Think of a herd of horses grazing, when suddenly one of the horses hears something and their head shoots up from grazing. They stop chewing and look around, eyes wide, nostrils flared, ears pricked as far forward as possible and all the other horses follow suite. Very quickly, the whole herd that was grazing a few moments prior, is now assessing the perceived threat their fellow herd member alerted them to. If the threat is not viable, herd members will go back to grazing and eventually everyone returns to a state of safety and continues munching away. This is all done through feel, not words.

Our central nervous system co-regulates with a horses' when we interact with them. A horse either perceives us as a threat or as safety. A horse will be more willing to approach if you emit feelings of safety. For a horse that is unfamiliar with humans, feelings of safety evokes curiosity. If we do not heal ourselves so that our body is a place that radiates safety, connection, and honesty...then, we will always have trouble training, riding, and working with horses. Horses require humans to reflect on themselves and notice the pieces of themselves that need to be worked on or adjusted. A horse does not want perfection from you...they want authentic honesty. When you are honest about your fears, your anger, your frustration, your sadness........a horse will read that as a level of safety. The safety comes from the honesty.

Some horses are very talented at co-regulating with humans and helping us calm down or experience less anxiety. That is why so many of us have experienced the phenominon of "feeling so much better after spending time at the barn". Other horses desire us to take the lead and help them co-regulate. These horses can come across as "defiant" "mean" "spooky" "crazy" or "untrustworthy". This is because you have to be in a place where you have healed enough to promote feelings of safety for another living being and if you can't do that on a consistent basis, building a relationship with this type of horse is difficult.

Once you have established an understanding of this concept, you enter into the most incredible healing phase. The phase where you and the horse help co-regulate each other. This is the deep partnership we all desire to have with our horse(s). And it is possible if you are willing to begin to heal all of the things that take a toll on your body and mind outside of the barn.