Time spent with horses, whether horse riding, horse racing, or simply being around them, leaves people feeling calm. However, did you know that due to their calming presence we can actually learn a lot from them?
Horses are a lot more sensitive to emotions as well as their environment, than that of us humans. They can often sense how we’re feeling even before we realise it ourselves. They may act as a mirror responding to our emotions, e.g by moving towards or away from us. In equine learning, a coach or therapist will use these reactions to help us connect with our inner feelings and emotions. Leading us to an improvement in self awareness.
The effects of the ever lasting pandemic has left the nation struggling with their mental health. However, spending time with horses can act as an emotional reset. They’re content with just being, whether snuggled up in their timber stables, or trotting around in the fields. This can help us to get out of the mindset we always need to be doing something. It’s OK to just sit and relax and be with your feelings and emotions, which many people struggled with over lockdown.
So, what are the health benefits of being around horses?
Alleviating Anxiety
Horses tend to live in the moment, they don’t overthink or hold a grudge. Being around this type of energy can help us to begin to behave in a similar way. Calming our minds and helping us to become aware of mental chatter. This understanding can then be used to learn how to move through negative thoughts and become more calm and focused.
This can be an incredibly positive environment and mindset for those struggling with anxiety. Being in the presence of a calm horse reduces anxious arousal as it’s a comforting reminder danger is no longer present. The calmness of the horse helps people become more mindful of the present moment. Mirroring the behaviour of the animal.
Spending time with horses helps us to become aware of our mental chatter. In these moments when the mind is calmer we can learn to recognise whether we’re listening to our true voice. Or, if it’s the false self voice that we’re listening to. We can then learn a process to move through thoughts and beliefs that are not serving us.
Boundaries
Horses make their boundaries very clear. They show their feelings when they don’t want to do something and are quick to express their angry. Without any words at all, horses make clear when someone has crossed their boundaries. What we can learn from horses is how to notice when we are being controlling, or being controlled and find more effective and respectful ways to be in relationship.
A Valuable Therapy
In many cases, equine facilitated learning can lead to breakthroughs where conventional therapy has no longer been effectiveThis may simply be because you are happier talking through your emotions in the context of a horse or because of an increase in self awareness through working with a horse. Some people spend years talking about their problems, and this has its place, but being with a horse may help them to become more aware of their feelings and emotions and move through their challenges in a more embodied way.
Mindfulness
Equine facilitated learning integrates mindfulness at almost every step as you learn to be present, in the moment, calm, centered, focused, and fully engaged.
Whether they’re racing, or relaxing in a field, horses are present to what’s happening in the moment. Alert to their surroundings and curious about what’s happening in their environment. Being in their presence can help us to be more present to our own thoughts and emotions. When we become more connected to our true feelings and simply ‘be’, there comes a sense of peace.
Confidence And Self Esteem
Confidence can be enhanced as you challenge yourself to learn and master new skills. Through equine facilitated learning many people find an improved ability to tackle new projects and challenges in a natural, non-competitive, and non-judgmental environment, which leads to improved confidence, self-assurance, and self-esteem.
Identifying Feelings
Horses have a unique ability to sense emotions and react accordingly. If you’re angry or aggressive, some horses may become obstinate. If you are anxious, some horses may pick up on your anxiety and become skittish. This can often be true when people are new to horse riding, when you see the horse becoming slightly jittery. But witnessing the horse’s response promotes self-awareness and can help you identify your own feelings When you acknowledge your feelings your body begins to calm down and the horse will often respond in kind. So, if you’re thinking of taking up horse riding and your horse is skittish, take stock of your emotions as it could be you causing this to happen.
During equine facilitated learning the therapist creates a safe environment in which clients can explore their feelings in the presence of horses. Because horses respond in the moment with no judgement or bias towards the person’s emotional experience they can bring an added depth and understanding to the session.
OK, so horse racing probably isn’t going to get you feeling calm or relaxed. However, the jockeys who ride the them during horse racing will be so attuned to their emotions, they almost become one. Horse riding on the other hand is a great way to get a bit of fresh air and exercise whilst also calming the mind and connecting with your emotions. Plus, you don’t have to go racing around a track at 100 mph jumping fences!
What do you think? Can horses be our emotional teachers?
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This is really amazing to see animal and people connection and i think its true bond and true relation.