Horses have a very stable resting heart rhythm, about 30 – 40 bpm whereas humans are 60 – 80 bpm, this is why humans often feel calmer when they work with horses, their heart beats are slowed down by this parasympathetic activity producing physiological and emotional responses.

Horses actually empathise. it is thought that horses have vastly more mirror neurons than humans, enabling them to understand and interpret non-verbal communication better than we can. 

Horses react to the emotional state of humans, in short, they mirror our mood.  This makes them the perfect role model for developing skills in self-awareness, mood regulation, stress management, anger management, fear management etc.

Just being in a horse’s presence encourages us to be more aware of our non-verbal communication, our emotions and the energy we bring to all our interactions and our relationships.   

Horses provide sensory and grounding experiences. When our senses are engaged, we are completely absorbed in that experience. This gives us pathways to develop grounding techniques using those sensory experiences to recreate that calm state in times of stress or anxiety.  Horses teach us to be more present and mindful. 

Horses provide safe attachment with a non-judgemental and accepting other.  Horses offer emotional safety and trust, they don’t see disability, religion, weight, sexuality, as long as there is trust and mutual respect, they accept you for who you are.