Equine Guidance®

What is Equine Guidance® ?

Equine Guidance® is a unique trauma-informed Somatic Experiencing® that is innovative and hands-on and involves interacting with horses to encourage personal development, emotional healing, and self-discovery. This therapeutic approach acknowledges the special characteristics of horses and their innate ability to perceive and react to human feelings and behaviors. It’s important to understand that Equine Guidance® has nothing to do with riding or horsemanship. Instead, it emphasizes the experiential and therapeutic benefits of working with horses. 

Horses are extremely sensitive creatures that can mimic and react to human emotions and nonverbal cues. The presence of the horse provides a secure and welcoming atmosphere in which individuals can process their feelings, build trust, improve communication, and increase confidence. Having the chance to connect with horses in a regulated and supportive atmosphere offers individuals unparalleled opportunities for reflection, learning, and development.

What Makes Equine Guidance® Different From Other Therapy Approaches?

Experiential Nature

Equine Guidance® is an experiential form of therapy that emphasizes participation and hands-on activities rather than just verbal communication. Individuals make use of their senses, emotions, and bodies in the therapeutic process by engaging with horses in a variety of activities and exercises. This experiential approach can be beneficial for individuals who find it difficult to verbally express themselves or who prefer a more physical form of therapy.

Non-Verbal Communication

Horses have a keen awareness of nonverbal cues and are able to pick up on small shifts in human energy, body language, and emotions. Equine Guidance® uses the power of non-verbal communication, which is different from traditional forms of therapy, which mostly rely on verbal communication. Horses give fast, honest input that reflects an individual’s psychological makeup and interpersonal relationships. This nonverbal communication promotes self-awareness, management of emotions, and the study of genuine relationships with others.

Immediate Feedback and Impact

In Equine Guidance®, the horse’s instantaneous feedback generates strong learning opportunities. Horses give immediate input in response to human behaviors and emotions in a realistic way. Individuals can better understand the effects of their behaviors, communication methods, and emotional states thanks to this real-time feedback. It enables quick pattern learning and correction, promotes self-reflection, and helps in the growth of new skills and coping mechanisms.