Hozho Horsemanship 

Equine Assisted Spiritual Healing 101 

Horses and healing...

Horses have been helpful to humans for thousands of years as companions, helpers, spiritual protectors, and as our healers. As horses have been proven to have such a positive impact on human health mentally, physically, and spiritually, they’ve been incorporated into equine assisted therapy programs, rehabilitation centers, and ranches all across the world. 

A little equine assisted spiritual healing 101 :

 Simply being in the presence or company of horses can produce many benefits that allow people to live enhanced, healthier, happier, more fulfilling lives. Equine assisted therapeutic activities are a form of experiential mental health treatment that integrates horses into our own behavioral and cognitive healing to help us further our personal development while also guiding us through learned tools acquired through the horse being our emotional mirror which aides us in a natural way to better achieve treatment goals. Through interacting with horses in spiritual healing practices, patients can receive emotional support, a release of happy hormones such as oxytocin and dopamine, while simultaneously learning how to pinpoint/become more aware of their feelings, thought patterns, triggers, and fears. This process gives you tools and practical interpersonal and communication skills needed to help manage emotions and both conscious and subconscious reactions to different triggers in life.

   It has been proven through scientific and medical research studies that the simple act of petting a horse or close interaction enables our brain to release endorphins, (feel-good hormones), such as oxytocin, which counteract and simmer down stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This change in hormones reduces stress-related health issues in humans, and helps those with Autism Spectrum Disorders or mental health issues learn new coping skills through working with Equines as their therapist. When you interact regularly with the horses using your newfound tools and horsemanship skills, every session will act as a natural antidepressant or mood stabilizer. The benefits heighten if you are able to ride or enjoy hands on activities with the horse such as leading them and going for walks along side them. For example, When riding a horse, the brain releases dopamine AND oxytocin; when you combine these two together on a consistent basis, each session will begin to help your body build more serotonin in your brain, which is a chemical that most people suffering depression or mood disorders have a lack of in their brain. 

Everything you learn while interacting with the horses can be applied to daily life, making it an amazing experience that not only teaches you essential life skills but also enables the building of positive memories that will last a lifetime.

              Horses are our Mirrors

 Horses relate with people in a very raw and honest manner. They are completely attuned “in the moment” and because horses do not have an ego to filter their experience through, they can remain connected and fully present in the present moment. Horses respond to not only your physical and verbal cues, but they also respond to your emotions and your deepest inner energies. Much like a mirror, they are capable of seeing things in you that you may not even be aware of in yourself. You may be smiling and content on the outside, but what ever is inside of you as your state of being, the horse can read and feel as if they can read our mind and even our past. How a horse responds to us is based on what the horse “feels” during familiarization with a human.

   In Navajo and Cherokee indigenous traditional wisdom, We must walk the earth as equals to much of the animals, plants, and the earth moon and sky. It’s known that Horses are superiorally emotionally intelligent beings to humans, in the sense that they have a higher sense of empathy than humans do. 

  This basically means that Horses can also feel feelings and emotions even stronger than us humans do. A horse can sense what is happening within you through the state of your energy. “If you’re thinking it, you bet your horse can feel it.”    

    Below is a medical study from the National Library of Medicine that well explains the science behind this emotional connection between Humans and Horses.;

Horses Categorize Human Emotions Cross-Modally Based on Facial Expression and Non-Verbal Vocalizations

Abstract

Over the last few years, an increasing number of studies have aimed to gain more insight into the field of animal emotions. In particular, it is of interest to determine whether animals can cross-modally categorize the emotions of others. For domestic animals that share a close relationship with humans, we might wonder whether this cross-modal recognition of emotions extends to humans, as well. In this study, we tested whether horses could recognize human emotions and attribute the emotional valence of visual (facial expression) and vocal (non-verbal vocalization) stimuli to the same perceptual category. Two animated pictures of different facial expressions (anger and joy) were simultaneously presented to the horses, while a speaker played an emotional human non-verbal vocalization matching one of the two facial expressions. Horses looked at the picture that was incongruent with the vocalization more, probably because they were intrigued by the paradoxical combination. Moreover, horses reacted in accordance with the valence of the vocalization, both behaviorally and physiologically (heart rate). These results show that horses can cross-modally recognize human emotions and react emotionally to the emotional states of humans, assessed by non-verbal vocalizations.

Keywords: Equus caballus, social cognition, human-animal relationship, emotions

Lessons Learned From Equine Therapy & Equine assisted spiritual healing 

In many cases, individuals who struggle with Autism spectrum disorders, trauma, drug or alcohol addictions, eating disorders and other behavioral and mental health issues may need assistance developing healthy ways to identify and cope with their feelings, communicate with others, set boundaries or overcome their fears. 

As you know, Horses are emotionally in-tune animals that have a unique way of reading human feelings and communicating. For instance, if you’re feeling aggressive or angry, a horse may mirror these emotions by becoming obstinate. Likewise, if you have feelings of anxiousness bothering you in a moment, that feeling may be picked up by and cause skittishness in a horse. 

 Horses have a way of mirroring our inner emotions back to us through their own body language. 

 The experience of observing a horse’s responses can promote self-awareness and help people view themselves more honestly. Self reflection is key to being able to start on the path to healing and controlling ones mind and emotions, especially for those on the Autism spectrum, survivors of any type of trauma, ie. PTSD, or recovering addicts/alcoholics.  Your horse will reflect your inner feelings, like a mirror of sorts, and this is where big breakthroughs happen for people as they learn to trust and love again without fear. 

 From a spiritual standpoint, love, peace, and happiness cannot exist where there is fear. We must remove this fear to make room for our joy. Happiness and fear are opposite vibrational frequencies, “love can’t live where fear is” Fear can wipe out happiness the same way that a candle lights up a dark room, drowning out the darkness. We have to make a conscious choice and effort to remain on one side of the spectrum, and horses can help us identify our triggers so we can operate from a place of joy or stillness, vs operating in flight or fight mode - which is where fear lives. 

  Horses are great at helping us identify fears we may not even realize that we have, so we can face them head on, and release them. This leaves a new open space inside ourselves for positive healing, and new methods of thinking and operating through life that are more in alignment with a higher power, peace, love, and light. 

  Such positive emotional development through interacting with horses can help people understand their behavioral patterns and recognize how they interact with others. Through simple equine exercises like haltering, leading and grooming a horse, people can learn to approach others with awareness and respect.

Simple Summary

Recently, an increasing number of studies have investigated the expression and perception of emotions by non-human animals. In particular, it is of interest to determine whether animals can link emotion stimuli of different modalities (e.g., visual and oral) based on the emotions that are expressed (i.e., to recognize emotions cross-modally). For domestic species that share a close relationship with humans, we might even wonder whether this ability extends to human emotions. Here, we investigated whether domestic horses recognize human emotions cross-modally. We simultaneously presented two animated pictures of human facial expressions, one typical of joy and the other of anger; simultaneously, a speaker played a human non-verbal vocalization expressing joy or anger. Horses looked at the picture that did not match the emotion of the vocalization more (probably because they were intrigued by the paradoxical combination). Moreover, their behavior and heart rate differed depending on the vocalization: they reacted more negatively to the anger vocalization and more positively to the joy vocalization. These results suggest that horses can match visual and vocal cues for the same emotion and can perceive the emotional valence of human non-verbal vocalizations.

Gain the strength to Overcome any Obstacle Through Equine assisted spiritual healing at Hózhó Horsemanship

Hózhó Horsemanship is a safe environment where patients learn to confront and overcome their fears, emotional battles, or perceived challenges while building confidence and trust. The ability to grow emotional connections and relationships with horses during therapy demonstrates the success of being willing to try something new and address one’s fears.

 In equine assisted spiritual healing, patients get the opportunity to build therapeutic connections with horses and improve in areas, such as:

• Self-esteem

• Social interactions

• Personal accountability

• Moral responsibility

• Spiritual enlightenment 

• Mindfulness techniques 

• Learning to master your thoughts using meditative tools 

Certified, trained equine mental health specialists conduct sessions with clients and horses. During each session, patients have various guided interactions with the horse. Sessions may entail feeding, grooming, and leading your horse. Contrary to popular belief, riding horses isn’t always a part of this type of therapy, though it can be included for those who are comfortable getting in the saddle.

In addition to equine therapeutic activities, Hózhó Horsemanship will soon offer other experiential treatment programs that intend to enhance patients’ healing, including:

• Yoga therapy program 

• Meditation therapy program

• Art therapy program 

• Music Therapy program

• Health and wellness nutritional coaching 

Rachael is a horseback riding instructor, professional horse trainer, spiritual coach, Navajo-Cherokee Medicine woman, and equine assisted mental health specialist.