Animal-assisted emotional therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy or AAT, offers numerous benefits for individuals in need of emotional support. One key advantage is the positive impact animals can have on a person's overall well-being. Interacting with animals, such as dogs, cats, or horses, can boost mood, reduce stress, and promote relaxation. This form of therapy has been shown to increase the release of beneficial hormones like oxytocin and dopamine, which can enhance feelings of happiness and bonding. Additionally, animals provide a source of unconditional love and non-judgment, creating a safe space for individuals to express their emotions and feel accepted. Animal-assisted emotional therapy can also improve social skills, as interacting with animals can help individuals build trust, empathy, and communication skills. Overall, this therapeutic approach provides a unique and effective means of emotional support, promoting healing and well-being in individuals facing various emotional challenges.

The healing power of horses for mental health is a widely recognized and valued form of therapy known as equine-assisted therapy. Interacting with horses can have a profound impact on a person's mental well-being and emotional healing.

Here are some key aspects of the healing power of horses for mental health:

1. Non-judgmental and unconditional acceptance:

Horses are known for their ability to provide non-judgmental and unconditional acceptance. This creates a safe and supportive environment for individuals to express themselves and work through emotional challenges without fear of criticism or rejection.

2. Emotional regulation and self-awareness:

Horses are highly intuitive creatures, sensitive to human emotions and nonverbal cues. Interacting with horses can help individuals develop greater self-awareness and emotional regulation as they learn to manage their own emotions and respond to the horse's cues.

3. Trust and boundaries:

Building a trusting relationship with a horse requires clear communication, consistency, and respect for boundaries. This process can help individuals develop and improve their ability to establish healthy boundaries, trust others, and foster positive relationships in their lives.

4. Mindfulness and being present:

Working with horses often requires individuals to be fully present in the moment, paying attention to the horse's behavior and their own reactions. This practice of mindfulness can help individuals reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and cultivate a sense of calm and focus.

5. Empowerment and confidence-building:

Achieving goals in horsemanship, such as learning to ride or navigating an obstacle course, can boost a person's self-confidence and sense of personal empowerment. Overcoming challenges with horses can translate to increased feelings of competence and self-esteem in other areas of life.

6. Therapeutic metaphor:

The relationships and interactions with horses can serve as a metaphor for the individual's relationships and experiences in their life. This can provide valuable insights and facilitate the processing of emotional issues or past traumas.

Overall, the healing power of horses for mental health is a unique and effective therapeutic approach that offers individuals an opportunity for self-discovery, growth, and emotional healing in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.

I volunteer as a mentor with teanagers who have traumatic problems in an animal Assisted Leaning environment. The non-profit organisation works with ponies, alpacas and llamas.

We teach the teens to care for the animals and help them develop ways of sharing and coping with their traumas and probems.

The young people often become very regulated around the animals. They can form bonds with them, speak to them or even write to them.

I quickly realised that the methodical grooming and animal husbandry we teach require great attention and calm along with empathy and compassion required for the animal's care.

The calmer the students the quiter the ponies become and vice versa as they co regulate.

I soon realised that the little farm environment was teaching mindfulness without that being the objective.

We have explored ways to foloow the breath whilst with the ponies to keep things calm.

We explore ways to notice our natural environment usingall the sences.

We have trained the ponies for a ponie show in a MIndful way. We ask the students to lead the ponies in a certain way around the track, recognising this a litttle like the mind, each time the pony loses focus we gently guide them back to the track with no judgement simply repetition.

Our show judge doesn't assess with a like or dislike of a pony, it's more of an assessment of how the pony is on the day. It's a great way to explore the MIndful Attidude. Leading the ponies requires patienceand a begginer's mind to be fully present to support the pony and be open to whatever is happening in each moment for instance...

I am qualified to teach Equine Assisted Mindfullness. I keep two horses of my own, they have taught me as much about mindfulness and its attidudes as many of my human teachers. The co regulation of the breath and the deep connection I feel when I sit and we breathe together is blissful.

Horses are naturaly Mindful, truly living in the moment. Horses can feel the energy of my heart beat up to 30 meters away, this is how they work as a herd, forming attachments when they feel safe. As flight animals they are constantly aware of all thier senses and suroundings. Horses can can the envirnment, pausing momentarily before responding to what may be a threat and then respond (often with flight).

I see many opportunities to combine my two passions of ponies and mindfulness.

There is much research supporting the bennefits of working with horses and traumatised individuals.

According to Liz Dampsey, PhD, SEP, Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program:

The number of research studies on the therapeutic benefits of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy has significantly Increased over the past decade. Studies suggest possitive changes in self-efficacy, self awareness, self-esteem, and social functioning, as well as a decrease in depression and anxiety as a result of engagement in EAP. Evidence also suggest that the inherent nature of horses can help faciltate attachement transactions, corrective emotional experiences, and nervous system self-regulation among humans.

I practice TSM and feel this could be an excellent way to keep the doors open for peolple who would benefit from Mindfulness but may find a traditional course more challenging.

I provide a course in Equine Assisted Mindfulness for children and teens as this is the perfect environment to make Mindfulness engaging with a dose of mud and fresh air.

In the Equine world Mindfullness could be beneficial at all levels to deepen the connection from a companion animal to a top class event horse. Riding is a beautiful union but it is also a dangerous sport that brings much anxiety.

Mindfulness has deepend my conection with my horses and brought me some calm. Practising box breathing in time with my ponies four feet as we ride along the road in traffic for instance quickly helps settle us both.

I also facilitate Mindfulness retreats with horses to share the benefits of unplugging for a while in the outdore environment.

Maybe next time you see a magestic horse you could allow it a few moments to notice your breath as you focus on its beauty.