The Top 5 Reasons People Are Choosing Horses in Their Healing Journey by experiencing equine therapy or equine assisted learning.

Horses as companionsto people on their healing journey

In recent years, more and more people have been turning to nature-based and animal-assisted approaches for healing. Among them, horses stand out as extraordinary partners in personal growth, trauma recovery, and emotional wellbeing. At Heart of the Horse in Drummond North in Central Victoria, we witness this magic every day — how horses, in their deep presence, help people reconnect with themselves in ways that words alone cannot reach.

Below are the top five reasons I feel why people are choosing to incorporate horses into their healing journey.

1. Horses Help Regulate the Nervous System

Horses are prey animals, which means they’ve evolved with an exquisite sensitivity to the environment — including the subtle cues from our bodies. They can detect changes in heart rate, muscle tension, and breath from metres away. Research in the field of equine-assisted therapy shows that simply being in the calm presence of a relaxed horse can help regulate the human nervous system, moving us from “fight-or-flight” into “rest-and-digest.”

This regulation happens without force. Horses don’t ask us to think our way into calm — they invite us to feel our way there and they show us how they do it with their presence.

2. Somatic Awareness and Embodiment

Modern talk therapy can be powerful (and often very essential), but it often remains in the realm of the mind. Horses, on the other hand, bring us straight back into our bodies. Their feedback is immediate and non-judgmental. If we are holding tension, breathing shallowly, or distracted, a horse may become unsettled or distant. When we drop into the present moment, breathe deeply, and release tension, the horse often mirrors that shift.

This is somatic learning at its finest — the body experiencing safety and presence, not just talking about it.

3. Breath and Energy Coherence

Studies from the HeartMath Institute have shown that horses have an incredibly strong electromagnetic field — five times larger than our own — and their heart rhythms naturally tend toward coherence (a harmonious, balanced state). When we are near a horse and take slow, intentional breaths, our own heart rhythms often sync into a more coherent pattern.

This heart-brain coherence can reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and bring a sense of inner peace. It’s no wonder many people describe a deep, meditative stillness when they lay a hand on a horse’s chest and breathe together. Most of the profound healings happen here when the horses and clients are just being in still presence together. I often say, its like the horses say 'hey human if you just slow down and be with me for a bit, I can show you how to come back home to yourself'.

4. Connection Beyond Words

Many forms of trauma and emotional struggle live beyond the reach of language. Horses communicate in the realm of subtle energy, emotion, and body language — which means they can meet us in places we can’t always verbalise.

Clients often say, “The horse just knew,” describing moments when an animal responded to an unspoken feeling with a gentle nudge, a steady gaze, or simply standing close. This wordless connection can feel like being truly seen for the first time. They will often share their out-breath in agreement with the thought, the conversation or the group energy at poignant times that make us all know they are energetically 100% present with us. Some of the horses jolt like receiving a shock and it is often they feel the harshness of the person's own inner critic. This blows people's minds and helps them have awareness and identify when those ingrained thoughts arrive.

5. Opening our Hearts

Horses live from the heart — literally and energetically. They don’t care about our titles, our past, or the masks we wear. They respond to the truth of who we are in the moment. This can be profoundly healing, especially for those who have learned to guard or harden their hearts.

In the presence of a horse’s unconditional acceptance, many people find themselves softening, feeling, and opening to connection again. This is where transformation begins. Humans have often been wounded by humans, so it takes time for trust to develop. I see time and time again a horse walk over and breathe with the person, and they are moved to tears by the generosity of their presence. I bow down to these exquisite moments.

Why Now?

In a world where stress, disconnection, and overwhelm have become everyday companions, people are seeking healing that’s embodied, relational, and soul-deep. Working with horses offers exactly that — a return to nature, to breath, to presence, and to the heart.

If you feel the call to experience this for yourself, Heart of the Horse offers individual sessions, day sessions and 3 & 5 day residential retreats — the only place in Australia where you can fully immerse yourself in healing with horses while staying onsite.

📩 If you have any questions or want to check availability? Reach out to us at https://www.heartofthehorse.com.au/ — your healing journey with horses could begin sooner than you think.