How can 'hugging a horse' help me?

I have often heard equine assisted therapy being referred to in this way, which suggests that its time to debunk some common myths about equine assisted therapy!

Horses are sentient beings who are attuned to their environment and each other in a deeply sensitive way, a horse senses us, through the nuances of our body language which are often unconscious movements, they also sense our nervous system energy, our heart and intentions.

The space between horse and human is one of potentiality, a space that if it is stepped into with somatic awareness and felt sense, authentic response and connection can take place. The horse steps into the space of potentiality as an authentic being and invites us to do the same, just as we are.

Our horses at The Heard Therapy are invited to have autonomy, the human carers support and invite the horses expression with sensitivity to their needs, to preserve their authenticity as natural beings.

The horses invite us to do the same, to walk with them alongside them, to allow organic relations and interactions to take place, without expectation.

Touch, is irrelevant when we work in this way. Horses are not naturally tactile and sharing space without touch is intimate for horses. Touch is often our need as humans, the space between horses and humans may or may not involve Touch, and how is that for the horse and the human? How can the needs of both be met with consent, in a way that is authentic for both?

Relating to horses that are kept in a way that embraces and supports their natural behaviours is not conducive to horse hugging. Relationship and trust are earned between horse and human, which asks us to let go of our need, of our responses and behaviours that mask the essence of who we are. The horse teaches us how, if we are willing to step into the space of potentiality.