Why Horses: Making it Safe to Show Up
Many of us have good reason NOT to seek help; to say “I’m fine’ when we’re not. We may have experienced relationships and the helping professions as unsafe. But we can’t even begin to seek and receive, or provide, help or support unless something provides the motivation and safety needed to show up – both physically and emotionally – and trust someone, despite all the reasons not to. This article explores how and why horses are often that ‘something’.
Why Horses: Understanding the Research
The benefits to humans of being with and around animals are well documented and supported by research. This article explores three key explanations for this: The Biophilia Hypothesis, the Social Lubricant Effect, and the Person Centred Conditions of Congruence, Unconditional Positive Regard and Empathy.
Why Horses (or dogs, or cats …)?
Why are so many of us drawn towards working, healing or simply just ‘being’ with these magnificent animals? This post introduces a newly updated series within which we will aim to shed light on that age old question: Why Horses?
Life Lessons from a Border Collie: E-Motion Needs to Move
Our border collie has strong instincts to chase horses – which gets her in to trouble and creates frustration. Finding insight based solutions to help Maggie express her emotions safely provides parallels and learnings to other contexts – including parenting and self expression.
Is ‘No Fear’ a Good Thing?
Alarm – or fear – is an emotion experienced by all mammals, including us. It is not an enemy or nuisance factor to be eliminated; it is there to keep us safe. By watching how animals respond when alarmed can we humans find our way back to a healthier response?
Can I Talk to You … Are You Safe?
Through a number of case studies we explore what horses have to teach us about being safe to talk to and how to build this into our parenting and other relationships
Slowing Down
Through a case study example learn how and why a slower approach to Equine Therapy makes space for deeper levels of learning – about horses and ourselves.
Dancing With Skye
Working with a horse at liberty is a delicate and intricate dance. This article explores and applies lessons from this ‘dance’, including the importance of attachment, to human relationships including parenting.
Four Legged Therapists
'Sam' is small for his eight years. His parents described him as a good student, outgoing with lots of friends; that was, until he moved schools last year. Since then his grades have plummeted, no friends come round for supper anymore, and Sam...
The Who, What and Why of Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy
You do what? With who? Why? While awareness of Equine and Animals assisted therapies has increased exponentially since I started in these fields 20 years ago, these are still important questions. Join me to find some of the answers.
Ethics: Interests of the Four Legged Therapists
This is an old article (written in 2007) but the principals still apply. If you visit us you will discover Skye, Dubh and Disa are much older now (30, 31 and 22) but still wonderfully active members of the Healing Hooves Herd! One of the most memorable lessons from...
The Links Between Animal Abuse and Violence Towards People – Updated
This article exploring the links between animal abuse and human violence has been updated to link into updated literature reviews. Not an easy read, but an important one for anyone working with children or animals potentially at risk.