Why are horses suited to help us heal, learn and grow?

Being prey animals, horses are highly aware of their surroundings, relying heavily on their senses and instincts to keep them safe. They are highly attuned to their environment and are perceptive to the emotions and behaviours of those around them — both horse and human.

Horses pick up and respond to subtle cues and changes in our energy and behaviour, such as our body language, tone of voice, and emotional and energetic state. They are like an "emotional mirror," making us more aware of ourselves and our effect on others and our environment.

This adaptation of horses to stay safe also makes them natural teachers, providing us with honest, non-judgmental feedback and offering valuable opportunities for personal growth, emotional connection, and a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Additionally, horses can positively impact mental health by reducing stress and building courage, confidence, and independence. As social animals living in groups called herds, horses desire connection with others and build that with their human companions as well as other horses.

Within our herd, you'll see the horses displaying trust, communication, respect, awareness, boundaries, relationships, and leadership skills. Whether you are interacting with our horses from the ground, mounted, or simply being in their presence, you will learn to develop these important skills that can be applied to everyday situations — building stable connections for life.

The effect of a horse's physical movement on a rider when mounted is also an incredible therapy tool used by our occupational, physical, and speech language therapists.

Our horses are specially trained to provide medical-quality equine movement that provides therapeutic benefits for individuals with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. The rhythmic, three-dimensional movement of the horse mimics a human walking gait and stimulates the participant's sensory and motor systems, improving balance, coordination, muscle strength, and posture.

Working with our horses and specially trained staff, participants have the opportunity to gain all these benefits!