What to Expect from Equine-Assisted Therapy (Even If You’ve Never Been Around Horses)
Equine-Assisted Therapy can feel unfamiliar at first. You might be curious, unsure what to expect, or even a little hesitant if you have never spent time around horses. These are all normal reactions.
Equine-Assisted Therapy is simply another way of doing therapy, one that happens outside, alongside horses, and focuses on connection, awareness, and regulation.
You Don’t Need Horse Experience
One of the most common questions people have is whether they need experience with horses. You don’t.
Sessions are structured, guided, and entirely ground-based. There is no expectation that you know how to ride or handle a horse. Everything we do together is introduced at a pace that feels manageable.
The focus is not on learning horsemanship. The focus is on your experience.
Why Horses?
Horses are highly attuned to their environment and to the nervous systems of the people around them.
They respond to body language, energy, and subtle shifts in emotion rather than words. Because of this, they can reflect patterns we may not yet be fully aware of. In session, this can look like noticing how you approach connection, how you respond to boundaries, or how your body reacts in moments of uncertainty.
This is not about the horse doing something “right” or “wrong.” It is about creating awareness in a way that feels immediate and grounded.
What a Session Might Look Like
Equine-assisted therapy sessions take place outdoors in North Longmont, Colorado.
A session may include time spent observing, grooming, or interacting with a horse. We may pause to notice what is happening in your body, your thoughts, or your emotional responses.
There is space for reflection, conversation, and connection throughout the process. In addition to the therapeutic relationship we build together, there is also the opportunity to develop a relational connection with the horse. This can offer a different way of experiencing trust, boundaries, and connection in real time.
When appropriate, trauma-processing approaches such as EMDR or Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) may also be integrated into equine-assisted sessions, supporting both regulation and deeper processing.
While I am a PATH-certified therapeutic riding instructor, sessions are focused on psychotherapy. In some cases, mounted work may be incorporated when it supports the therapeutic goals of the session, but it is not the primary focus.
How Equine-Assisted Therapy Supports Healing
For many clients, Equine-Assisted Therapy offers a different entry point into healing.
It can be especially helpful for those who:
Feel disconnected from their body or emotions
Have difficulty putting experiences into words
Struggle with anxiety, trauma, or grief
Feel stuck in traditional talk therapy
Working alongside horses can support nervous system regulation, increase emotional awareness, and create opportunities to experience connection in a new way.
A Different Way to Begin
You do not need to be “good with horses” or know exactly what you are doing. You only need a willingness to be present and curious about your experience.
Equine-assisted therapy offers a steady, grounded space to explore what is happening beneath the surface, often in ways that feel more accessible than words alone.
Getting Started
If you are curious about equine-assisted therapy, you are welcome to reach out to learn more or schedule a consultation.
Sessions are offered in person in North Longmont, Colorado.