Written by Lauren Bridgfoot
Winston Churchill once said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
This sentiment seems to perfectly encapsulate the love equestrians have for their horses.
To outsiders, equestrians generally seem to be stereotyped as ‘crazy horse girls’ who skip around the school yard neighing.
But to those of us who invest our lives into these animals, the love we have for them is often a deep emotional bond that some might argue cannot be rivalled by any other being.
For myself, horses have always been a point of interest, and once I started taking lessons at the age of 15, I was in love and decided to pursue a career with them.
It is not yet known exactly what draws people to horses, and why they create such therapeutic environments, but there are many theories about why horses are so beneficial for use in human therapy.
There are also many rumours and myths that get thrown around too.
Some horse enthusiasts say that horses can influence our heartbeat with theirs due to their electromagnetic field, or that they can hear our heartbeat from as far away as five feet, and sync both heartbeats together.
While there has been tentative research around these theories, they have yet to be corroborated with further peer-reviewed (scientific) research.
However, there have been other studies done around the benefit of horses used in human therapy, showing it to be a therapy modality worth looking in to.
I can’t even remember how or why I became so attached to horses.
I know I was introduced to them as a baby through a family member, but I still have no idea why they stuck with me.
Now that I’m older and able to comprehend it all, not only do I just find them to be endearing animals, but they force you to think about how you present yourself and your emotions.
Scientific research has presented theories that suggest that these prey animals create a scenario in which we must be gentle to keep them calm, encouraging participants to regulate their body language.
They force you to reconsider how you are presenting yourself to the world.
Personally, I think there’s a little adrenaline seeking that goes with the emotional bond.
These animals are hundreds of kilograms heavier than us, and could easily send us to the hospital by sending a kick in our direction.
There’s just something special about the sentient creatures that could run you over, they choose to pay attention to you and love you for who you are.
