Mental health is a vitally important issue in our society and, fortunately, there are different types of therapies that can help us; It’s just a matter of finding the one that best suits our needs.
In this case, I want to talk to you about therapy with horses and for this I recommend the Healthy podcast, presented by the psychologist Ramon Gibert, specifically the episode Of riders and centaurs: emotions, horses and the brain with Iris Ferré.
Before continuing, it is important to mention that Iris is an equestrian trainer and therapist, with a great passion for horses. It is also relevant to highlight that she has worked for more than 10 years in the cavalry regiment of the Crown of England. And Ferré has dedicated his entire life to working with these majestic animals.
As Iris explains, the mental dimension in the equestrian world is crucial; It is not only about mastering the technique, but about being consistent with our thoughts, actions and words, which is essential for these animals to respond naturally.
Therefore, it is recommended that when dealing with horses we be extremely aware and pay close attention to our emotions as well as our body language, mind and thoughts. “Through this work of consciousness and presence, we can address traumas that manifest in the body, as well as personality and self-esteem issues. We can connect and work like a centaur, being two bodies moving in one,” explains Ferré.
For the equestrian therapist, this symbiosis established with the horse is something magical. “When you manage to tune in to the horses on an energetic level, non-verbal language and intention, it is really wonderful.”
Ferré tells Gibert on the Healthy podcast that horses radiate such powerful energy that is why they are such healing beings. “It is surprising what they perceive in ourselves, things that we are not able to recognize, and that is why they act in a certain way with us. In nature, horses have learned to survive by sensing when a predator is hungry or not, when it is distressed or not, which is why they are specialists in detecting everything we try to hide,” says Iris.
We know that the human psyche is very complicated, but the horses’ brain is different; They feel but do not reason.
We know that we live in an ever-accelerating world and we often don’t take the time to breathe deeply and relax. For this reason, as Ferré explains, horses teach us to respect our space and theirs. In the end, when we do that work of mutual respect, starting with ourselves, that’s when the magic happens.
The equestrian therapist, who works with horses that have suffered trauma, comments that in recent years she has been able to observe that both animals and children manifest certain behaviors due to a deficiency they experience. When this need is satisfied, that behavior disappears.
“Some horses come from traumatic experiences and have been helped to express themselves (their opinions and reactions are valid). In the end, one can come to therapy with one preconceived idea, but working with the animal can teach us another. It is important to always keep in mind that the horse is not a tool, but a living being.”
Ferré adds that horses cannot be bribed with food, since their intrinsic motivation to be with any human is to feel safe. “In their eyes, we are predators, but they place enormous trust in us when they get close. Therefore, if they perceive something that does not fit them, if they notice that we are trying to hide something that we do not like, the horses detect this lack of transparency and move away.” Therefore, Iris recommends that in equine therapy it is much better to be honest with ourselves and accept our emotions, as this will make the horse come closer even if we are frustrated or angry, because we are not trying to hide it, which leads to a revealing healing. “Personally, accepting ourselves as we are in being, in being and letting ourselves flow a little more, has helped me a lot,” adds Iris in Saludable.
Horses have been an integral part of human history and are followers by nature. They have served in wars, in the construction of cities, in transportation, among other functions. However, in this century, horses are also present to help us, but more at the level of mental health, grounding, coherence and to help us connect with ourselves, adds Iris.
Ferré explains to Gibert in the podcast that humans have something very poorly understood: being vulnerable is a strength, not something negative. “When you show yourself vulnerable, you gain strength. There is no need to hide anything. All humans have the same shadows and lights to a greater or lesser extent, and trying to prove otherwise is self-deception.”
For this reason, the equestrian therapist recommends that we allow ourselves to feel the feelings that we do not want to experience, immerse ourselves in our sorrows and bitterness in order to find a balance and develop a deeper capacity to love. According to her, if we do not experience these difficult emotions, we cannot experience love or empathy. “In this society, experiencing pain, suffering or sadness is seen as bad. People tend to hide these unpleasant emotions when, in reality, they are what give us the strength to move forward. Horses help us do this work of being present, of feeling, of accepting these emotions, of releasing them and thus being much more balanced.”
As in any therapy, the equine has certain times to evaluate its progress. Iris explains that first “we understand horse language and communication very well, which allows us to prevent anyone from overwhelming the horses.”
Next, depending on the job, they tell that the horse is free and then interact or not depending on what they are dealing with with the patient. “If we can’t establish a connection with the horse, he will continue to graze with his friends, but if we can achieve that connection, he will come closer. This is the patient’s responsibility.” The therapist makes it very clear that it is not simply about arriving and riding a horse; They explain to them how they should relate to the horses, how to respect their personal space, how to approach them, etc. “In addition, our horses are physically and mentally trained to do this work,” highlights Ferré.
And according to the therapist, one of the most magical parts of horse therapy is when a horse chooses you, “the empathy and connection it has is amazing.”
Iris ends up opening up to Ramon on the Saludable podcast and explains how grateful she is to the horses. “I owe my life to horses. I have gone through very difficult situations and horses have been my guides and masts in this world. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today. The work they do is really powerful.”
You know, if the story of Iris and equine therapy has interested you, do not hesitate to listen to Ramon Gibert’s podcast, Healthy.
