Horses Healing Humans

17/08/2025

Wisdom from Plum Village and Thay

28/06/2025

Something I’ve always voiced and as a AHPRA registered practioner utilised for charges.
However, it would be more useful if NDIS included more therapy hours in plans so this can be more easily planned and utilised.

ATL has on record, current NDIA correspondence shared with ATL that says “equine therapy can only be delivered as part of a therapeutic intervention by an allied health professional who must be present during the session.”

“Additionally, the cost of the equine therapy must be incorporated into the overall cost of the allied health professional’s service”

Invoicing should be in line with the NDIS price guide.

If you are delivering or receiving “equine therapy” consistent with the above rules in accordance with the participants plan and your invoice or service is being rejected, phone or write to the NDIS referencing the above information.

01/06/2025

🐴🤍 Horses don’t understand words. They feel you.

They don’t speak our language,
but they know when you’re happy, when you’re broken,
and when you’re silent simply because you're too tired to fight.

A horse won’t ask why you’re crying.
They’ll just press their nose to your chest — and somehow, that’s enough.
Because they feel your pain even when you’re smiling.
They sense your exhaustion even when you stand tall.
They know when you’re being real… even when the world sees your mask.

In their gaze, there is no judgment.
Only silence that heals.
Only warmth that asks for nothing in return.

Maybe that’s why a horse isn’t just an animal.
They’re a mirror to your soul.
And sometimes… the only one who truly hears you.

🌾
Hang in there. Because they hold you — without asking, without words, just with their whole heart.

01/06/2025

Some things never change with time...
Even when your knees don’t listen like they used to.
Even when lifting the saddle by yourself gets a little harder each day.
Even when youth leaves behind only scars and memories.

The spirit of the horse in your heart — it never ages.
It remains just as wild, free, and true.
It whispers: you still can… you’re still a rider… you are a soul in the saddle.

Because the love for horses never fades. It only grows deeper.
And even if you can’t gallop across fields every day,
one look, one soft muzzle against your hand —
and your heart soars again.

You may be silver-haired. Tired. Quiet.
But inside — you’re still that little girl who dreams of riding into the wind.

And the spirit of the horse… it’s still there.
Always.
Forever.

10/05/2025

Research outline the sentience of our equine friends

07/03/2025

Working with mirror neurons
Some research agrees, others disagree
For me,
I acknowledge this, and allow my horses to show me the story

08/02/2025

Always truth and wisdom
Inner knowledge and awareness of our own “selves”
The spark,
The spirit,
Our own jiminey cricket,
Is unrelenting in its presence
Often obscured as Richard states,
Hidden, quiet, unassuming

Though when called upon - thrives in the unity and knowingness
Integration, trust, belonging
The merging of pieces,
A satisfaction, feeling of contentment

When the owl calls your name,
The inner wisdom awakes

“The Self is in Everybody”

In Internal Family Systems therapy, its founder Richard Schwartz says this of the Self:

“… the Self cannot be damaged, the Self doesn’t have to develop, and the Self possess its own wisdom about how to heal internal as well as external relationships.

… it never goes away. … Like the sun, the Self can be temporarily obscured, but it never disappears. When the moon passes by or clouds dissipate, the sun shines as brightly as ever. Similarly, when parts unblend, the Self’s nourishing energy is readily available again and the parts are comforted to sense the presence of such a strong, loving inner leader.”

This piece of insight alone is incredibly reassuring and healing - that everyone has a core, ever-present Self, and that no matter what we go through or how often, always our loving inner-guide; that strong, wise, compassionate part of ourselves which endures, is still there. We may need to wait for the storm clouds to pass, as Schwartz says here, but we can be certain of one thing: the Self will re-emerge no matter how dark that particular storm may have seemed.

Angela Dunning
The Horse’s Truth
www.thehorsestruth.co.uk

Image by Sari O'Neal, licensed via Shutterstock.

~ Richard C. Schwartz, ‘No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness’, p.25-35.

24/12/2024

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas 🎄

May the Christmas gifts of peace and comfort find its way to you and yours

16/12/2024

New Research Shows Horses Are Far More Intelligent Than We Thought:

Horses are far more intelligent than most people realize, with cognitive abilities that place them among the smartest animals.

They have demonstrated skills in problem-solving, emotional intelligence, memory, and learning that rival those of many other species. For example, horses are known for their cleverness in opening stable doors or untying knots, showcasing their capacity for strategic thinking.

Emotionally, they form deep, empathetic bonds with humans and can sense feelings like pride or shame, often mirroring their human companions' emotions.

Their impressive cognitive skills also allow them to recognize symbols, communicate preferences, and adapt to complex situations, such as responding to commands in therapeutic environments.

One study even revealed that horses can adjust their communication based on whether humans are aware of hidden food, increasing visual and tactile signals like looking or nudging when their caretakers were unaware.

This ability to understand and respond to the knowledge state of others—previously thought to be unique to primates—illustrates the sophistication of horse cognition. Horses actively attempt to communicate with humans in much the same way they would with their herd members, making horse-human communication a true two-way street.

While horses may not match the intellectual capabilities of elephants, they are often considered more intelligent than dogs or cats in some areas, excelling in equine-assisted therapies where their sensitivity to human emotions makes them invaluable in psychological treatments.