Healing Hooves Animal Assisted Therapy

05/30/2026

New blog post! A recent graduate of our training program shares her experience of the training process. Thank you Julie for sharing your experience and wisdom with us - it has been a pleasure and honour to support you in this journey!

I especially love your closing words:

"Horses don’t rush.
Seasons don’t rush.
Growth and change, in nature, are unhurried and cyclical.
Our clients’ processes align with this rhythm as well.
Equine-facilitated work honours this. It invites us into a slower, more open way of being.

When we move to nature’s tempo, we immediately notice more.
We listen with attunement.
We allow what needs to surface and be seen to do so in its own time.

In many ways, taking an intentional path through the certification process wasn’t just a practical choice, it aligned closely with the principles that make this work meaningful."

Thank you Julie!!!

An overview of the Healing Hooves training process from a participant's perspective

05/26/2026

As I prepare for a week of conference and clinic presentations in Nova Scotia, this quote sums up so much of what I hope to share.
Gordon Neufeld of the Neufeld Institute often says, 'truth is truth' when our 'aha's' from one context apply so well to another.
This is a core fundamental truth that underpins all aspects of our work and teaching at Healing Hooves.

‘when (a horse) perceives safety, neuroplasticity opens the door to new experiences & learning. When the nervous system is overwhelmed, the brain shifts into protection, & defensive patterns take over.’ Dr. Stephen Peters

05/23/2026

It's that time of year again! Each morning it's a surprise - where will Oliver be today? Soon he will shed out and the fence will keep him in one spot again!

05/21/2026

The whole herd kindly lined themselves up for a family photo this morning!

Happy Wednesday from all of us!

05/16/2026

Are dogs smarter than horses?

My daughter asked me this question a few months ago. How would you answer?

I think many people would say that dogs are in fact smarter than horses (and donkeys!) And that primates are smarter than dogs. And, of course, that we humans are the smartest of them all. After all if we all took an IQ test, we all know which species would come out on top.

However …

This does all rather lead to the question of what we mean by intelligence. Or by being ‘smart’.

Even sticking within our own species there is much awareness now that emotional intelligence (EQ) can have more of an impact on a person’s happiness and wellbeing in life that their ‘Intelligence quotient’, or their IQ, the more ‘traditional’ measure of human intelligence.

Thus the answer to the question ‘who is the smartest’ is very much going to depend on what you mean by smart and how you measure it.

If smart means our intellect as measured by an IQ test, then we humans have an advantage as the primary part of the brain tested by an IQ test is the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Which as far as we know only exists in the brains of primates, lemurs and possibly tree shrews.

If we decide ‘smart’ means being able to detect the presence of a potential predator in the bushes all the way over there almost behind you, and then run a kilometre away as fast as you can, then I think our horses easily have us beat.

Or if smart means knowing exactly when it’s 6pm (aka dinner time) without access to any form of time keeping then Daisy, my golden retriever, triumphs over us all.

My point here is that equines are smart in the ways they need to be smart as equines. Dogs are smart in the ways they need to be smart as dogs. Each species has evolved to function – including cognitively – in the ways that best serve the specific needs of that species.

To truly appreciate this we humans need to step out of our anthropocentric worldview and start to get curious about life from another species’ perspective.

Find out more here: https://healinghooves.ca/workshops-and-resources/

05/11/2026

Explore equine neuroscience, ethology, relational horsemanship, evolutionary psychology and more. Apply these in practical and concrete ways to equine care, living environments, training and relationships.

This small group experiential workshop is informed by the science and research while remaining grounded in horse sense and practical application. Explore what human and equine neuroscience, and the wisdom of the horse, can teach us about connecting more deeply and authentically with equines, people, and ourselves. And put this into practice experientially within a small group of like minded people – and horses.

Includes:
Ten hours of pre-recorded video presentations with handouts and life time access.
Comprehensive ten week online interactive course packed full of information supporting the videos, application exercises, discussion and self-reflective components.
Direct access to your facilitator through the online platform.
Live zoom support sessions to ask questions and connect with other students.
One day in-person workshop to discuss and apply learnings within your equine context.
All materials, equipment and equines for the onsite, plus snacks and refreshments.


Register: https://healinghooves.ca/healing-hooves-2022-training-program-registration-form/
More info: sue@healinghooves.ca

Explore professional training and resources at Healing Hooves in Canada, the UK, and online. Learn about equine and animal assisted therapy certification, registration details, schedules, and more to enhance your healing journey.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Healing Hooves!

05/03/2026

A new study shows horses respond relationally and behaviourally to different human emotions collected through sweat samples.

This is one of the many research areas we explore and help you apply to your relationships and work with horses in our Equine Neuroscience training.

Understanding the true nature of our equines' emotional, sensory and cognitive world is a passion of mine and key to those of us in the equine assisted services field to safeguard the physical and emotional wellbeing of all involved - including our equines!

Find out more about our equine neuroscience training here: https://healinghooves.ca/workshops-and-resources/ and about the research study here: https://hal.science/hal-05279443v2

You can also listen to an interview with Plotine Jardat, the lead researcher on the study, on CBC quirks and quarks here: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/may-2-co***ne-salmon-ai-scientist-9.7184174 - just scroll down to the bottom of the page unless you want to read about salmon and co***ne!

"Olfaction is the most widespread sensory modality animals use to communicate, yet much remains to be discovered about its role. While most studies focused on intraspecific interactions and reproduction, new evidence suggests chemosignals may influence interspecific interactions and emotional communication. This study explores this possibility, investigating olfactory signals in emotional contagion from the example of human-horse interactions. Cotton pads carrying human odors from fear and joy contexts, or unused pads (control odor) were applied to 43 horses' nostrils during fear tests (suddenness and novelty tests) and human interaction tests (grooming and approach tests). Principal component analysis showed that overall, when exposed to fear-related human odors, horses exhibited significantly heightened fear responses and reduced interaction with humans compared to joy-related and control odors. More precisely, when exposed to fear-related odors, horses touched the human less in the human approach test, gazed more at the novel object, and were more started (startle intensity and maximum heart rate) by a sudden event. These results highlight the significance of chemosignals in interspecific interactions and provide insights into questions about the impact of domestication on emotional communication." Plotine Jardat

04/26/2026

How can there still be snow!?!
I'm happy to report everyone is doing well and that despite how it looks, there is actually some grass starting to grow under there.
I am looking forward to it all melting this coming week!

04/24/2026

Ever wondered what your horse is thinking? If he feels what you feel? Why she does what she does?
Join us to find answers to these and many more questions!

This experiential workshop has an online component with an optional in person day in either Nova Scotia or Alberta.

During the online course you will explore the human and equine nervous system to help you access the wisdom in your own body while listening to that of the horse. You will learn how human and equine brains are both similar and different, in how we experience the world through the senses, how we learn, how we process information, think and feel. You will explore what this means for equine needs, care and training to allow you to create equine environments that honour the equine as a sentient being and support mutually beneficial human-horse relationships.

During the onsite part of this course you will put your learning into practice through experiential exercises with the horses, reflection and group discussions. All within a small group supportive environment.

Throughout all aspects of the course you will be invited to apply all of the above to your context with horses, be it trail rider, riding coach or within Equine Facilitated Wellness.

Online only cost: $295
Online plus onsite: $495 early bird/ $550 regular rate

Includes an 8 week interactive and flexible online course packed full of research, practical information, reflective and discussion opportunities and exercises to try with your horse. If you don't have access to a horse let us know as we may be able to help! Plus a full day in person with the horses, equipment and all materials provided.

No prior experience required - all are welcome!

Please let me know if you have any questions and I hope you can join us!

Healing Hooves 2026 Training Program – Registration Form Program Details and Description 2026 TRAINING DATES, FEES AND EARLY BIRD DEADLINES Program Description   Training Name Online Dates Onsite Dates HH Early Bird Ratesand Deadlines Standard rates Exploration Training Feb 16 – March 30 N/A $5...

04/22/2026

Healing Hooves is coming back to the Maritimes!

Just $595 plus GST if you register by May 1

Mentoring for advanced students and practitioners, and training in Equine Neuroscience is also available - May 29th and June 3 respectively.

Sue is also presenting at the CCPA conference in Halifax on May 30th on ethics and safety in equine and animal assisted services.

Please let us know if you have questions and I hope you can join us!

Explore professional training and resources at Healing Hooves in Canada, the UK, and online. Learn about equine and animal assisted therapy certification, registration details, schedules, and more to enhance your healing journey.