Horses live the essence of this approach to the psychotherapeutic process. They have a natural capacity for awareness, contact, congruency, and organismic self-regulation. They don’t tell stories, they don’t interpret and they don’t judge. They are present if they are frightened or angry and they are present when they are relaxed. They are also capable of great compassion and ability to form relationships. Horses are social beings, living together in groups (herds) with defined roles, and responsibilities. Their survival depends upon being in relationship with each other so they are exquisitely attuned to relational dynamics as well as the emotional state of their human friends and clients. These are the innate gifts of being they bring to us as humans. Interacting with them illuminates our own patterns of relationship and contact, giving us feedback about our intentions, behaviors and incongruities. Using the horses in the context of Gestalt therapy can bring rapid awareness, deepened contact, and opportunities for emotional, as well as social growth. When you participate in individual, group, or family therapy with horses you might experience:
• The horses as a mirror to your inner process
• A deepening level of contact with yourself and others
• More capacity for trust and intimacy
• Improved communication
• Collaborative relationships with others.
• Understanding your family or group dynamics and issues.
