There is something about being in the company of calm horses. As herd animals subject to predators, they have to sense when to escape and when to settle down. Herds have to communicate socially, and their social calming can cross over to us. Because horses are large, being up close in the presence of horses forces us to try and sense their state of mind … to feel how they relate to each other, and we can become drawn into their relationship. And because relating to horses is far less complicated than managing human relations, the experience can be a starting point for rebuilding feelings of trust and compassion.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs endorses equine therapy for managing anxiety and PTSD.
While experiences with, and the science behind, equine therapy continues to mature, equine therapy is becoming recognized by and used for behavioral health care in general public.