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phosphorusMaybe it’s the influence health crazesoaring in popularity astrology or hug traditional Chinese medicine Blame it on beauty editors, but posts about the Year of the Horse have been flooding my Instagram feed lately. Obviously, contrary to the fading of the Year of the Snake in 2025, this year heralds a triumphant ride.
Going into this year, I’ve been reflecting on an unusual health experience I had in 2025 and what it taught me. It turned out to be far more than I expected. Last year I spent a weekend at an equine therapy retreat and I came away with a whole new perspective.
If you’re skeptical about how time in the company of horses can sever the toxic connections one’s brain makes when ruminating on the past or heal problematic relationships related to productivity, I can understand. But my mindset was different after the weekend.
My Horse Health Experience
The origins of equine-assisted psychotherapy can be traced back to ancient Greece. It is recorded that Hippocrates recommended horseback riding as a healing tool nearly 2,000 years ago, and history is filled with countless examples of how horses and humans can work in symbiosis to improve each other’s lives.
Today, in the United States, South Africa, Europe, and Australia, there is growing evidence that equine-assisted psychotherapy benefits human well-being. Some Research Promising results have been shown in the areas of sleep, cognition, physical recovery and social skills after different styles of hippotherapy.
My equine therapy experience took place close to home in leafy Richmond Park. The stables here host Operation Centaur – Organization that provides equine therapy experiences. But we start the process with Bhuti, the wellness center at the boutique hotel Bingham River House.
Here I am sitting with a group of strangers, each of us choosing a photo of a horse that means something to us. This is a great icebreaker. We find ourselves telling stories about our relationships with horses, what our jobs and environments are asking of us now, and what each of us hopes to gain from the experience.
I, like most people in the room, grew up around horses. I reflected on how much I enjoyed it. It’s such a thrill to gallop down country roads or ride bareback in the snow, and I always sleep well after a day in the yard cleaning hooves, brushing tails, and pulling yellow ragweed plants out of the ground. When I was a teenager I gave up riding and stopped thinking it was cool to have an active hobby, something I have always regretted.
Equine therapy prerequisites
Horses represent a unique set of opportunities when it comes to mental health. provide with them time in natureresponsibility for living things other than oneself, and a certain level of physical activity and skill. You should also be relatively brave and calm, as they are big, heavy and sometimes unpredictable – and falling off the highway can hurt. I think all of these things are good for our brains. Except maybe the drops.
Dr. Puffin O’Hanlon, clinical psychologist, equine therapy researcher, and retreat center director, also notes, “Horses help us understand the world through our senses, and it is these senses that connect us to the ancient wisdom of cells, organisms, and our own bodies. nervous system It’s not about words, it’s about feelings, energy, emotions and reactions.
“Learning to adapt to non-human environments and to listen, co-regulate and communicate with horses can teach us how to connect with neglected or denied parts of ourselves and how to build positive relationships with others.”
I’m well aware of how refreshing and soothing the companionship of horses can be, but I remain skeptical of any groundbreaking self-discoveries during the retreat. I was also surprised to learn that there would be no horse riding on this tour. We don’t control or direct the horses, we just spend time with them, observe them, and do the same with the trees around us. Forest bathing course and quiet nature walks.
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Maybe I read too many fantasy books as a teenager, or maybe I had an overly romanticized view of life. I thought I would instantly connect with a horse we were observing, that I would experience a magical moment and feel like all my stress melted away. That’s not exactly what happened.
In the first example, as I was searching for a meaningful moment with my chosen horse, it – a beautiful golden creature – leaned sideways, spread its legs slightly, and released a stream of yellow water that foamed across the dusty ground. It wasn’t the special connection I was hoping for.
“So you’re just messing around with this situation?” I said to him. “Thank you.” And I found myself smiling. The horse wasn’t focusing on my problems or trying to force a connection or special moment, so why should I?
I laughed again as I watched the same horse get hit by the urge and then roll around on the ground in ecstasy moments later. Throughout the day, I felt my jaw tighten and a soft feeling wash over me. I feel lighter and more comfortable. I love how carefree this animal is, as all horses are. These horses have no expectations and just go with the flow. “Maybe I, a chronic overthinkershould try to do the same thing,” I thought to myself.
“Horses invite us to step out of our outward, forward-thinking, progress-seeking predator mode and begin to look more fully at our surroundings and within ourselves,” explains Dr. O’Hanlon. “Horses don’t care what you say, they don’t care about your past achievements or future aspirations, but they are acutely aware of how you make them feel in the moment.”
What my hippotherapy experience has taught me
That evening, in a beautiful room overlooking the water at Bingham Riverhouse, I felt no need to check my phone, catch up on emails, or catch up on work. I sat quietly, enjoying the quietness of being alone. This may not sound like a big deal, but to me and many others who have learned to use Increase productivity every waking momenta bit out of character.
I reflected on what Dr. O’Hanlon said over dinner, about how many of us tend to let our so-called “rational brains” dictate our thoughts, actions, and decisions, rather than leaning into our natural impulses.
“The more we compartmentalize ourselves, relying on the rational human brain to guide us, by solving problems with words and numbers, and developing increasingly sophisticated tools to get things done, the harder it becomes to shift our attention or energy to countless other ways of being, problem-solving, and communicating.
“The horses brought us limbic brain Online. Most importantly, they bring our threat and attachment systems online simultaneously. They also immediately manifest our inner lives and relationship patterns. They are constantly reacting to our smallest movements, intentions, and emotions. Unlike human therapists, they are not distracted by the words people use or blindsided by silence. They’re so powerful and responsive that they’re hard to ignore. “
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Over the years, I’ve learned how to optimize my time. I’m always thinking and acting, planning something or working on a project, article, or email. Or I get lost in thought, analyzing everything that has happened or could happen. Rarely do I just sit still, let my brain shut down, and let my body move naturally and respond sensory to the things around me.
I am no stranger to this kind of mindfulness. I often spend time in nature thinking about how to worry less and go with the flow, I rely on things like yoga nidra Helps me calm my mind. But spending time with a creature who showed me how to do this freed something in my mind. This is extraordinarily profound.
Although we often imagine that, as humans, we are the most important creatures on earth, we may have completely lost our sense of how to respond appropriately to our surroundings, and we have lost the joy of simply being and not doing anything.
Weekends spent in the company of horses inspire me to relax, forget about productivity, and just go with the flow. After this experience, I successfully reminded myself not to think too much and not to worry too much, which greatly relieved my stress. Like many of us, I’m probably guilty of taking myself and the situations I find myself in too seriously, but apparently all it takes to truly live more mindfully is hanging out with a horse.
Next Centaur plan to retreat Bingham River House in Bhuti will be held in spring 2026.