Mercy Reins Farm

Horse-Human Connection

Traumatized youth heal in relationship with horses through several key mechanisms:

• The Mirroring Effect:  Emotional feedback--Horses react immediately to a child's subtle changes in energy, tone, and body language.  If a child is masking anxiety through a tough exterior, the horse will pick up on it and often keep it's distance.

• Safe Boundaries:  This helps children learn how their own emotions and negative thoughts impact others.  They learn to self-regulate (calm down their own anxiety) to get the horse to approach them or follow their lead.

• Overcoming Hypervigilance:  Shared Survival Traits--Children with trauma histories often suffer from hypervigilance--an overactive threat-response system.  Because horses are prey animals, they share this state of high alert.

• Mutual Trust:  Traumatized children often relate to the gentle yet easily startled nature of horses.  Seeing a large, powerful animal remain calm validates the child's own sense of safety and helps lower their guard.

• Nonverbal Connection:  Beyond words--Traditional "talk therapy" can be intimidating or ineffective for children who have trouble articulating complex, painful emotions.  Working with Horses allows children to communicate and feel understood through a physical, nonverbal bond.

• Building Confidence:  Learning to groom, lead, and build relationship with a massive animal gives children a sense of accomplishment they may not experience elsewhere.