Trauma Work with Horses: Compassion and Connection

Authors

• Olivia Sagan Prof, Queen Margaret University, EdinburghFollow

Abstract

New ways of working with trauma survivors are being sought with the case being made that dominant trauma therapies have relied too heavily on verbal narration and cognitive processing.  Evidence suggests that traumatic experiences are often encoded in sensory, emotional, physiological, and relational systems that may be difficult to access through language alone. This has led to interest in the potential of body-oriented, movement-based, and experiential interventions alongside traditional talk therapies. There are also calls for exploring nature-based therapies as these have shown that engagement with natural environments may help aid the process of healing. Within this context, equine-assisted therapies have been proposed as a valuable non-verbal intervention. Because horses are highly responsive to non-verbal cues, interactions with them may help trauma survivors develop self-awareness, attachment security, and affect regulation through embodied experience rather than narrative processing alone.

This paper presents a phenomenological research study of a programme of Equine-Assisted Therapy for trauma survivors. It draws on rich, first-person narrative and focuses on the finding of enhanced self-compassion, particularly in relation to loneliness.  The study found that for those who completed the programme, the full experience enabled a richer apprehension of self-compassion and this had a corollary impact on their ‘inner critic.’ Both self-compassion and a modified, quieter inner critic appeared to facilitate a more forgiving relationship with the self, better boundary setting, and improved relationships with others. These intertwined, albeit transitory experiences were spoken of as enabling enhanced social connection and a reduced sense of loneliness.

Recommended Citation

Sagan, Olivia Prof (2026) "Trauma Work with Horses: Compassion and Connection," The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE): Vol. 13: Iss. 1, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55671/2767-1380.1160
Available at: https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/ije/vol13/iss1/3