From the age of eight, I developed a passion for horse riding. Although I never owned a horse, I gained immeasurable value by assisting at horse stables throughout my childhood. Later in life, I pursued my university education in Spanish and French, followed by law. However, it didn’t take long to recognise it wasn’t the right path for me. My city dwelling lacked the outdoor connections, including my cherished moments with horses, which had sadly taken a toll on my well-being.
As a way to remedy the situation, I committed myself to a six-month-long personal pursuit, undertaking voluntary work for an organisation that facilitated horse riding for affected individuals. It was a transformative experience, not only for me, but also for the children involved who reaped immense benefit from the experience.
It became evident that the practice was having a profound effect, but the scientific reasoning behind it remained a mystery to me. As an example, why was a child, typically unresponsive, suddenly responding with cues like ‘Woah’ and ‘Go’? I was compelled to understand this better and acquire the skills necessary to cater to our clients. This need for clarification brought me to Festina Lente located in Wicklow, where I embarked on a therapeutic riding course. This was supplemented with education in equine-assisted learning and disability awareness. Following these educational pursuits, my current employment opportunity presented itself.
Therapeutic riding capitalises on horse movements to provide healing benefits. The individuals I work with range from young toddlers of two to mature adults of 76. Some seek it for its physical advantages, for instance, the rhythmic motion of a horse imitates the movement of the human pelvis, offering previously inaccessible physical sensations for wheelchair users. The heat emitted by the horse additionally assists in muscle relaxation.
In the current education system, many children are confined within classrooms for prolonged periods, which is oftentimes infeasible. They leave school at the end of the day, buzzing with pent-up energy from hours of sitting. Our programme is prepared for exactly such cases. We have clients on the Autism spectrum who battle with patience and impulse control. Others bring with them mental health concerns. The novelty of the experience can often be intimidating to them. We ensure to take a patient approach, as one of the extraordinary qualities of horses is the invitation they extend towards us to slow down. Aptly, Festina Lente translates to “make haste slowly”.
Horses naturally possess a slower heart rate in comparison to humans, and their calming presence can induce tranquility in our heart rates too, through a process known as co-regulation. This results in a sense of calmness in both individuals involved. We collaborate with a large number of children faced with sensory-processing challenges. The moment they mount a horse, they appear to exhale all their tension. This is especially beneficial for children who crave physical touch, as the opportunity to connect with the horse physically provides immense comfort. This can be observed through the visible relaxation on their faces, and the subsequent relaxation on their parents’ faces.
Being prey animals, horses exhibit an increased state of alertness. They are especially perceptive in understanding human behaviour, observing our interactions and minute gestures. Despite the lack of verbal communication between these horses and some of our non-speaking clients, there seems to be a mutual understanding that transcends language.
Due to the disconnect humans are increasingly experiencing with the natural world, we live in a constant state of over-stimulation. Approaching a horse with a lack of mindfulness can result in immediate feedback from the animal, helping you refocus and ground yourself in the present moment.
Our young clients often create profound bonds with these horses, frequently enquiring about their daily activities, their fodder-mates and even their equine friendships. This provides numerous opportunities of developing communication skills.
Our horses aren’t merely therapy tools but sentient beings with their distinct lifestyle. They are given the freedom to roam fields, maintained in herds, fed continuously, and are engaged in varied tasks to keep them mentally stimulated. We honour the individuality of each horse, their unique identity and their relationships with their fellow creatures. To us, every horse is exceptional, distinctly therapeutic, and most importantly, deeply cherished.
Relocating here was to enable me to engage with horses in a manner that focuses on their welfare. Such places are challenging to find as the horse industry can be quite harsh. I feel fortunate to witness some of the remarkable moments in my clients’ lives. These can include uttering their first word. A particular fond memory is of a sweet young client named Georgie, who was barely two or three years old. When we first met, Georgie was in his pre-verbal stage but by the end of the sessions, he was saying ‘Walk on, Dukey’ and ‘Thank you, Hannah’.
The transformation was astounding. Dukey, who is an exceptional horse, was able to aid Georgie’s growth. His movements allowed Georgie to connect and gradually express himself using language. I often refer to such breakthrough moments as magical, when everything seems to fit perfectly. It’s a beautiful synchronisation between the horse and the rider that I describe as “harmony”. These moments make my work extremely rewarding.
A discussion with Joanne Hunt.