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BMC complementary medicine and therapies2025; 26(1); 20; doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-05185-2

Therapists’ reasons for including horses into psychotherapy, a qualitative study.

Abstract: The integration of horses into psychotherapy has gained popularity over recent decades, offering unique therapeutic opportunities that may enhance emotional healing, empathy, and relational trust. This study investigates the perspectives of experienced psychotherapists on why they incorporate horses into their therapeutic practices. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten clinicians (eight female, two male) from diverse theoretical orientations. The data, which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, revealed four key themes: "Supporting presence and getting to the heart of things quickly," "The relationship to the horse as the primary factor," "Going deeper, exploring further," and "The horse as a partner providing support, direction and dynamics." The findings highlight how the therapists described the presence of horses as fostering a strong therapeutic presence within a safe, authentic, and primarily nonverbal relationship. This frame was described as an "attachment laboratory" enhancing somatic awareness, and creating opportunities for exploration, experiential learning, and symbolic work. Importantly, therapists reported that working with horses not only benefited clients but also supported their own presence and abilities in therapy, as well as their professional satisfaction, offering a possible buffer against clinician burnout.
© 2025. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2025-11-27 PubMed ID: 41310576PubMed Central: PMC12821812DOI: 10.1186/s12906-025-05185-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Therapists use horses in psychotherapy because they believe horses create a unique, safe, and nonverbal therapeutic environment that helps clients connect emotionally, explore deeper issues, and enhances both client and therapist experiences.

Introduction to the Study

  • The use of horses in psychotherapy (equine-assisted psychotherapy) has become increasingly popular over recent decades.
  • This approach aims to provide unique therapeutic opportunities that promote emotional healing, empathy, and relational trust.
  • The study explores why experienced psychotherapists choose to integrate horses into their therapeutic practices.
  • The investigation was qualitative, based on in-depth interviews with ten clinicians (eight female, two male) from various theoretical backgrounds.

Methodology

  • Data were gathered through detailed interviews with ten practicing psychotherapists familiar with integrating horses into therapy.
  • The participants represented diverse theoretical orientations, enhancing the study’s breadth.
  • Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to analyze the interview data, identifying common themes and underlying meanings from therapists’ perspectives.

Key Themes Identified

  • Supporting Presence and Getting to the Heart of Things Quickly
    • Therapists emphasized that horses help clients become fully present in the moment.
    • This presence facilitates rapid emotional access and deep therapeutic work.
  • The Relationship to the Horse as the Primary Factor
    • The horse-client relationship was viewed as central to the therapeutic process.
    • It is primarily nonverbal and grounded in authenticity and trust.
  • Going Deeper, Exploring Further
    • Working with horses provides opportunities for profound exploration beyond verbal therapy.
    • Clients engage in experiential learning and symbolic work.
  • The Horse as a Partner Providing Support, Direction, and Dynamics
    • Horses act as active partners offering guidance and feedback throughout therapy.
    • They create dynamic therapeutic interactions that support client growth.

Therapeutic Benefits of Including Horses

  • Horses help form a therapeutic space described as an “attachment laboratory” which fosters secure relational bonds.
  • The interaction enhances somatic (body-based) awareness, allowing clients to connect physical sensations with emotional experiences.
  • The horses’ presence facilitates experiential learning rather than solely verbal expression, enriching the therapeutic process.
  • Symbolic work with horses helps clients externalize and explore internal emotional conflicts or narratives.

Benefits for Therapists

  • Therapists reported that working with horses improved their own therapeutic presence and skills.
  • The inclusion of horses offered professional satisfaction and rejuvenation.
  • This dynamic was seen as a potential buffer against therapist burnout, supporting clinician well-being.

Conclusion

  • The study highlights the multifaceted reasons therapists incorporate horses into psychotherapy.
  • Horses contribute to creating a safe, authentic, and somatically rich environment that promotes deep emotional work.
  • Both clients and therapists benefit from this partnership, suggesting that equine-assisted psychotherapy is valuable for emotional healing and professional sustainability.

Cite This Article

APA
Kogstad N, Christiansen SE, Ulberg R, Fiskum C. (2025). Therapists’ reasons for including horses into psychotherapy, a qualitative study. BMC Complement Med Ther, 26(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-05185-2

Publication

BMC complementary medicine and therapies
ISSN: 2662-7671
NlmUniqueID: 101761232
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 26
Issue: 1
Pages: 20
PII: 20

Researcher Affiliations

Kogstad, Norunn
  • Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. nkogstad@gmail.com.
  • Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumundal, Norway. nkogstad@gmail.com.
Christiansen, Sunniva Elisabeth
  • Department of Mental Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Ulberg, Randi
  • Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
  • Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Fiskum, Charlotte
  • Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. charlotte.fiskum@ntnu.no.

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Female
  • Male
  • Qualitative Research
  • Horses
  • Psychotherapy / methods
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Middle Aged
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Psychotherapists / psychology
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Participation was based on informed and voluntary consent, and participants gave written or verbal consent which was recorded. The study was reviewed and approved by SIKT (Norwegian name: Sikt – Kunnskapssektorens tjenesteleverandør, English name: Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research, reference number 604498), which is the Norwegian authority for research management and is organized under the department for research and education. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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