Annually, World Mental Health Day in October aims to broaden the dialogue surrounding mental health, highlighting various strategies to enhance emotional well-being. Addressing mental health is a complex endeavor with multiple solutions. I wish I could pinpoint the exact moment my mental health journey began; it feels so deeply ingrained in my identity that I can't recall an alternative version of myself. During my college years, I received diagnoses of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). There was a sense of relief and liberation in those diagnoses, akin to how Harry Potter must have felt when the Sorting Hat placed him in Gryffindor House. For the first time, I felt I understood who I was and was armed with knowledge to improve my psychological state. My treatment has taken many forms, but the most healing has been the steady presence and gentle power of horses.

Have you ever experienced the soothing rhythm of a trotting horse that transitions into a canter and then a gallop? It's as if the horse's strength becomes your own, allowing you to escape intrusive thoughts and find peace. Similarly, caring for horses has been therapeutic for me. The calming, repetitive act of grooming, the physical and distracting task of cleaning stalls, and the connection of walking alongside a horse while exercising them—each stride is a step towards trust. There's something profoundly healing in the simple yet pure relationship of working together with a horse, which is why I keep returning to horses as a mental health tool. I'm not alone in this; studies suggest equine-assisted psychotherapy can benefit various mental health issues, including anxiety, low self-esteem, addiction, trauma, depression, and antisocial behavior. In 2019, over 66,000 individuals participated in equine-assisted activities or therapies, according to the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH).

Stride Ahead, an equine-assisted psychotherapy program in Decatur, Georgia, caters to a diverse clientele, including veterans, at-risk youth, and individuals in recovery. This nonprofit employs an approach where therapy occurs exclusively on the ground, without horseback riding. The client can observe the horses, walk alongside them, and pet them. This model is known as the Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA). Chris Lobkowicz, a certified equine specialist at Stride Ahead, explains that this method is impactful because it doesn't require any horsemanship skills: "You just come as you are."

A typical session begins with a touch base meeting where clients discuss their therapy goals. This is followed by time in the paddock with one to two horses, an equine therapist who teaches horse safety and monitors the horses' behavior, and a mental health professional who ensures the client's emotional well-being. Clients may apply real-life scenarios to their interactions with the horses, using them as metaphors for characters in their lives. The horses, making their own choices and moving freely in the paddock, can influence how clients perceive their life stories. This self-distancing approach allows for modeling boundaries and connections similar to human interactions, as researched by the Indiana University School of Social Work.

Throughout the session, clients can discuss their observations, experiences, and feelings with the therapist and equine specialist. Observing the horses' behaviors and emotions can encourage clients to open up about their own. Sessions may also incorporate mindfulness, such as watching the horses move, listening to them chew, or taking in their scent, helping clients to focus on the present moment. Sessions usually last an hour and are followed by a debrief. This method is also effective for group therapy, aiming to create a safe space for clients to discover their own answers. Bobbi Woolwine, a licensed clinical social worker at Stride Ahead and former depression researcher at Emory University, says, "The client has the ability to address and reach their own goals. We're here to help guide them on that journey."

"Horses are intuitive," Woolwine explains, noting their exceptional social intelligence. They can read our body language and sense our emotions, often recognizing people from past experiences by their facial expressions. Another reason horses are perfect for therapy is their present-moment awareness. As prey animals, they must always be alert, relying on flight to escape predators. "To protect themselves, horses must be alert from a distance—determining who is coming towards them and if it's a friend or foe," Woolwine says. When a client enters the paddock, the horses immediately focus on them, assessing the situation and evaluating the client's energy. Because horses live in the present, they quickly let negative interactions go. Two horses may have a scuffle, and it's over just as quickly. "Their observations and interactions are always honest," Lobkowicz says. He believes this treatment can benefit anyone, offering "aha" moments and clarity.

Stride Ahead does not require a doctor's referral, although each program varies. Like many elective therapies, horse therapy is generally not covered by traditional medical insurance companies. However, programs like Stride Ahead offer grants or sliding scale fees to make therapy more accessible. As humans, we place so much value on things that mean nothing to horses, like others' opinions of us. Horses don't care. They are simple yet purposeful, strong yet stable, and vulnerable. They dismiss hostility and demand trust. Perhaps it's these qualities that give horses the innate ability to open us up to a part of ourselves that allows for honest self-expression, healing, acceptance, and better mental health.