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

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.