06/04/2026
I have had several enquiries recently about ridden work.
Please do note EquineCoach is a therapy style service and not a riding school 🙏
I am resharing my previous post on why we do not offer riding.
Any questions are more than welcome
Why we do not ride or use lead ropes on our horses in client sessions.
The concept of working with horses or 'Equine Facilitated Learning' originated from the understanding that horses have the ability to help rebalance that which is out of balance. Instinctively they want to rebalance as being prey animals they have a strong sense of energetic vibration, in order to keep them safe. Out of balance is 'not safe'.
Each horse will react differently to energetic vibration, or the vibration our emotions give off, depending on their own experience in life, their personality or their role within the herd.
When a client arrives, it tells me a lot about them depending on which horse approaches and which ones may stay at a distance. Because I understand each and every one of our herd physically, mentally and emotionally.
If we ride or lead we are removing the choice from the horse. If we remove the choice we are not listening. If we are not listening, we are unable to hear their messages about what is out of balance in us, and hence what we need to change. The horse can move in to 'automatic' mode rather than come forward to offer support naturally.
My role as the 'Facilitator' is to guide clients in understanding that message through questioning and teaching how to feel in their body (somatically) rather than via our analytical mind.
Mind versus body balance.
By adding structure, timeframes and set 'exercise' we are coming from our human analytical mind.
The horses do not do structure, timeframes and set 'exercise' as they come from a somatic, energetic vibration, present moment space.
If we truly want to learn from the horses, we too need to be in the same space. At EquineCoach, we first teach you how to enter that space and balance the mind/body in order to work in the Felt sense.
Only then can you start to learn from our greatest teachers.
It saddens me to see humans taking this concept and adding human complexity, thus removing the voice of the horse and working from the mind. The opposite of how the horses work,
I am heartened to see working with horses being more understood as a support for those with trapped emotion or mental health issues. It is the way forward, rather than the more known 'analysing' approach and working solely in the mind. However I am seeing that same analytical approach being incorporated into EFL training recently which immediately reduces the benefits.
Online courses, training with no prior knowledge and understanding of equine behaviour or how the species lives instinctively, training without going through your own journey with the horses, training from the mind space not somatically all simply tick human 'boxes'.
My training, many years ago, was a lengthy process and included residential 'hands on' learning with real clients. Since then I have trained in somatic emotional work, Forest Therapy, Reiki as well as regularly attend emotional trauma masterclasses.
EquineCoach will continue to learn the messages from the horses in the way they work best. This is why our success rate is so high.
See some of the reviews.
We listen, we understand, we make changes. Not from using 'Technique', but from deep knowledge and experience of the horse, human emotion and our instinctual body, but more importantly................from listening to the horses.
Come and see how we do things differently and how it can help you.
