Horses Helping Humans
How HETRA Supports Mental Health Through Connection
As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, it's the perfect time to highlight one of the most common mental health challenges faced by individuals today—anxiety—and how HETRA’s Equine Facilitated Mental Health (EFMH) programming is making a meaningful impact.
To better understand how anxiety affects people and how horses play a role in healing, we sat down with one of HETRA’s licensed Mental Health Therapists for an in-depth look.
Q: What is the most common reason people seek out Equine Facilitated Mental Health programming at HETRA?
A: Currently, I would say the biggest reason people are coming to HETRA for Equine Facilitated Mental Health or EFMH services is due to anxiety.
Q: What is anxiety?
A: Anxiety is your natural stress response. It's like an alarm in your body to warn you of danger. The problem with anxiety is when that alarm is going off too frequently or too strongly.
Q: How does anxiety present in people? What are signs to look for?
A: Anxiety can show up in different ways, but typically there's more of a physical response. It could be headaches, stress, tension, heart pounding, or muscles feeling fatigued or tired.
Q: What are some common causes of anxiety?
A: There are a number of triggers—things like work, school, relationships, and finances. There can also be genetic factors or co-occurring mental health conditions that contribute to higher levels of anxiety.
Q: How does HETRA help people who are dealing with anxiety?
A: Working with horses can help participants feel more calm and connected—both within their own body and with someone or something else. These interactions help regulate emotions in a healthy way.
Q: What are your top two anxiety-reducing activities used in EFMH sessions?
A: I like to use mindful grooming to help participants have a place to channel their anxiety and shift their focus away from stressors.
I also use leading with the horses, which promotes connection and focus. Both activities help ground participants in the moment.
Q: What kind of impact do these activities have on participants?
A: These activities can boost confidence and give people a healthy outlet to process and regulate their emotions. Participants often experience increased mindfulness and emotional awareness during these sessions.
Q: How do the horses respond during these sessions?
A: Horses are incredibly intuitive. They often mirror what the participant is feeling. If someone is unsure or hesitant, the horse might disengage or seem unsure as well. But if the person is calm and engaged, the horse typically reflects that calmness and presence right back.
Anxiety is real—but so is hope. Through thoughtful, relationship-based experiences with horses, participants in HETRA’s EFMH program are learning to manage stress, build confidence, and connect more deeply with themselves and others.
If you or someone you know could benefit from Equine Facilitated Mental Health services, visit HETRA.org to learn more.
