1. Masters of Non-Verbal Feedback Horses rely almost entirely on non-verbal communication in order to survive, to socialise and to maintain harmony in the herd. Research shows that horses read human body language, intention and emotional states with extraordinary sensitivity. When a person (coach or client) interacts with a horse: - Incongruence is reflected instantly. - Presence and groundedness create trust. - Clear energetic boundaries support safety for both species. This parallels findings from medical and leadership training where horses have been shown to improve learners' non-verbal communication and empathy. 2. Horses Reveal Leadership and Coaching Patterns Equine-assisted learning (EAL) research shows strong outcomes in leadership behaviour, emotional intelligence and relational awareness. Through the Horses Connect Model, we understand horses as: - Indicators of relational health - Mirrors of emotional congruence - Partners in co-regulation Common coaching patterns show up clearly in equine sessions: - Directive or forceful → horse resists or disengages - Unclear or hesitant → horse looks confused or wanders - Grounded and relational → horse aligns, connects and follows This supports the Five Golden Rules taught in all Horses Connect programmes:1. Know Yourself, 2. Know Your Horses, 3. Stay in Your Lane, 4. Go with the Flow, 5. Trust the Process. Horses simply show you when you’re not living these rules. Leadership-focused EA programmes have reported increases in confidence, empathy, collaborative problem-solving and communication effectiveness. 3. Embodied Learning and Not Just Theory The Horses Connect Method prioritises experiential learning, grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle and supported by emerging neuroscience. Research confirms that equine-assisted activities promote: - Greater self-awareness - Emotional regulation - Behavioural change - Increased HRV and physiological synchrony between horse and human

It's officially no longer too early to mention that Christmas is coming! If you're looking for a unique gift for a special someone (or yourself) that supports the important work of Horses Connect and has the potential to be life-changing, this self-directed personal development book ticks all those boxes. We have a (very)few copies left in the yard, but it's also available here https://tinyurl.com/horsesconnect This is our annual Winter fundraiser so all support - and shares - greatly appreciated. Our amazing horses and ponies earn their own keep by co-facilitating equine-assisted sessions with the two-legged team members. They get a few well-earned weeks off over December and January - but all their needs still have to be met! Our Winter Fundraiser helps that happen. Rather than run a campaign where we just ask for money, we really wanted to give something back to our supporters. When you buy this book, 100% of the proceeds goes to the Horses Connect equine team - and you might just learn (or gift) something life changing! If you already have the book, please leave a review on Amazon. It really helps visibility.

As personal development coaches, we continually seek grounded, experiential ways to help people build emotional intelligence, self-leadership, and authentic confidence. One approach gaining momentum, and supported by emerging research, is equine-assisted personal development (EAPD). EAPD involves structured, ground-based activities with horses that support growth, awareness, and behaviour change. Most importantly, clients do not need to ride or have any previous horse knowledge.Much of the transformation comes from being with horses; observing, interacting, adjusting, and experiencing real-time biofeedback in a safe relational space. Why Horses? Emotional congruence and real-time feedback Horses are masters of reading non-verbal communication. They don’t respond to our stories or self-presentations. They don’t care about gender, race, religion, political views, status, qualifications wealth or any of the ‘status symbols’ valued by society. Horses naturally tune in to our nervous-system cues, intention, energy, and presence. When a person softens their shoulders, breathes more deeply, becomes clearer in their intention, or shifts from anxiety to grounded confidence, the horse often responds immediately. It might moving toward connection or offer stillness and calm. This instant, embodied feedback loop accelerates self-awareness in a way that talking alone rarely can. Nervous-system regulation and co-regulation Research around heart-rate variability (HRV), vagal tone, and co-regulation shows that horses — naturally attuned to the emotional landscape around them — can support nervous-system settling in humans. Clients often experience: · calmer breathing · softened posture · reduced stress responses · a shift from reactivity to presence Studies from the HeartMath Institute have reported patterns of heart-rhythm synchronisation between calm horses and humans, pointing toward a relational coherence effect where emotional and physiological states stabilise through connection.

Spend a little time with a horse and you’ll notice it: your breath deepens, your attention steadies, and you start listening with your whole body. Horses invite us to show up congruently and to be calm, clear, and honest, because that’s how herd life works. When we meet them there, we often feel safer, more regulated, and more connected to ourselves and others. That’s the heart of equine-assisted work. WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS Our vagus nerve plays a key role in our rest-and-regulate system. It helps slow the heart, deepen breathing, and bring the body back to calm after stress. Researchers don’t put sensors on the vagus nerve directly, instead they track heart-rate variability (HRV). This is a standard proxy for parasympathetic (rest-and-settle) activity, and for stress hormones like cortisol. When HRV goes up, it usually suggests stronger vagus-nerve influence and a shift toward parasympathetic balance (the calm, steady state that supports learning, connection, and emotional regulation). When HRV stays flat or drops, it suggests the system may be staying in alert mode instead. A 2020 systematic review found that equine-assisted activities often shift HRV in a direction consistent with relaxation, though results vary by person and task (context matters!). (PubMed) There’s also encouraging evidence for psychological and social gains. A large randomised controlled trial of therapeutic horseback riding for autistic children showed improvements in social communication and sensory responsiveness, with some effects persisting at follow-up. That points to real-world changes in how people relate and engage. (PMC) For stress regulation, a randomised trial of an 11-week equine-facilitated learning program showed shifts in adolescents’ basal cortisol, suggesting the routine, relational rhythm with horses can help tune the stress system over time. (cabidigitallibrary.org)

One of our favourite words in ‘Connection’. It’s one of our core values and the foundation of all our all work at Horses Connect. In the equine-assisted services field we can all get so caught up in looking after our own clients, students, funders etc that we lose sight of colleagues doing the same thing in different parts of the country. We forget that we’re all on the same page and that we each have valuable resources and experiences and knowledge to share. We forget that collaboration and connection will make us all better - like the rising tide. Herds work because of collaboration and connection. If you could ask an established equine assisted services centre ANYTHING about their work or business, what would you want to know?