Beyond the physical: Supporting the emotional life of horses

In equine care, we often focus on the physical: saddle fit, dentistry, nutrition, and musculoskeletal health. These are essential – but they are only part of the picture.

A horse may still present challenges even when their physical needs are fully addressed. That’s because emotional wellbeing plays a vital role in behaviour and performance. Past experiences, stress, anxiety, or a lack of confidence can leave lasting effects that require thoughtful support.

Case study JoJo

In her veteran years Jojo had changed hands several times. She has kissing spine and people continued to ride her, leading to her mistrust of humans. I was asked to begin body work to help relieve Jojo’s pain, physically and working with her emotionally. She would not let anyone touch her further back than her withers without the real threat of a kick, and she was quick.

'Helen worked with Jojo to build trust and a relationship, if she could only do 10 mins, then so be it. What has taken longer than the physical is her emotional balance. Over the next two years Helen was able to work all over Jojo’s body. Rather than kick to communicate Jojo is confident she can move an ear, swish her tail ,her head or walk away. Sometimes after a moment she returns and its ok if she doesn’t.'

Supporting emotional balance involves:

• Consistency – providing clear, reliable handling and routines. Consistency builds predictability, which is the foundation of trust.

• Patience – allowing the horse time to process and respond. Patience often means giving more time than you first expected.

• Positive reinforcement training – rewarding desired behaviours to encourage learning, reduce stress, and build confidence.

• Positive experiences – creating small, achievable steps that set the horse up for success.

• Calm communication – using body language, tone, and energy that reassure rather than overwhelm.

• Breath work & grounding – calming your own nervous system helps the horse regulate theirs; a grounded handler creates a safe, steady presence.

• Trust-building – developing a safe partnership where the horse feels understood and secure.

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True harmony comes when both body and mind are cared for. By combining physical care with emotional support, breath work, and positive reinforcement, we can help horses become healthier, more confident, and more connected partners.