The Science of Equine Facilitated Learning

By Razelle Janice Drescher 

An Introduction to the Science of Equine Facilitated Learning

Humanity would not have evolved to where it is today without the power of the horse and horses continue to help humanity evolve even today.

In the horse’s relational behaviors, we see what we call “mirroring.” This is a clear demonstration of the horse’s ability to read and respond “in kind” to the energetic field they are so adept at perceiving. As prey animals, with limited verbal language, the ability to mirror serves to keep the herd united and contributes to the safety of all. In an Equine Experiential Learning context, this exquisitely honed equine ability demonstrates proof of the energetic heart fields we all emit and the influence these fields have on one another.

By engaging in mindful interactions with horses, we can awaken and develop these skills in ourselves, resulting in the experience of self-empowerment.

Quote by Howard Martin:

“As more people access their heart’s intelligence, it creates an energetic connection that makes it easier for others to do the same. We contribute to this energetic momentum of the heart-based awareness as we take responsibility to release judgments and separation. This helps to clear the energetic density between our spirit and humanness that restricts the manifestation of our higher potentials. It requires self-empowerment and there is more facilitation and capacity to do that now than ever. As time unfolds, the general tone of collective consciousness will progressively change from survive to thrive as humanity become kinder, more compassionate and cooperative through this transformational adventure.”

Presence / Awareness (Coherence) and Intention Work Together to Get Us Where We Want to Go.

Things that block our awareness of presence:

Judgment, belief, fear, and cynicism

Horses demonstrate the importance of letting go of judgement and loosening our grip on beliefs. Horses are not judgmental and working with them allows us to experience the effect that letting go of judgment has on our perception and awareness. Judgment, rigid beliefs and fear, keep our nervous systems in a state of physiological stress, which narrows our perceptions. This in turn blocks our creativity, intuition, and our ability to learn and engage in our full potential.

Research has shown that increases in the very low frequencies (VLFs) of the Heart Rate Variability/ Coherence spectrum, increase immune function and have been associated with healing PTSD and other psycho/physiological diseases. Since 2006, research has been conducted examining the horse-human connection by measuring both coherence in horses and humans. This research has revealed many exciting and positive findings about how horses and humans energetically engage. One of these is that just being still and mindful in the presence of a horse raises the (VLFs) in a human’s heart rate variability. Choosing to work with horses in a mindful way, helps us build our awareness of what Coherence (an awake state of Presence/Awareness) feels like in ourselves and maintain that awareness in relationship with others.

Researcher and author Daniel Goleman’s work has resulted in new field of scientific inquiry called “positive psychology.” Goleman has conducted an exhaustive review of research looking into the effects of emotions on relationships. The results prove that it is far more important for us to learn how to manage our emotions than intellectualize them. Goleman also proved that positive emotional states actually broaden our thinking. Conversely we know that negative emotions cannot get you into a state where you can appreciate multiple points of view or find new perspectives that enable creative problem solving. It is the positive emotions that allow our nervous systems to relax and allow our perspective to broaden and creativity and intuition to bloom. This state, which we refer to as presence, results in greater subtle awareness and the ability to maintain a broader perspective. The scientific physiological description of this state is coherence.

The current trend is this research has been examining the effects that positive collective intelligence has on groups and communities. Studies done with the HeartMath Institute examining 5 global companies, have shown that when groups raise their collective heart coherence levels, they showed significant improvements in well-being and productivity.

Current Society/ Social Implications Quote by Howard Martin

“In today’s society there is often a “surface level” harmony where people are basically civil and cooperative. That is of course important and has led to a global society that has order. However, in most groups, large or small, many individuals understandably have anxieties, judgments, frustrations, biases and preconceptions of each other or of other groups. These feelings, said or unsaid, are energetically communicated and create separations or “closed hearts” that result in miscommunications, relational problems, and also health problems. “

The more research that is done, the more we understand about how horses benefit from living in a state of coherence when they are not threatended. This state is a peak perforance state and gives them the ability to sense danger and move together as a herd to avoid that danger. As humans, we can also benefit from learning how to manage our stress by shifting into this state of coherence while benefitting from the positive heart health measures it provides. In the workplace, it opens the door to more effective teams, enhanced collaboration and more access to creativity. This is one of the gifts that horses give us. Team Building with Horses gives work teams the opportunity to experience coherence and build that skill so they can benefit from it in their personal and professional lives. 

All quotes from:

Heart Intelligence / Connecting with the Intuitive Guidance of the Heart

by Doc Childre, Howard Martin, Deborah Rozman and Rollin McCraty