Regulating Horse Sense: a phrase meaning to bring order to a particular sensation [an emotion] in a horse.
Horse Sense is common sense, judgement and practicality to a horse. It is how a herd/prey animal will react based on the totality of their experiences in the “unnatural” environment of a barn or stable, even if that is the only environment they have ever known.
Regulating Horse Sense is a means to permanently resolve troubling emotions that affect our horses. They have emotions just like us that filters the events in their surroundings, clouds their thinking and influences their reactions and behavior.
We offer Emotional Regulation for Horses through Surrogate Session. These sessions entail one person to conduct the session and an empathetic person to “step-in” and convey the horse’s answers, while the horse processes their own emotion with their body. More on Surrogate Sessions.
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No one knows the depth and breadth of the emotions that exist in the equine experience. But they do display feelings on the pleasure-displeasure spectrum. And without ascribing human emotions, we can all agree that horses will show fear, anger, jealousy, contentment, friendship, and positive attachment aka, love.
Just as abuse and mis-adventure can mar our emotional health causing problems with behavior and relationships, so it is with the horse, who remembers everything without filter or understanding.
And they don’t have to be mistreated rescue horses to have seemingly irrational stubbornness to new things or refusal to perform activities that were once considered reasonable, safe, even enjoyable by the horse. They develop phobias to common items like puddles, wind blown wrappers-trash-balloons, hats, etc.
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Emotional Regulation with TiPi is an easy way to regulate an emotion in 30 minutes or less.
and we do this with horses! See more about Surrogate Sessions
The TiPi Association developed several protocols to help people: adults to children 9 yrs and over. Emotional Regulation with TiPi sessions recent emotional situations are recalled and by paying attention to the physical sensations in the body and observing them until they dissipate, the emotion is regulated permanently.
We don’t have to understand the original trauma or event that caused a particular emotion. There is no need to share personal details or story.
It’s been used in Europe for some time with great results. Read more information on Emotional Regulation with Tipi for humans on our sister website www.RegulatingSenses.com
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Emotional Regulation sessions using a Surrogate are employed when the client can’t speak for themselves. Obviously horses and all non-humans fall into this category.
A surrogate session involves coordinated work between
- a Emotional Regulation Professional (ERP) to conduct the session,
- a Surrogate to connect with the horse empathically and share responses to the ERP on behalf of the horse, and
- the horse-client, who has all the answers, if we simply allow ourselves to listen.
The Surrogate feels the client’s subtle body responses to the questions during the emotional regulation and relays that information verbally. As a result, this work may involve a light touch on the client, like touching the neck, shoulder or flank, if possible.
Generally, the horse’s guardian decides what emotional situation will be the subject of the regulation. But, even though they do not communicate verbally, it is critical to the process that the client want the help and they agree to do the work. They must, on some level, engage in the process for it to be effective. If they remain passive, no demand/no engagement, it won’t work. This is not something anyone but the client can decide.
Surrogate sessions must be done in person. We travel to your barn or location for this work.
Because surrogate sessions are unique situations with multiple people involved,
PLEASE call us to discuss your horses’ needs, get pricing and schedule an appointment.
