Emotional and Sensory Regulation - How Horses Help Us Find Balance

Therapy with Horses

Many therapists recognize the importance of emotional and sensory regulation in the therapeutic process. Horses, with their unique nature, can serve as a powerful tool for fostering emotional-sensory regulation through co-regulation and by acting as a mirror that reflects the client’s internal state.

This article explores what emotional and sensory regulation are, how they are interconnected, and how incorporating horses into therapy can enhance both processes.

What Is Emotional Regulation?

Emotional regulation is the ability to identify, understand, and manage our emotions in an adaptive way. It means being able to calm ourselves when we are angry or anxious, to moderate emotional outbursts, and to express emotions appropriately in social contexts.

Emotional regulation processes affect the intensity, duration, and expression of emotions and are essential for healthy daily functioning. They allow us to handle stress, maintain stable relationships, and preserve mental well-being.

In therapy, clients with difficulties in emotional regulation may struggle to control impulses or self-soothe, and targeted work on this capacity can strengthen resilience and coping abilities.

For example, a child may learn to pause and take a deep breath instead of exploding in frustration, or an adult with anxiety may learn to recognize early physical signs of distress and use relaxation techniques to restore calm. Therapists help clients build awareness of their emotions and practice strategies such as mindfulness, breathing, reframing thoughts, or engaging in movement to release tension.

Emotional regulation is therefore a core therapeutic goal in areas such as trauma, mood disorders, and behavioral challenges.

What Is Sensory Regulation?

Sensory regulation - sometimes called sensory modulation - is the ability of the brain and body to filter, process, and balance sensory information from the environment. It helps us maintain an optimal level of arousal in response to sensory input - not too overstimulated, yet not under-responsive.

A person with well-regulated sensory processing can, for instance, sit in a noisy playground without feeling overwhelmed or wake up to light and sound without ignoring them completely. In contrast, difficulties in sensory regulation may appear as hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to stimuli. Some individuals are startled or flooded by sounds, textures, or smells that others barely notice, while others seek intense sensory input to feel balanced.

Sensory experience directly influences emotional regulation because our sensory systems are tied to the autonomic nervous system. For example, someone who is noise-sensitive may feel irritated or anxious in a mildly noisy environment, or a sudden touch may trigger anger or fear. Effective sensory regulation reduces overload and prevents emotional escalation, while also helping us engage in self-soothing behaviors such as listening to soft music or enjoying a comforting hug.

This ability is especially important for children with special needs (such as ASD or ADHD), but it also plays a crucial role in the well-being of all people.

The Connection Between Sensory and Emotional Regulation

There is a close and dynamic relationship between sensory and emotional systems. Without effective sensory regulation, emotional regulation becomes very difficult.

When the brain is flooded with unfiltered sensory input, physiological arousal rises (e.g., faster heartbeat, muscle tension), leading to emotional overload - anger, anxiety, or shutdown.

For example, a child who experiences sensory overload from loud noises or itchy clothing may quickly melt down. To an observer, it may look like “just” an emotional outburst, but the root cause is sensory overstimulation. Effective intervention must therefore address both aspects - reducing sensory stress while teaching emotional coping tools.

On the other hand, emotional state also affects sensory processing. When a person is anxious or angry, their tolerance for sensory input decreases - small sounds seem louder, light feels harsher, and certain smells can trigger strong disgust. The body’s heightened alertness is part of the survival mechanism known as the “fight or flight” response.

Thus, poor emotional regulation can worsen sensory issues, and vice versa - creating a feedback loop that weakens coping capacity.

In other words, sensory regulation provides the physiological foundation for emotional regulation, and both are integral to self-regulation. In holistic therapy, it is essential to consider both sensory sensitivities and emotional patterns in order to break cycles of overload and build healthier coping strategies.

How Horses Contribute to the Process of Regulation

This is where horses come into the picture - as a unique therapeutic tool for promoting emotional and sensory regulation.

Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) (whether therapeutic riding or equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP)) draws on the horse’s special qualities - both as a large, instinctive animal and as a responsive partner - to help clients regulate themselves.

1. Nervous System Regulation and Co-Regulation

Horses are social herd animals with a nervous system that is highly sensitive to their surroundings.

As prey animals, they have developed an acute ability to detect danger, but also to return to a state of calm quickly once the threat is gone.

When a person is near a calm horse, co-regulation often occurs - the person’s autonomic nervous system aligns with that of the horse.

According to Dr. Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory, our nervous system constantly scans the environment for cues of safety or threat (neuroception) and regulates itself through connection with others.

A relaxed, grounded horse sends powerful signals of safety to the human body.

Research shows that when a person stands near a horse, their heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) can synchronize with the horse’s, shifting into a calmer and more organized rhythm.

The horse’s slow, rhythmic heartbeat and steady breathing promote parasympathetic activation - the body’s natural relaxation response - lowering cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and increasing HRV, which reflects nervous system balance and good regulation capacity.

In simple terms, the horse “infects” us with its calm: its presence helps activate our parasympathetic nervous system, moving us out of fight-or-flight states and into a more relaxed, connected mode.

2. The Horse as an Emotional Mirror

One of the most fascinating aspects of equine-assisted therapy is the way the horse acts as a mirror of the client’s inner world.

Horses read us primarily through body language, tone of voice, and scent - nonverbal cues that often reveal our true emotions.

If the client arrives agitated, anxious, or angry, the horse may react with tension, distance, or alertness.

In contrast, when the client becomes calm and centered, the horse often mirrors that change - relaxing and becoming more willing to connect.

It is often said that horses “show us ourselves.” They respond directly to the emotions and intentions we project.

This capacity is partly explained by the presence of mirror neurons in horses’ brains, which allow them to sense and reflect the emotional states of others.

In therapy, this immediate feedback is incredibly valuable: the client sees, in real time, how their inner state influences another living being.

For example, a client who learns to slow their breathing and relax their body may notice the horse stop showing signs of anxiety and move closer.

When the horse becomes calm in the client’s presence, it serves as a nonverbal affirmation that the client has succeeded in self-regulating and projecting safety.This realization is deeply empowering - it enhances the client’s self-awareness and confidence in their ability to manage emotions and influence their environment positively.

3. Calming and Challenging Sensory Experiences

Interacting with a horse offers a rich range of unique sensory experiences.

For many clients, the feel of the horse’s coat, the warmth of its body, the smell of the stable, and the sounds around the barn can be profoundly calming.Activities such as grooming and brushing provide deep, sustained tactile input that helps relax the nervous system - similar to the soothing effect of a hug or a weighted blanket.

The rhythmic motion of riding offers vestibular (balance) and proprioceptive (body awareness) stimulation, contributing to sensory organization and relaxation.The horse’s steady gait acts almost like a gentle rocking motion, helping the body process sensory input and find balance through continuous movement.

In this sense, riding itself is a form of sensory-regulation training - the body learns to adapt, absorb rhythm, and find equilibrium within motion.

At the same time, the equine environment can offer gradual and controlled exposure to challenging sensory input, which strengthens tolerance over time.

For example, a child hypersensitive to sound may slowly adjust to the noises of snorting and hoofbeats in a safe, supportive atmosphere.

Therapeutic riding provides a structured, step-by-step exposure to the sensory world of horses - touch, smell, and sound - allowing the client’s sensory system to adapt instead of shutting down.

Over time, this improvement in sensory regulation also enhances emotional regulation: a client who no longer reacts intensely to sensory input feels safer, calmer, and more capable of facing emotional challenges.

Research and clinical reports have shown that equine-assisted therapy leads to significant improvements in self-regulation, reductions in anxiety and depression, and better impulse and emotion control - across diverse populations, from at-risk children to trauma survivors.

The integration of emotional, sensory, and interpersonal experience in the presence of the horse creates a unique therapeutic space where clients can experience regulation directly - through their body and connection - rather than merely talk about it.

Calming and Stimulating Sensory Experiences

Interacting with a horse engages multiple senses at once. The warmth of the horse’s body, the texture of its coat, the earthy smells of the stable, and the rhythmic sounds of movement can all be deeply soothing.

Brushing and grooming provide steady, deep-touch input that calms the nervous system - similar to the effect of a hug or weighted blanket. Riding adds rich vestibular (balance) and proprioceptive (body position) stimulation, helping the brain organize sensory input through rhythm and motion.

The horse’s gait acts almost like a natural rocking motion, promoting relaxation and sensory integration. In this sense, riding becomes a direct exercise in sensory regulation - teaching the body to find balance through movement.

At the same time, the equine environment can gently expose clients to challenging sensory input in a controlled way, strengthening tolerance. A child hypersensitive to sound, for example, can gradually adapt to the snorts and hoofbeats of the barn within a safe, supportive setting.

This graded exposure helps the nervous system adapt instead of shutting down. As sensory regulation improves, emotional resilience grows as well - clients feel safer, more grounded, and more capable of facing emotional challenges.

Research and case studies show significant improvements in self-regulation, anxiety, impulse control, and emotional awareness among clients who participate in equine-assisted therapy - from at-risk children to trauma survivors.

Because the process involves direct sensory, emotional, and relational experience, clients don’t just talk about regulation - they live it through their body and connection with the horse.

Therapeutic Activities and Exercises

Here are a few examples of equine-assisted activities that promote emotional and sensory regulation:

1. Breathing and Relaxation Beside the Horse

The client stands next to a calm horse, places a hand on its back or ribs, and synchronizes their breathing with the horse’s slow, steady rhythm.This activates the parasympathetic nervous system and reduces arousal through co-regulation.

Rationale:  The horse’s calm breathing sets a natural pace for the client’s own body to follow, creating physical and emotional relaxation.

2. Grooming as Sensory Mindfulness

While brushing the horse, the client focuses on sensory details - the texture of the coat, the pressure of the brush, the soft sound of each stroke.This repetitive, grounding activity encourages mindfulness and self-soothing.

 Rationale:  Grooming provides deep, rhythmic tactile input that stabilizes the nervous system while also offering real-time feedback - when the horse relaxes, the client recognizes their own calming effect.

3. Leading the Horse Through an Obstacle Course

The client leads the horse on foot through a series of obstacles, requiring stops, turns, and changes in pace. Maintaining calm and clear communication - through voice, posture, and gentle contact - is key.

 Rationale:  The horse mirrors the client’s emotional state; frustration or tension may cause the horse to stop or resist. The exercise teaches self-regulation under pressure, patience, and emotional control.

4. Shared Recovery After Startle

If the horse startles at a sudden noise, the therapist guides both horse and client to process the event together. They observe how the horse shakes off tension, exhales deeply, and returns to grazing.

 Rationale:  This models healthy nervous system discharge and recovery. The client learns, through observation and reflection, how to release stress and return to calm after fear.

5. Identifying and Naming Emotions Through Observation

The client describes what the horse’s body language might express - curiosity, fear, calmness - and then reflects on their own feelings.

 Rationale:  Horses offer a safe mirror for emotional projection. Naming emotions in this concrete, relational context strengthens emotional awareness and cognitive regulation.

Conclusion

Emotional and sensory regulation are complementary capacities that shape human emotional functioning. Integrating horses into therapy provides a tangible, experiential path to strengthen these skills.

As therapeutic partners, horses invite clients to practice balance - between arousal and calm, between sensation and response, between self and other.

Clinical evidence increasingly supports that equine-assisted therapy enhances self-regulation through nervous system co-regulation, emotional feedback, and positive sensory experiences.

For clients young and old, these experiences translate into greater resilience, emotional stability, and confidence in daily life.

By serving as both guide and mirror, the horse offers therapists a powerful tool for fostering personal growth, regulation, and healing.