Horses as Healers: How Equine Therapy Connects with Veterans

For many veterans, traditional therapy can feel like another battlefield. Sitting across from a therapist or social worker, revisiting trauma, and navigating a complex VA system can be overwhelming. But in places where horses roam, healing often happens without a single word spoken.

“Most of them don’t want to talk to a head shrinker,” says Norman Bissel, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, “but all of them will connect with a horse.” That simple connection is where transformation begins. What looks like basic grooming or tacking is actually engaging the brain in powerful ways…and at Nancy Slater Natural Horsemanship, she is taking it way beyond the basics. In a recent interview, Nancy stated, “As prey animals by nature, horses are always on the lookout. When we work with veterans, many arrive with the same instincts, it’s our job to introduce them to the horses and hopefully get them to let their guard down…build trust.”

For veterans who have cycled through multiple medications and therapy sessions, sometimes even leaving VA social workers in tears, the results are impressive. “You watch all of that anxiety melt away when they just get to exist out on the ranch,” Norm explains. “Even before they touch the horse, there’s a goodness in that environment you don’t find anywhere else.”

Unlike dogs or goats used in other animal-assisted therapies, horses offer something unique: a mirror. Their behavior reflects the emotions, body language, and energy of the people around them. This mirroring effect allows veterans to see aspects of themselves they may want to address…calm, confidence, or even hidden tension. The horses will not respond to titles or trauma histories, but to the presence of the person standing in front of them at that moment.

Research supports these observations. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, equine therapy can help reduce symptoms of PTSD and anxiety by promoting regulation and trust-building. Programs like PATH International and the Horses for Heroes initiative have documented similar outcomes.

For veterans searching for peace, the ranch offers more than therapy. It offers partnership. And in that quiet bond, many discover a pathway to healing no prescription ever provided.