Identifying, testing, and training a therapy horse is a process—not a checklist. It requires observation, humility, nervous system awareness, and a deep respect for the horse as a partner, not a tool.

When we work with horses, we are always holding a gentle paradox: coming in with a plan, while remaining open to what actually unfolds. Horses don’t read session outlines. They respond to energy, presence, and what is happening right now.