Understanding Sensory Benefits of Working with Horses
Most people picture equine-assisted therapy as horseback riding — but some of its most powerful benefits happen with both feet on the ground. Therapeutic riding gets most of the attention, but unmounted, hands-on activities offer real benefits too — particularly for individuals with autism. Working with horses evokes powerful sensory experiences that help people regulate their nervous system, build bodily awareness, and strengthen social skills.
Sensory: Touching and grooming a horse provides a variety of textures and sensations, such as their soft coat, coarse mane, and varied hoof textures, as well as their warm body temperature, which can be very soothing. Experiences such as brushing, petting, and cleaning the horse can help individuals become more comfortable with different textures and improve tactile processing.
Auditory & Visual: Unmounted equine activities also engage auditory and visual processing. Simply being near a horse heightens awareness — participants naturally become more observant of their surroundings. Tracking the horse's movements can aid in visual processing, in addition to the sound of hoofbeats, snorting, the horse's breathing, and external sounds from the environment, which can help in auditory processing, which can help improve listening skills in a way that feels less overwhelming than a noisier environment.
Researchers are now starting to measure exactly how these sensory systems respond. While riders often describe horseback riding as calming or empowering, researchers like Dr. Caiti Peters at the Temple Grandin Equine Center are studying why these experiences have such meaningful effects. She is the Research Director for the Temple Grandin Equine Center and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University. One of Dr. Peters' current research projects examines whether mounted activities (riding) and unmounted activities (such as grooming and leading) produce different physiological and behavioral responses. By tracking physiological changes alongside behavior, her research aims to pinpoint which sensory experiences with horses do the most for self-regulation and well-being.
We had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Peters, on her work on human-horse interactions. Dr. Peters stated “Biophilia hypothesis that hypothesizes that humans in general are really drawn to nature and animals, and that interacting with nature and animals can be really calming and regulating for our nervous systems. It's biologically integrated into who we are as people. So I think that spending time, [being] really present and in the moment with animals in itself can be really calming and regulating to a lot of people. And we see research that supports that.” In other words: individuals — especially those with autism — can get these calming, regulating benefits without ever getting on a horse.
While many equine-assisted services work with full-sized horses, unmounted activities open the door to a smaller alternative: miniature horses. Miniature horses are tiny equines, standing from only 34 to 38 inches and weighing between 150 and 250 pounds. Due to their size, they are not meant to be ridden; however, they are great aids in therapy. Because they're so much smaller than a typical horse, miniature horses feel less intimidating — making them a better fit for individuals who aren't yet comfortable or familiar with horses. When we visited Special Strides, founder Laurie Landy explained how miniature horses safely teach individuals on the spectrum about spatial awareness .Their smaller size can feel less intimidating for children, first-time participants, or individuals with sensory sensitivities, making it easier to build confidence and engage with the animal.
In conclusion, the sensory benefits of working with horses extend far beyond learning to ride. Every interaction—whether grooming, leading, riding, or spending time with a miniature horse—engages multiple sensory systems that support balance, body awareness, emotional regulation, and attention. Dr. Peters' research is helping uncover the science behind these experiences — and one thing is already clear: a horse's rich, multi-sensory presence plays a real role in how equine-assisted services help people. By understanding how these sensory experiences influence the brain and body, therapists, instructors, and families can better appreciate why horses have such a meaningful impact on learning, confidence, and overall well-being.
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