Psychology was never defined as being limited to humans. People have taken a human-centric approach to life in general evolving science and disciplines around human philosophy and views.
Today, as we awaken our deeper consciousness and realize we are connected to all life, fields are emerging to bring together the sciences and integrate us with other species.
Equine and Equestrian Psychology and Coaching is set up as a community blog for both professionals and those interested in either horses or humans; to share ideas, outline disciplines, set guidelines for practice and explore the emerging fields of interspecies/trans-species psychology between horses and humans.
Emerging New Disciplines
Equestrian psychology involves more than just sports coaching. It encompasses the fields of horse and human psychology and the various interactions and connections they share. From equine-assisted therapy to performance coaching, equestrian psychology has emerged as a new field in psychology. Fostering an understanding of both equine and human behavior as well as the dynamics of the partnership, equestrian psychology explores the relationships between horse and human and the various reason they come together.
Many good trainers naturally have coaching skills and hence have been using these skills in their training of horses and people. Psychologists are entering the field from the sports and performance side seeing the benefit of how horses help people. Because the field of human-horse interaction has been the domain of horse trainers and instructors or just general “common knowledge”, there are little or no regulations or standards for programs. This has created a variety of names within the same field as individuals seek new ways to describe their own programs as unique. This has also lead to the development of a variety of associations as communities start to form around a common or shared vision.
The following outlines some of the various named programs emerging in the field of Horse-Human Interactions and Equestrian psychology:
Horse-Human Interactions:
Equine Assisted Therapy
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association (www.eagala.org)
Equine Assisted Leadership
Equine Assisted Learning
Association Equine Assisted Learning & Accredited Qualifications (www.equineassistedqualifications.com)
Equine Facilitated Learning
Equine Facilitated Leadership
Equine Facilitated Coaching
Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy
Equine Guided Leadership
Equine Guided Learning
Equine Guided Education
Equine Guided Education Association ( www.equineguidededucation.org)
Equine Inspired Activitites
Equine Inspired Coaching
Sports and Performance Psychology
Equine Sports Coaching
Equine Sports Science
Equestrian Coach
Equine & Equestrian Psychology 