What’s on your mind?
Emma Hutchinson explains how horses can teach you valuable lessons about your mental health – and ways you can give it a boost
Photos: Jon Stroud
Our expert
Emma Hutchinson is CEO and Co-founder of Horseback UK, a charity that supports military veterans and children through equine therapy.
There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man – while there’s some disagreement about who to attribute the popular quote to, the author was definitely on to something – even if just to score extra hours at the yard or wriggle out of evening plans we’ve forgotten.
Whether it’s their unapologetic ability to live in the moment, act honestly or simply not dwell on mistakes of the past, using horses as our inspiration and taking on the lessons they can teach us every day can help shift our mental position and create a happier life for ourselves and those around us. So, how can you push through and feel more positive day-to-day? Here are some of my top tips.
TOP TIP
It can be really hard to accept setbacks and mistakes, so if you’re struggling there’s no shame in seeking help from a therapist, counsellor or psychologist, who can offer you extra support.
Cut yourself some slack
We don’t expect our horses to be brilliant just because we want them to be. We all understand that everyone has an off day. So, we ask them enough – but never too much – and if there’s a bit of a muddle, we take a breath and start again.