Ilka Parent

A Horse is a Horse, of Course!? Ilka Parent

In the past few decades, the psychotherapeutic, personal growth and coaching market has been flooded with a variety of modalities that advertise the incorporation of animals, based on the overwhelming evidence that they can assist in improving a person's well-being. Each of the approaches in this ever-evolving field has its own view about the role of equines and what they bring to the equation as herd and flight animals. A horse is a horse, of course - right?This statement is worth examining in more depth. In particular, what do we know about how they think, what they feel, how they perceive and interact with each other and with us? What impact do horse-human interactions and programs have on them? What do they need? Are we acting ethically with their best interests in mind?These and many more questions are explored in the 2nd International Minds-n-Motion Symposium Compendium of "A Horse is a Horse, of Course!?", which was held in Torna Hällestad, Sweden, in August of 2018.