by Erin Repasy, MA, LPC; Counselor
December 11, 2025
Coming home after serving in the military or as a first responder can be harder than most people realize. Even when the uniform is off, the memories don’t always fade. Some people carry with them images they wish they could forget, sounds they can’t unhear, or moments that left them feeling stuck. These experiences can show up as anxiety, anger, or a deep sense of being on edge without knowing why.
For many, healing doesn’t come from talking alone. It takes something quieter and more patient. That’s where horse therapy for PTSD can make a real difference. Horses connect without words, helping people feel seen and safe again. In quiet moments beside a horse, healing can begin, step by gentle step.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is something that can happen after someone has been through a really scary or upsetting event. For veterans and first responders, those events can happen often, whether it’s combat, fires, accidents, or other emergencies. The brain and body learn to stay alert all the time, even when the danger is over.
PTSD can look different from one person to the next, but here are some common signs:
• Trouble sleeping, often with bad dreams
• Feeling jumpy or easily startled
• Getting angry really fast, sometimes for no clear reason
• Not wanting to talk or be around others
• Feeling stuck in the past, like the danger never ended
Even years after leaving the job, these feelings can still show up. It’s not about being weak. It’s what can happen when the brain works too hard to protect someone from danger long after the danger has passed.
PTSD affects the person struggling with it and often their families and friends. Loved ones might not always understand why a person suddenly needs space or seems withdrawn, which can make everyone feel more alone. The difficulties of explaining what is going on inside can make it harder for veterans and first responders to reach out for help, making the struggle feel even heavier. These invisible wounds don’t heal easily, but recognizing the signs is one of the first and most important steps toward healing.
Horses are unique animals when it comes to helping people heal. They don’t talk, but they’re very aware of what’s going on around them. They notice everything from a slight movement to a shift in breathing. That makes them great at picking up on emotions, even ones we don’t say out loud.
Spending time with a horse can help people feel calmer. Horses live in the moment. They aren’t worried about yesterday or tomorrow. Just being near them can remind us to slow down, breathe, and be present. For someone carrying painful memories, this calmness is more than comforting, it’s a gentle invitation to feel safe.
One of the best parts about horses is that they never judge. Whether someone is angry, nervous, quiet, or shut down, the horse accepts it. That makes it easier for people to begin opening up, not just with the horse, but with themselves too. There’s no pressure to explain everything at once. Just being together is enough to start.
Sometimes, simply being in the same space as a horse can help slow racing thoughts or relax a tense body. The animal’s steady breathing and warm presence can make it easier to ground oneself and notice small moments of peace. Even if someone isn’t ready to talk to another person, a horse’s acceptance can feel like gentle support. This kind of connection happens naturally, without the need for explanations.
A typical session with horses isn’t about riding. More often, it involves simple activities like brushing, leading, or standing with the horse in the arena or pasture. These moments may seem small, but they can build powerful feelings of connection and trust.
Each session moves at the person’s pace. Some might start by just watching the horse from a distance. Over time, they might feel ready to approach, touch, or walk alongside the horse. These physical steps often come with emotional ones, offering space to feel things that are hard to put into words.
Here’s what may happen during a session:
1. The session starts outside, often in a quiet, open spot
2. The horse is introduced and given time to get comfortable
3. The person might start by grooming, feeding, or just standing nearby
4. The horse responds to energy and movement, giving natural feedback
5. Over time, these simple parts of the routine create trust and spark new confidence
The beauty of horse therapy is that words aren’t required. Healing begins with connection, not conversation.
There is no rush or deadline in horse therapy sessions. If someone feels nervous, uneasy, or unsure, that’s okay. The therapist and horses wait until the person is ready to take the next step, creating a truly personalized approach. By doing simple tasks together, trust grows little by little, which often leads to moments of calm that people can carry home with them.
Even in the cold, Pennsylvania’s outdoor spaces offer peace. The fresh air, open skies, and crunch of snow under boots can help clear the mind. Winter brings a kind of stillness that’s hard to find during busier seasons.
Being outside with horses in winter means bundling up and slowing down. The days are shorter, the sounds are softer, and the pace is more relaxed. That makes it a natural time to turn inward and reflect.
During winter sessions, we notice how this quiet helps people feel grounded. Standing beside a warm-bodied horse in the cold, sharing a calm space, can be both comforting and clearing. It isn’t about rushing to fix everything. It’s about being steady, even when things feel uncertain. At our ranch, all sessions take place outdoors, even in the winter, so people can benefit from real connection in a peaceful, natural setting.
Sometimes, the winter landscape makes each session feel extra private and cozy. When snow falls gently on the ground, it softens the noises of the world, leaving only the sound of hooves or gentle breathing. For many, this quiet white setting encourages people to notice their surroundings and feelings a bit more. Even though the weather is cold, the shared warmth between person and horse is a reminder that connection isn’t only about words, but about feeling safe, seen, and steady even when life outside is chilly and uncertain.
Working with horses helps many people learn how to build trust again, not just with the animal, but with themselves and others too. The skills that develop beside a horse can often transfer into daily life.
Here’s how:
• Patience: Horses don’t rush, and neither should we.
• Awareness: Reading horse body language teaches us to notice more around us.
• Presence: Being with horses calls for us to be in the moment, not stuck in the past.
• Trust: When a horse trusts us, it teaches us that calm, safe bonds are possible.
• Confidence: Small successes (like leading a horse) can feel like winning big.
These quiet changes may not look like much on the outside, but they can mean everything inside. Feeling a steady pulse, hearing the sound of hooves on the ground, breathing slowly, all of it can help a person reconnect with things that felt lost.
Building these skills slowly helps people feel supported and stronger over time. Every moment spent in the company of horses adds to a feeling of steady progress. This new sense of trust can gently carry over into other relationships, making it easier to connect with friends, family, and the wider world again.
Healing doesn’t move fast, and it isn’t supposed to. For those living with PTSD, every day can feel like a challenge. We’ve seen how our certified equine professionals support each person’s experience, using gentle, research-backed therapies that meet people wherever they are.
Horses don’t expect perfection. They show up fully, just as they are. That reminder can be powerful. We don’t have to be healed all at once. We just have to keep showing up, one moment at a time. And with quiet support, healing becomes possible and lasting.
Feeling weighed down by past stress or trauma can make each day feel heavy, but spending time with horses often brings a sense of lightness and ease. For people in Berks, Lancaster, and Lebanon counties, our quiet outdoor sessions offer space to breathe and find connection. We’ve seen how much of a difference horse therapy for PTSD can make when there’s no pressure to talk, just a place to feel safe.
At Take Heart Counseling, we walk alongside every person at their own pace. Ready for a new step forward? Reach out to us today.
