Becoming a Therapy Horse

Have you ever wondered what goes into the selection and training of a therapy horse?! Well, here is your chance to learn all about it and follow the journey of two new horses as they embark on a journey towards becoming a therapy horse.



Spirited Connections Counselling is thrilled to be welcoming two new horses into the therapy family! Paislee and Loredo, both three years old, were adopted in September and October 2023. Both of these youngsters will be boarded for the winter, where they can participate in daily human-horse interactions and training activities before they're ready to join the therapy herd at Spirited Connections.

Hello Paislee!


Paislee is a four year old Warmblood. A Warmblood is a crossbreed; the athleticism and energy of a hot-blooded breed is combined with the strength and temperament of a cold-blooded breed. These horses are sought after for their strength, agility, versatility, and trainable temperament.

Hello Laredo!


Laredo is a four year old Thoroughbred. A Thoroughbred is a breed of horse known for its speed and agility, making them especially popular in horse-racing. While Laredo has never raced, he does have the characteristic spirited nature, high energy levels, and athleticism.

What makes a good therapy horse?


While we believe that every horse can have therapeutic value, not every horse is suitable to be a therapy horse. Moreover, not every horse wants to be a therapy horse. Being a therapy horse is a big job. The horses are asked to spontaneously and authentically engage with a variety of people, with a host of emotions, behavioral challenges, fears, concerns, capabilities and aptitudes. Some of these people are children, some are adolescents, and some are adults. Some come individually, some come as a couple, others come as a family or even as part of a group.


Qualities we look for in our therapy horses:

Here are some of the things that are important to us.

  • safe for working with people
  • a genuine desire to engage with people
  • healthy, sound, and pain-free
  • ability to express themselves
  • ability to interact spontaneously with the herd and with humans
  • the ability to say no, back off, and take breaks

What training a therapy horse involves...!


Rebecca will be hard at work teaching Paislee and Laredo how to be therapy horses. This starts with lots of groundwork where the horses learn manners, how to respect boundaries, and how to give and receive feedback in a human-horse relationship. Building a positive relationship with your horse is a rewarding journey that requires patience, trust, and mutual understanding. Central to this connection is consistent and respectful communication, where both the rider and the horse learn to interpret each other's cues and signals. Spending quality time together, whether during grooming sessions, riding exercises, or simply enjoying quiet moments, fosters a sense of companionship and reinforces the bond. Positive reinforcement plays a crucial role, with praise, treats, and gentle gestures serving as expressions of appreciation for desired behaviors. Attentiveness to the horse's needs and preferences, such as understanding their body language and responding to their cues, builds a foundation of trust. Establishing routines and providing a secure and comfortable environment further solidify the positive rapport. Through shared experiences and mutual respect, a positive relationship with a horse becomes a partnership built on trust, communication, and the joy of companionship.


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Learning for the horses also includes confidence building and desensitization. As horses are prey animals, many things in their environment can be scary - usually things that people wouldn't even think of. For example, hoses, velcro, plastic bags, anything that blows in the wind, anything that casts a shadow, farm equiptment, farm animals. Our job is to safely expose the horses to a variety of sensory stimuli in a way that inspires confidence, and which does not evoke fear - all while maintaining a positive relationship between humans and horses.

Up and Coming

In January 2024, Spirited Connections rescued three babies from neglect and starvation. While these three babies reside on the Spirited Connections Farm, they will not be participating in therapeutic activities until they are sound and healthy, willing and able, and reach the age of 5.

Lacey - 4 year old mare


Fun facts about Lacey:

  • Lacey is super sweet
  • She is a cookie fiend!
  • She has a very submissive, yet curious, personality


What's Lacey working on?

  • Lacey is working on picking up her front and back feet
  • She's working on leading with the halter on
  • She's learning how to move on the forehand and the haunches

Frances - 3 year old mare


Fun facts about Frances:

  • Frances is very apprehensive of people
  • She loves eating long grass
  • She is called a Liver Chestnut because of her gorgeous color


What's Frances working on?

  • Frances is working on trust
  • She's learning how to have someone be in her personal space without fear
  • She's learning how to accept offered (not coerced) physical touch on her nose and cheeks


Winston - yearling colt


Fun facts about Winston:

  • Winston is a colt - meaning he has not yet been gelded (neutered)
  • He will be gelded once his immune system is stronger


What's Winston working on?

  • Winston is working on picking up his front and back feet
  • He's also working on leading with the halter on
  • He's learning how to be brushed without chewing on the brushes