The Polyvagal Theory and Horse-Human Trauma Recovery

Neuroscientist Dr. Stephen Porges says that “feeling safe IS the treatment”. His groundbreaking work in understanding the three branches of the mammalian nervous system has been taking the human psychotherapy world by storm. However, this information has yet to make significant inroads into the fields of equine interaction programs and equine sciences as a whole, in spite of being developed based on animal models and research. This presentation will translate the complicated neuroscience of behavior and relationships into simpler terms, to demonstrate how the recovery from trauma in humans and in horses is intimately linked. Healing with horses is ultimately not healing for the humans if it comes at the expense of the horse, especially if traumatic re-enactments, insecure attachment dynamics, and survival or conservation activation are reinforced in the animals. Shifting from the paradigm of “horses healing humans” to “horses and humans healing together” is supported by adopting a polyvagal lens, and by incorporating
polyvagal-informed approaches such as Somatic Experiencing® into the process.

• Understanding how a 3-branch (as opposed to a 2-branch) model of the nervous system can enhance our understanding of attachment theory, behavior, physiology, and health
• Tracking horse and human nervous system responses and blended states through a polyvagal lens
• Recognizing the links between co-dysregulation, survival physiology, and danger mapping, and building resilience through neural templates for safety