Horse Power

Around the country, resorts are promoting the wellness benefits of equine therapy

- Stephanie Vermillion

IF YOU’RE FEELING anxious, it’s time to head to the stables. Research suggests that equine experiences, from connecting one-on-one with a horse to partaking in relay races or obstacle courses, can minimize anxiety, foster an awareness of the present and enhance overall well-being. “Horses are magnificent creatures. Their very presence can create a sense of awe and allow learned personal defenses to quickly slip away,” says Robert G. Magnelli, a clinical psychologist with two decades of experience in researching and sharing the therapeutic link between well-being and equestrian experiences.

It’s a connection that spans millennia. Historians believe the earliest domesticated horses date back to around 3500 BCE in present-day Southern Russia and Kazakhstan. The mammals have been essential to human life ever since, from war to transportation and agriculture. These days, equines play a role in wellness.

Take Carmel Valley Ranch, a luxury escape tucked among 500 acres of lavender fields, gardens and emerald valleys near California’s Big Sur. The destination’s wellness offerings run the gamut, from scenic yoga and Pilates to on-site hiking and sleep-enhancement rituals in the ranch’s Spa Aiyana. Carmel Valley Ranch’s equine-therapy program, created and run by Magnelli and his wife, Nancy, a psychiatric nurse, helps guests unlock even more enrichment via horses.

Equine-assisted experiences