In the Year of the Horse, here’s an experience to boost your mental health

We are about to enter the Year of the Horse, according to the Chinese zodiac. And it’s a Fire Horse year, which means “energy, freedom, confidence, forward motion”. Good omens for travel, I guess.

It seems like the perfect time to consider adding some horse interaction to your travel plans. According to horse whisperers, it might be the best thing you do for your mental health all year.

I’m not sure I could even get into a saddle these days without a lot of help, but I did little trail riding in my 20s.

I didn’t do it often enough to be good at it, or even competent, but I know how exhilarating riding can be – also sometimes terrifying if you don’t have good communication with your horse.

They are truly awesome beings, and the relationship between man and horse can be inspirational. We don’t always treat horses kindly but when it’s mutually respectful, it’s the horses that can offer us more than we offer them.

You don’t have to get on a horse to benefit from getting close to it.

Equine therapy has become a popular wellness tool and is increasingly available at ranches and lodges that keep stables of horses for riding.

Sometimes known as Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT), the practice has been used for decades by credentialled medical health professionals who work with therapy horses and patients to treat psychological concerns, such as PTSD, eating disorders and anxiety.

Horses are naturally grounded, aware and value connections with the herd, according to Equine Assisted Therapy Australia, a body that trains and certifies therapists.

Horses are expert at reading body language, perceiving human emotion and have gentle natures. Therapy work with horses does not usually involve riding, rather feeding, grooming and leading.

Sumba Island in Indonesia is famous for its for natural equine therapy. The island is populated with herds of free-ranging small ponies, an agile breed of Mongolian and Arab bloodlines brought to Sumba for trading in exchange for sandalwood and spices.

The resort Nihi Sumba and others on the island offer swimming with horses as part of their activities program, drawing on local traditions. You may have seen videos – the Sumba horses are among the most shared images on Instagram.

Horses are extremely important in Arabic culture, too. Last year, I stayed at The Selman Marrakesh, an opulent hotel resort built around horses and equestrian pursuits, on magnificent grounds that include five paddocks and two palatial horse stables by renowned French designer Jacques Garcia, housing about 20 pampered pure-bred horses.

The family-owned hotel is the passion project of champion equestrian and breeder of thoroughbreds, Abdeslam Bennani Smires, and his sister Saida.

They have collaborated with equestrian artist Sadek El Bahjaoui, who spent many years with the theatrical company Zingaro and trained horses for the cavalry at the Royal Palace of Rabat.

Sadek appears on horseback to greet arriving guests and presents regular horse shows in the garden, including breakfast with the horses. He’s a striking, romantic presence when he appears on horseback in a black cape in the evenings.

Working with his wife Mariam, he has devised a number of “Equi-wellness” activities, that aren’t about riding as such but about other connections with these powerful and sensitive animals. These skills can help guests in various ways, including the management of emotions.

One session, Equiliberty, involves learning to walk the horses around the paddock by rope, gradually taking off the rope to create trust. Another, Ethology, involves learning to “speak horse” and the basics of handling.

Sessions can include brushing the horse, learning how to communicate with it, moving around it confidently and riding, sometimes blindfolded.

Arabian horses can be too highly strung for therapy work, but Sadek has his own horses, which are calmer and more suited to working with guests.

I found the horses in the paddock friendly and curious. Whenever I came to visit, they’d come up to the fence and greet me, looking for nuzzles. I didn’t need any formal therapy sessions for them to make me feel good.

You don’t have to go to Marrakesh for a bit of equine therapy. There are plenty of practitioners in Australia. Options include Sugar Beach Ranch in Ballina, Walk Sublime in the Adelaide Hills, and the Highlands Centre for Healing in NSW.

Remember, if you’re looking to treat a mental health issue, it’s important to make sure the therapist is qualified.

The writer was a guest of The Selman, Marrakesh.