“You are outside with nature, having to trust some large animals and listening to how they react to you with their nature instinct,” Smith tells Stylist.

“They give immediate responses and reflections of your feelings back to you. While you can develop a verbal connection with a therapist in counselling, this non-verbal communication with an animal is a different method of reflection and learning.”

It’s an ideal form of therapy for anyone with mental health issues or if you have struggled to open up to a therapist in the past as it’s hard to put your emotions into words.

Smith adds: “It’s for anyone that wants to listen to what the horse tells them; listen to yourself to make a difference. Any stresses and struggles can be brought into the therapy space with the horse. They will see the internal you, instead of what you present. Being open and honest to this will allow you to grow and heal over the course of the sessions.”

Despite working closely with these gentle giants in equine therapy, there’s no need to have any prior experience with horses, as all the sessions take place with your feet firmly on the ground.

Be prepared to be covered in horse hair, get muddy feet and obviously wrap up in warm clothes during the winter months, Smith warns. Whether you’re new to therapy or in need of a non-verbal, non-mainstream alternative, it might be time to give equine therapy a go.

In the UK, there are a host of regional options available including Smith’s own practice in Cambridgeshire, as well as Equine Pathways UK in Yorkshire and Horse Time in Berkshire.

Images: Getty

What is equine therapy? The benefits of this popular alternative therapy