Soo Woods
Custodian, Matriach & Big Heart Behind It All
Highlands Centre For Healing (HCFH)

From a very young age I felt misunderstood and very alone, and found safety in nature and animals – something that HCFH now offers to others.

The Unicorns … yes, of course, I mean horses … entered my life as a 5yo when my Mum took me for horse riding lessons thinking it would give me something occasional to do. Little did she know! I had to wait until I was 30 to own my first horse, and now I make up for lost time with a herd of 14 therapy friends and a second herd of retirees I care for.

As a trauma-informed somatic practitioner, energy healer, registered counsellor, breathwork coach, lifelong horse lover and woman with decades of lived experiences, I meet people wherever they’re at.

Horses have guided and supported me, challenged and taught me, offered critical life lessons (like how to lose someone who feels a part of you), caught me when I’ve crashed hard, picked me up from those low places, made me laugh, cry, swear, scream …

And they led me into the world of offering therapeutic healing to others almost 15 years ago when we started on our current path. My herd are carefully chosen and stay with me for life. Knowing each horse intimately allows me to interpret and share the subtle messages they offer, while also helping participants discover the wisdom already within themselves.

Nature – the land, wildlife, animals, ancient trees – have also taught me about intuition, the metaphysical, energy healing, connection and grounding.

All of these experiences and learnings, in combination with trainings, are woven into Equine Therapy sessions at HCFH. I stay fully present with participants, consciously aware of both them, the horses, the wildlife, the energy that presents. And I do my best to support each person to understand what rises within them, the messages, learnings and information therein, and how to heal and release the stuck energies that we all carry in varying degrees.

I believe horses see us energy, not just as flesh and blood – they are lightyears ahead of us with their mastery and wisdom – which is why they so precisely pinpoint stuck energy, both emotional and physical.

So What Is Equine Therapy Really?

With their natural beauty and power, and the largest soulful eyes of any land mammal, horses have captured human hearts since time began. In recent years, their ability to help humans heal is becoming more recognised, as they have quietly transformed lives across the world, reaching into the depths of human emotion and experience in ways that traditional therapy often can’t penetrate.

The most simple answer to ‘What is Equine Therapy’, is that it offers people the opportunity for transformational healing through interaction with horses. But in truth, nothing about it is simple. Each horse, each human, and each moment create something unique – we could say it’s ‘simplex’. (simple yet complex)

Equine therapy describes wellbeing practices in which horses support people’s emotional, mental, and even physical health. Equine therapy comes in many forms, with some programs involving riding, while others are ground-based. At HCFH all sessions are ground-based and intuitively tailored.

Our herd meet you where you are. They hold space, react to your energy, your thoughts, and show you what needs to be seen. They help you reconnect with the parts of yourself that have been lost along the way. Their ability to react to your energetic state provides a unique and powerful way to address a range of mental, emotional and physical issues, creating a path to recovery that is as surprising as it is beautiful and long lasting. Horses live in the moment and as thus offer us ongoing opportunities to practice mindfulness and presencing – the art of simply BE-ing.

🌟Science meets woo woo

In some ways Equine Therapy is a little mystical – certainly magical. Horses are masters of energy, emotion, and presence. Science is starting to catch up and explain what horse people have always known.

Anyone who’s been around horses know they FEEL good for the soul. The HeartMath Institute has shown that humans and horses have a measurable electromagnetic field around their heart. A human’s can extend 2.5-3 metres : horses’ can extend five times as far.  

Being close to horses co-regulates our nervous system, calming stress and improving heart coherence. When a herd of horses choose to heal a human, the power of their electromagnetic field increases exponentially.

Research also shows spending time in nature – sunlight, fresh air, grounding, trees – benefits us. We evolved in nature, it is where we belong. At HCFH our horses live in beautiful natural settings, doubling the calming benefits for participants.

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“Healing is a journey, not a destination, and can involve various stages of acceptance and integration.“

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Why Horses?

Horses are prey animals. Their survival has always depended on being deeply attuned to their environment and to each other. This means they are exquisitely sensitive to non-verbal cues, energy, and body language. They sense our internal states — usually more clearly than we do.

In equine therapy, this sensitivity becomes a mirror. Horses reflect back what we’re feeling, often before we can put it into words. They show us the incongruence between what we present on the outside and what we carry inside. And they invite us into presence, honesty, and connection.

Perhaps one of the most profound aspects of the healing power of horses is the unconditional acceptance they offer. Horses do not judge by the same social or aesthetic standards people do; they respond to sincerity and intention of the individuals they interact with. This acceptance provides a place where people can truly be themselves, experiencing the transformative power of being accepted without conditions.

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“Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it”

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Who is Equine Therapy for?

While some assume equine therapy is only for people living with disabilities (we call this equine assisted learning), our version of equine therapy is much broader.

It’s for anyone navigating emotional turbulence — known trauma, stress, overwhelm, anxiety, depression, grief, or simply the sense of being stuck. People come for many reasons:

• Experiencing life transitions such as divorce, job loss, or bereavement
• Releasing burdens they’re ready to let go of
• Seeking clarity, balance, or renewal
• Beginning or deepening their healing journey

Some arrive curious, some with clear intention, others just knowing that something needs to shift. The common thread? A willingness to meet the horses and see what unfolds.

We partner with the horses to gently explore – in a trauma informed way – the underlying cause(s) to your discomfort.

Every session is intuitively guided by your needs in the moment, and helps you reconnect with your body, your truth and your possibilities.

A space to heal and grow

At HCFH, Equine Therapy unfolds in nature, fresh air, wind, wildlife. The ‘silence’ can be as powerful as words, messages from the wildlife can offer timely learnings, and the gentle presence of one or more horses can unlock doors within that have been closed for too long.

At HCFH, healing is not just about the mind – our focus is holistic wellness for mind, body and soul.

This powerful work is for those who are ready – not to be “fixed”, but to be supported as you step into the next best version of yourself. It’s about connection, healing, and transformation — with horses as your guides.

It gives me immense joy to offer support to others in ways I haven’t been supported.

🌸 Ready to explore?

Unconditional acceptance and genuine heart connections help us heal the hurt parts of ourselves.

If you’re curious about equine therapy at HCFH, we invite you to come and experience it for yourself.

The horses are waiting.

Magic happens when human and horse hearts connect!

Individual Professional support for adults ready for change

Highlands Centre For Healing can offer you support. Set in nature, which beautifully supports our nervous system, Soo provides a nurturing environment in which you can explore and process your life experiences, trapped emotions and traumas.

A trauma trained somatic therapy and energy healer, sessions with Soo are always tailored to the individual’s needs. She’s ready to support you when you are ready to start the journey.

Learn more about Soo

We’re just here when you’re ready to gently unpack and process your trauma.