Equine Assisted Services at NC Retreats
- Frankey Craig
- Nov 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 19
At NC Retreats, we believe healing becomes most powerful when it takes place in partnership with nature, intuition, and compassionate guidance. Today, we are overjoyed to announce a new offering that embodies all of these qualities and more.
Frankey from NC Retreats and Heather of Parkton Place are joining their unique gifts, expertise, and love for horses to bring you equestrian healing experiences unlike anything else available in the region.
This collaboration combines Frankey’s lifelong connection with horses and her multidimensional approach to healing with Heather’s professional mental health practice, Hope-thru-Horses, Inc., where horses play an essential role in therapeutic transformation.
Together, they are raising awareness of the profound healing power of horses—supported by both ancient wisdom and modern scientific research.
Why Horses? A Source of Emotional, Physical, and Psychological Transformation
Horses have an extraordinary ability to sense, reflect, and respond to human emotion. Their nervous systems are exquisitely attuned to subtle changes in our posture, breath, and energetic presence, making them natural partners in emotional healing and self-discovery.
While many have experienced this intuitively, scientific studies are now validating what horse lovers and healers have known for centuries.
The Science Behind Equine Healing
1. Horses Regulate the Human Nervous System
Research shows that horses can influence our physiology through a process known as heart-rate variability syncing. When a person stands near a calm, regulated horse, their heart and breath often shift into a more relaxed rhythm. This mirrors the calming effects of meditation or breathwork—but through a relational, embodied experience.
2. Reducing Stress Hormones
Studies reveal significant decreases in cortisol—the stress hormone—after interacting with horses. Simply being in the presence of these gentle giants can help the body transition from fight-or-flight into a state of safety and rest.
3. Emotional Awareness and Trauma Healing
Equine-assisted therapy is now widely used with individuals experiencing PTSD, anxiety, grief, and emotional disconnect. Horses mirror human emotions without judgment, offering honest feedback that helps people identify feelings they may have suppressed or struggled to express.
4. Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem
Research from mental health programs across the country shows that working with horses boosts confidence, emotional resilience, and interpersonal awareness. The act of building trust with a thousand-pound animal can profoundly shift the way a person perceives themselves and their capabilities.
5. Whole-Body Healing
The combination of mindful presence, emotional processing, and somatic awareness creates a well-rounded therapeutic approach that supports the entire person—mind, body, and spirit.
What You Can Expect From Our Equine Sessions
These new sessions at NC Retreats may include:
Heart-centered connection with one or more horses
Ground-based equine interaction (no riding required)
Mindfulness and emotional awareness practices
Nervous system regulation supported by the herd
Reflections guided by both Frankey and Heather
Somatic Bodywork with Jordyn and inspired by horse wisdom
Trauma-informed techniques that support safety and trust
Energy Clearing and emotional release
Each session invites you to show up exactly as you are. The horses meet you there—with honesty, sensitivity, and a calming presence that helps you uncover clarity and ease you didn't know you were seeking.
Raising Awareness of Horse Medicine
Our mission is simple: To shine a light on the remarkable healing potential of horses.
In every session, every story, and every heart-to-heart moment between human and horse, we witness transformation. These animals help unlock emotional doors that talking alone cannot open. They teach regulation, connection, authenticity, and new pathways to inner peace.
We are honored to bring this work forward together and invite you into an experience that blends science, spirit, and the gentle power of the herd.