L A S O N R I S A
COACHING WITH HORSES
Coaching with horses
for the English and Dutch speaking in Spain
Coaching with horses is a unique and powerful way to gain insight into yourself, as horses naturally respond to your behavior and emotions in the present moment. In a calm and natural setting, it helps you break through patterns, find more balance, and reconnect with who you truly are.
Are you looking for coaching with horses in Spain, in a setting of calm, nature, and authenticity? At my finca, La Sonrisa, I offer coaching with horses for Dutch and English speakers who live in Southern Spain, stay here regularly, or are on holiday on the Costa del Sol.
Other terms commonly used for coaching with horses are
Horsecoaching / Equitherapy / Equine Assisted Coaching /
Equine Assisted Therapy
I consciously choose to use the term coaching with horses in English, as it most clearly reflects what I do: coaching people with the support of horses.
My finca, La Sonrisa, is located in Alhaurín el Grande, centrally positioned between Málaga, the coast, and the Andalusian countryside. Together with my three horses, I guide you through an honest, deepening, and body-oriented process that helps you reconnect with yourself.
The finca is set in a quiet, hilly area and is surrounded by nature, space, and silence. This setting makes La Sonrisa a unique place for coaching with horses in Southern Spain.
La Sonrisa is easily accessible from many places, such as Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Marbella, and Estepona.
Ideal for expats and winter residents, as well as for those visiting the Costa del Sol on holiday.
The sessions take place entirely outdoors, in connection with nature and the horses.
Coaching with horses in Alhaurín el Grande nearby the Costa del Sol
Together with the horses, I offer a safe and warm space in which you can embark on your own growth process
Why coaching with horses
Horses are prey animals and herd animals by nature. In order to survive in the wild, it is essential for them to be constantly attuned to their environment and to one another. They are extremely sensitive and have an unfailing sense of what is true and what is not. They notice what is present, but also what is missing.
Natural wisdom
Because their safety depends on this sharp awareness, horses are natural experts at reading body language and sensing energy. They do not need years of study to do this; it is deeply embedded in their instinct. Behavior that does not align with what you truly feel can make a horse restless or uneasy. Not out of judgment, but because clarity and authenticity are vital for a prey animal’s survival.
Horses as your mirror
Horses live fully in the here and now. They do not carry the past with them, nor do they think ahead. They respond only to what is present in this moment. Precisely because of this, they mirror your current inner state not what you think or say, but what you truly radiate.
In coaching with horses, you are invited to come closer to your feelings and to listen honestly to yourself. When what you feel, think, and do come back into alignment, calmness arises. This calmness is felt not only in the horse, but also within yourself. From this connection, you can stand more firmly, sense more clearly, and make choices with greater confidence and strength that truly suit you.
Coaching with horses is therefore not a trick or a technique, but a natural and profound way of coming home to yourself, in the moment, exactly as you are.
When head, heart, and body come back into alignment, a sense of relaxation naturally arises. From this calmness, you can make choices that truly align with who you are.
Who can benefit from coaching with horses?
Coaching with horses at La Sonrisa is suitable for adults and children from the age of 8. The sessions are tailored to you as an individual and always take place beside the horse, in a safe and respectful setting.
Adults
Coaching with horses helps adults reconnect with their feelings, intuition, and boundaries. It creates space to slow down, recognize patterns, and come closer to themselves. Themes such as self confidence, balance, setting boundaries, and gentleness combined with strength often emerge naturally.
In addition, coaching with horses is a practical and direct form of coaching. The horses do not respond to stories or words, but to posture, energy, and intention. This makes insights clear and immediate. It supports themes such as leadership, direction, inner calm, dealing with stress, and strengthening self confidence.
Children
For children, coaching with horses works in a playful and safe way. Without pressure or long conversations, children are given the space to simply be themselves. Horses help them recognize emotions, sense their boundaries, and build greater confidence in themselves. This can be supportive for challenges such as insecurity, sensory sensitivity, or finding calm.
When not
Coaching with horses at La Sonrisa is a supportive method for personal development, but it is not a substitute for psychotherapy or medical treatment. If you are experiencing severe mental health concerns, professional help is recommended.
Willingness to look at yourself
It is important that you are willing to truly look at yourself, including the parts that may feel more challenging or uncomfortable at times. Coaching with horses is not a quick fix or a miracle solution, but an honest and profound process that only works when you engage with openness and courage. Often, a session continues to resonate long after it has ended. The insights, feelings, or changes you experience may only fully unfold later, as your body, emotions, and energy need time to integrate what has been learned.
How can coaching with horses help you?
During a session, I facilitate the process with care, gentle guidance, and focused questions, while the horses respond freely to your presence, energy, and intention. Their behavior is not an answer that I interpret for you, but an invitation for you to observe: what is happening, what touches you, and what you recognize from your own life.
The power lies in your own experience. My role is not to translate the horse, but to support you in noticing, feeling, and exploring what unfolds. In this way, you gain clarity about what is alive within you, whether it relates to tension, boundaries, trust, leadership, or softness.
In the peaceful setting of the finca, surrounded by the horses and nature, space naturally opens to slow down. You become more aware of your breathing, your body, and your feelings. From this presence, an inner smile naturally emerges, along with a sense of clarity and gentleness toward yourself.
A session can help you to:
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reconnect with yourself
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find calmness and clarity
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recognize your boundaries and needs
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letting go of old patterns
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strengthen your self confidence
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experience lightness and relaxation
Many people experience a sense of clarity, gentleness, and an inner smile afterwards.
Me as a companion coach
My name is Sabrina Morssink. In 2018, my husband and I moved to Southern Spain in search of more peace, freedom, and connection. In 2022, we found our own finca in Alhaurín el Grande.
We named this place La Sonrisa, Spanish for “the smile.”
To me, a smile represents purity and intense happiness, found in that small, special moment. That is exactly how it felt when, after a long search, we finally discovered our little paradise.
Horses play an important role in my life. Over the years, I have personally experienced how powerful and insightful coaching with horses can be. The reflection offered by the horses has supported my own personal growth and given me new perspectives.
For several years, I worked as a Call Agent for different agencies, and since early 2025 I have been working independently as a
Through my own business, I help entrepreneurs expand their client base and increase their revenue, with genuine connection and clear communication at the heart of everything I do.
Given my passion for horses and my experience with them as a coach, I had long wanted to support others in gaining greater self-awareness and inner balance. That is why, in 2025, I completed the Chiron Equine Assisted Practitioner programme, enabling me to guide people in coaching with horses in a careful and ethical way.
Just as I consciously choose not to work full-time or for a single client as a Remote Sales Assistant, in order to remain focused, authentic, and fresh in my communication, I also choose to offer coaching with horses on a small scale. I do this deliberately, out of respect for my horses, and to ensure that each session is a safe, special, and valuable experience for both human and horse.
We often forget to truly enjoy life because we get caught up in thoughts, responsibilities, or problems. This is exactly where horses can make such a difference. They live completely in the here and now and invite you to do the same. In their presence, you naturally slow down, reconnect with your feelings, and create space to let go.
In 2025, I completed the Chiron course Equine Assisted Practitioner.
In 2026, I will further expand my knowledge with the course Chiron Systemic work with horses.
At Finca La Sonrisa, together with the horses, I wish to create a space where moments of calmness, connection, and a genuine inner smile can be felt again.
At Finca La Sonrisa I hope, together with the horses, to create a space where calmness, connection, and a genuine inner smile can be felt once again.
I consciously choose to use the term coaching with horses.
To me, horsecoaching suggests that the horse is being coached, while in reality it is the other way around. The horses are not tools, but active, sentient guides in the process. They mirror, invite, and reveal what is truly present.
The herd of La Sonrisa
The real coaches
The herd at La Sonrisa consists of three horses. Each of them has their own story, character, and strength. Together they form a close, healing herd that reflects the essence of La Sonrisa.
As mentioned earlier, horses live in the here and now and do not dwell on the past.
Yet they can carry trauma, because trauma does not live in the mind, but in the body. Intense experiences are stored in the nervous system as a survival response.
When a horse recognizes something that resembles such an experience, the body responds automatically, as if the danger is present in that moment.
The horse is therefore not reacting to the past, but to what the body is feeling right now. With safety, calm, and clear guidance, the nervous system can learn to relax again. Enero and especially Dinora are clear examples of this.
Enero
Enero is a gelding we rescued at almost six years old from a life in which he lived as a stallion, confined to a stable 24 hours a day. Only twice a day was he allowed to stretch his legs for a few meters while drinking water placed outside the stable. We then placed him in a herd where he could live outdoors 24/7, and he became my very first horse.
Despite this difficult beginning, he has grown into a reliable and loving horse. His presence radiates calm and safety, and he clearly enjoys cuddling and close contact. His winter coat is so soft that many people compare it to a warm blanket.
Dinora
Dinora came from the same environment as Enero and lived there under even harsher conditions. She was kept in a stable with a halter and a piece of rope, standing in a high, slanted pile of manure, and terrified of people. She was placed in the same herd as Enero, where she chose him as her safe place. With him she felt secure, could eat calmly, and relax, while she was often chased away by other horses.
When we found our own finca, I knew that Dinora had to stay with Enero, because horses are herd animals and do not thrive alone. So she became my horse. From the very first day in their new little paradise, both horses immediately felt at home. The calm and sense of safety were unmistakable. There was no nervous whinnying for a missing group, no restless pacing, only peace and presence. The horses changed visibly, both physically and mentally.
Then something extraordinary happened. Dinora turned out to be pregnant by the young stallion, not yet two years old, from the previous herd. From the very first day, Dinora revealed herself to be a mother in every sense of the word. Motherhood has given her greater self-confidence. She remains a sensitive mare, often observing a situation from a distance before stepping in.
The surprise - Mara
Mara was born in June 2023. She is a curious, lively mare with clearly her mother’s face. She is still young, full of energy, and at times a little bossy. She is actively discovering her place in the world and within the herd.
Because Mara was born and raised at Finca La Sonrisa, she has been accustomed from day one to moving across hilly and rocky terrain. As a result, she is well muscled, has excellent balance, and is very flexible, something she is more than happy to show. She loves playing with Enero, and they often run together through the arena, with Mara making a full cross-country lap around the finca before rejoining Enero in the arena.
Together they form a close herd in which safety, presence, and growth can be felt
Enero brings softness, stability, and trust.
Dinora invites authenticity, awareness, and feeling.
Mara represents life force, curiosity, and openness.
Their unique stories, their connection with one another and with people, make Finca La Sonrisa a place where calm, safety, and inner growth can be felt by everyone who meets them.
Finca La Sonrisa
My three horses, Enero, Dinora, and Mara, live as freely and naturally as possible in this little paradise.
They move around in their hilly area of approximately 4,500 m², where they can choose for themselves whether to be outside or under a covered shelter. They have access to hay 24 hours a day and can choose from different minerals, tailored to their individual needs. Depending on the season and the level of dryness, the finca can be lush and green or dry and sparse.
Because of this way of living, they are mentally and physically strong, balanced, and pure in their responses. From this place of calm and strength, they can mirror you in an honest and clear way. Precisely because they are free to be themselves, they invite you to do the same.
Freedom of choice creates calmness and space, for the horses and for you
Sessions in images
Leadership
During this session, the theme of leadership emerged in a beautiful way. The task felt simple: walk a short distance together with the horse.
Yet in that simplicity, much became visible. How do you stand? What do you feel? What do you think? And what signals are you unconsciously sending to the horse?
The participant wanted to walk away with Enero, but Enero stayed in place. The rope was tight, the posture tense, and a sense of uncertainty was present. In conversation, it became clear that his thought was primarily: he must come with me. We paused to reflect on what that means and how it feels, both for himself and for the horse.
I invited him to approach it differently. Not to pull, but to ask. Not to direct, but to invite cooperation. When he softened his posture, focused his gaze forward, and found more calm within himself, the movement changed.
The rope relaxed. The pace aligned. Enero walked alongside him, without force and fully in connection.
This is where true leadership emerges: not through control, but through clarity, presence, and trust.
Boundaries
During this session, it became clear in a very pure way how difficult it can sometimes be to set your own boundaries.
Enero stood close to the girl and gently nibbled at her arm. She said she did not mind, but her body told a different story. We took our time to pause and notice this. I invited her to feel what she was truly experiencing, separate from what she thought she “should” feel. Slowly, she dared to admit that she actually did not like it at all, but that she was afraid Enero would stop liking her and walk away if she set her boundary.
She was then able to experience for herself what happened when she did express her limit by asking him for more space. The moment she did, Enero stopped. He stayed near her, but with more distance and calmness, as if he was confirming: you are allowed to show yourself, I am not going away.
This moment captured the essence of coaching with horses: learning to feel, recognizing your own boundaries, and experiencing that you actually create more connection when you remain true to yourself.
The timeline
A chronological timeline of life events, allowing you to sense where something still needs your attention.
During this session we worked with a timeline, using different objects to symbolize important events in a person’s life.
The participant chose the objects herself, decided where to place them in the space and gave them their meaning. In this way, a personal and tangible story gradually emerged.
As we paused with each moment, the horses moved freely around us. As long as the deeper feelings were not yet fully allowed, Mara and Enero became restless.
The moment true contact with the deeper emotion was made, their behavior visibly changed.
During our conversation about a particular situation, I told the participant that I had placed a gate to symbolize what we had been speaking about, and that she was free to walk toward it and notice how it felt. She shared that she was not ready and that she was afraid of the emotions it might awaken. Shortly after, Enero walked toward the gate, rolled there, stood up and began to yawn. Dinora, who had been keeping her distance, came closer. As if she wanted to say: it is okay, you are allowed to feel this.
This is what makes coaching with horses so unique: what words cannot express is felt deeply, and from that feeling, change begins.
Rates
La Sonrisa - Coaching with horses
Single session:
€75,-
Package of 3 sessions:
€210,-
Package of 5 sessions:
€325,-
Please note: The location is hilly and steep and therefore unfortunately not suitable for disabled people.
The sessions last up to maximum 1.5 hours.
The exact duration naturally unfolds from what arises and what you need in that moment.
Payment has to be made in cash at the first appointment.
Clothing guidelines for coaching with horses
During a coaching session with horses, it’s important to wear comfortable, practical clothing that allows you to move freely. Please wear closed, sturdy shoes. As we work outdoors, keep in mind that your clothes or shoes may get dirty. This helps you fully focus on the experience, without being distracted by what you’re wearing.
Year of the horse
2026 marks the year of the horse in Chinese astrology, a year of freedom, movement, and strength
The year of the horse symbolizes energy, adventure, and following your own path with courage and confidence. It invites you to let go of what holds you back and move forward with full presence and trust.
At La Sonrisa, in the sunny South of Spain, this year feels like the perfect moment to begin with offering coaching with horses. In my sessions, I guide you to experience how horses mirror emotions and behavior, how they help build trust, and how they teach you to be fully present in the moment.
Just as the Horse inspires us to live freely and powerfully, I support you in discovering your inner strength and following your own path with clarity and confidence.
The year of the horse and La Sonrisa together create a time of growth, movement, and open hearts. Exactly what coaching with horses is all about
Interested in coaching with horses at Finca La Sonrisa?
Are you curious about what coaching with horses in Spain can mean for you?
Feel free to get in touch for more information or to schedule a session.
Grow towards a deeper connection with yourself
La Sonria - Coaching with horses
Camino las Lomas,
Poligono 21, Parcela 92
29120 Alhaurin el Grande
Málaga
Spain
+34 629 11 33 87
lasonrisa.coachingwithhorses@gmail.com
