Murcia launches equine therapy for survivors
- La Región de Murcia lanzó el 5 de mayo un programa de terapias ecuestres para mujeres víctimas de violencia sexual, integrado en su red pública de apoyo. - Las sesiones se harán con la Fundación Centauro Quirón y el CAIVAX, tras un programa previo con caballos en el que participaron 178 mujeres. - Murcia ya tenía un centro público 24 horas para violencia sexual; ahora suma una vía más de recuperación emocional.
Horse therapy is the new piece here — not the whole support system. Murcia’s regional government said on May 5 that it is starting an equine-assisted therapy program for women who have survived sexual violence, with sessions run through the public care network and a specialist equestrian foundation. The point is emotional recovery — confidence, body acceptance, self-control, and a sense of safety that trauma often shatters. But the bigger story is that Murcia is trying to turn survivor care into something broader than crisis response. ### What actually launched? Murcia’s Ministry of Social Policy, Families and Equality rolled out a program called *Las riendas de tu vida* — basically, “Take the reins of your life.” It is aimed specifically at women who have experienced sexual violence, and the sessions will be delivered by professionals from Fundación Centauro Quirón. The regional government described it as a pioneering program in Spain. ### Why horses? The idea is not that horses “cure” trauma. The therapy uses structured contact with the animal to work on emotional regulation, trust, and self-confidence. Murcia says participants will start with exercises that help the group bond and get used to the horses, then move into activities where staying calm and regulated makes the horse less like a mascot and more like a feedback system. ### What problem is this trying to solve? Sexual violence often leaves survivors dealing with fear, hypervigilance, shame, and a damaged relationship with their own body. Murcia’s description of the program is pretty direct about that. The goal is to help women rebuild self-esteem, recover confidence, and accept their body again in a recovery that is often uneven and deeply physical as well as emotional. ### Is this brand new for Murcia? The target group is new, but the model is not. Murcia says it decided to expand equine-assisted therapy after earlier horse-based sessions for victims of gender violence showed good results. In that previous program, 178 women took part. The government says participants finished those sessions feeling it was a good approach for survivors of sexual violence. ### Where does CAIVAX fit in? CAIVAX is the public center that anchors this. It opened on December 21, 2023, and offers free care for women over 16 who have experienced sexual violence outside a current or former partner relationship. Crucially, women do not need to file a police report to access it. The center provides psychological, social
