Residents and fellows strengthen communication skills through horsemanship training

From left, Leena Patel, M.D., Catherine Elortegui; Ekta Khubchandani, M.D.; Judy Blair-Elortegui, M.D.; Angad Singh, M.D.; and Shausha Farooq, M.D.

By Michelle Ryan-Day

In an innovative approach to medical education, internal medicine residents at USA Health recently traded their stethoscopes for saddles and spent time in Fairhope with a horse named Newt to explore the power of nonverbal communication.  

Angad Singh, M.D.

Part of the Department of Internal Medicine’s Horsemanship Seminar, this hands-on workshop helps physicians-in-training recognize and refine the subtle cues that shape how they interact with patients. While horses and medicine may seem worlds apart, programs like this are being used across the country as an experiential way to build empathy, mindfulness, and connection.  

“This session focused more on the messages we send with our non-verbal communication,” said Judy Blair-Elortegui, M.D., FACP, vice chair of medical education and seminar organizer. “Previous sessions focused on being perceptive of what patients (or horses) are communicating nonverbally and adapting to individual communication styles.”  

Third-year internal medicine residents Shausha Farooq, M.D., Ekta Khubchandani, M.D., and Leena Patel, M.D., and pulmonary and critical care fellow Angad Singh, M.D., participated in the workshop, learning how even small shifts in posture or presence can influence how a horse responds.  

“Working with Newt taught me how much can be communicated without words through calm energy, patience, and presence,” Singh said. “That quiet connection helped me slow down, be more mindful, and manage stress better. It’s a lesson I will carry into medicine, reminding me to listen deeply and care with empathy.”  

Shausha Farooq, M.D.

For Patel, the experience underscored how important body language is in clinical practice.  

“The horsemanship seminar taught me to be mindful not only of how my own body language can be interpreted, but also the importance of observing subtle changes in Newt’s behavior and what it meant,” Patel said. “That awareness translates directly to medicine, where we often overlook the impact of our body language when communicating with patients and their families. Being attentive to their nonverbal responses can also help guide the conversation and create a better relationship between provider and patient.”  

Beyond communication skills, participants found the outdoor setting refreshing. “It was very important for wellness,” Patel said. “We were able to be out in the sun, get some fresh air, and take things at a slower pace compared to our busy, fast-paced work environment.”  

Research supports the seminar’s approach: horses are particularly attuned to human emotion and can reflect subtle shifts in tone, tension, or intent. Studies have shown that horses display 17 distinct facial expressions. Many of them mirror human emotions such as fear, surprise, and sadness, which makes them ideal teachers of empathy and awareness.