Equine therapy
The ancient greeks in 600 AD were the first to use horses as therapy for people with different diseases. Equine therapy is a type of therapy that uses horses to help people. It can help disabled people, troubled pre-teens and teens, elderly, and veterans. Using horses as therapy helps people get an understanding of friendship, compassion, and leadership.
According to “What is Equestrian Therapy,”, “Horses are the most popularly used animal for therapy”(Equestrian Therapy.com). Horses are great for therapy because it’s easy to make connections with horses, horses also can mirror a riders emotion.
There are many different benefits to equine therapy. In the article “Equine-Assisted Therapy” it says, “Studies show that people working with horses experience decreased blood pressure, lower stress levels and reduced feelings of tension, anxiety and anger” (www.electrobraid.com).
For people with social interaction problems working with horses gives them the much needed practice of interaction. Children with cerebral palsy and autism can benefit from equine therapy because riding horses helps develop strength, balance, and muscle control. It can also help helps with both emotional and physical problems. Moreover, many patients don’t feel like equine therapy is really therapy because they enjoy working with the horses.
Autism, which is…, is one of many disorders that equine therapy helps with. Physical, speech, and occupational therapists often use horses to help their autistic patients. Autistic children often have trouble bonding emotionally with other people but bonding with a horse is much easier for them. Equine therapy also increases direction in people with autism, many equine therapy instructors have the patients follow different directions while they ride on the horse. Riding a horse while following directions help people with autism remember directions and feel more confident giving directions.
There are different activities that equine therapy instructors use for their patients to help them with the problems they may have. Many equine therapy instructors have their patients play games when they're on the horse. For example, they may have the patient tell the horse to stop and then through a small ball into a hoop this can help the patient with counting. Obstacle courses are another activity that instructors often use, riders complete an obstacle course on the horse and this challenges their mind and body.
“Class Activities: Mitey Riders” says that “this activity is designed to reinforce directional skills while engaging large and small muscle groups, building stamina, increasing attention span and self-esteem (www.miteyriders.org). Some equine therapy instructors will sometimes make up their own activities depending on their patient and their needs.
Equine therapy is a great form of therapy for people who have mental or physical issues. Horses are a great way to relieve stress and improve mental and physical issues. Many people make great connections with horses and that gives them that lifelong bond that many people need in life. Equine therapy is a great form of therapy because horses don’t judge people, horses don’t look at a person and see what's wrong with them all they see is a person.
