Equine Assisted Therapy Analysis

Today there are hundreds of types of therapy programs for those with physical and psychological disorders. Though perhaps one of the most versatile, easily accessible types of therapies can be done through the use of a horse. Hippotherapy, specifically defined, is a “physical therapy in which a patient (as one affected with cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis) sits or lies on the back of a horse for the therapeutic effect of the horse's movement” (1). In the 5th century, Hippocrates revealed his belief that horses were healers. He described horseback riding as a universal exercise with a healing rhythm.

Equine therapy helps the special needs population by letting them ride horses as part of their therapy. 20% of the special needs population is affected by disabilities, which is equal to 1.1 million people in Houston (Panther Creek Inspiration Creek). Equine therapy helped Sophia with her emotions and helped her calm down in care rides (Jennifer Sanchez). The population with cognitive, psycho-motor and behavioral disabilities have improved with equine therapy (“What is Equestrian therapy?”). The horses provide a movement that helps the special with their spines and the nerves. The equine therapy also helps by providing a communication abilities, better balance, and motor skills (Texas Agriculture). This lesson is usually only 30-45 minutes long, but it helps with the rider’s goals. The students and horses are matched by personality, ability, and

Equine Therapy does have its downfalls, some patients walk away and never come back, but when the patient comes back and heals, that is when therapists know that they are doing some good in this crazy world. Thousands of lives have been changed by these magnificent creatures. Parents can now give their children the “medication” that they need. With the help of horses, therapists are able to give the veterans their lives back by making the veteran as comfortable as possible with the civilian

Horses have been used as therapeutic aids in many different ways and forms. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is one of the types of Animal Assisted Therapy used to rehabilitate individuals with Physical and mental disorders. Specifically, Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) is a planned treatment using the horse as an integral part of the psychotherapy process (Lentini & Knox, 2009). In EFP, therapists work with horses with different styles and using various theories. Esbjorn (Lentini & Knox, 2009) reviewed the construct and found that there was a wide variety in the way therapists conceptualized EFP. Though the concepts of EFP or EAT are mostly similar, the methods of implying them vary from therapist to therapist. Each one has an individual style of the implementation of EAT. The different kinds of activities used in EAT may be ‘un-mounted activities such as herding and leading, non-traditional mounted

It provided me an opportunity to introduce myself and identify my communications strength and weakness so that I could focus on improving my abilities throughout the semester. The Speaker Analysis was another fun assignment. I met my World Regions Professor, John Boyer, in person for the first time. This assignment allowed me to use all techniques that I learned from taking critical notes, listening, and analyzing speaker’s content, to observing the speaker’s presentation style, logics, and movement. The Common Book Essay was my most inspiring assignment. I read Eric Greitens book, The Heart and the Fist, multiple times because it was important for me to visualize his service and compassion not only his countrymen, but less privileges people all over the world. Subsequently, I felt proud and blessed of sitting along with my classmates and professor at the War Memorial Chapel to observe the pylons and discussed with one another what our ideals are and which pylon we most identify with. It offered me an opportunity to look back at my life and how fortunate I am to be a part of the VT Ut

There are many certified Horse Therapy Centers such as Path International. They offer therapeutic riding sessions that improve motor skills and brain function. Equine riding can help many disabled children. Children with Cerebral Palsy can benefit greatly from these sessions. “a” was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was a toddler after suffering

Learning to master the horse increases the rider's self-esteem and confidence. Interacting with and controlling the horse enhances focus, decision-making skills, and effective verbal and nonverbal communication ("Why the Horse?"). Riders may become very satisfied and self-confident after successfully completing a task set by the instructor of the hippotherapy session. This feeling of confidence improves the rider's overall mood and makes them enjoy horseback riding even more.

A woman with posttraumatic stress disorder said, “It was such a breakthrough. I think I’m a very different person having had these experiences” (Meinersmann et al., 2008, p. 39), while discussing her therapy program. However, no traditional therapy program brought this response; instead, it was equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP). Equine assisted psychotherapy is a form of treatment, which uses horses as facilitators to improve mental health. Though some people dismiss EAP as a developing approach, horses may offer opportunities to heal that human therapists cannot. First, the horses encourage engagement in therapy sessions through the opportunities they offer and the equine environment (Bachi et al., 2012; Masini, 2010). Second, horses may

The use of educational Equine therapy may improve the patient's attention and concentration. When working with horses Patients need to pay attention to what the horses are doing, and their attitude. Patients can learn the importance of goal setting, in the beginning of any physical therapy the patient is asked where they want to be at the end of your session. This is teaching patients the importance of setting an end goal, and to be looking at the importance of the future. More ways you are able to benefit is with conflict resolution, setting boundaries, self-regulation and self-correction (“The Soulful Benefits of Healing…”). One specific type of Equine therapy is Equine-assisted learning or EAL. Path International explains EAL as a type of therapy that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional and personal goals. EAL also teaches other skills such as trust, respect, honesty and communication. When working with horses you need to have all of these. The patient must trust and respect the horse in order for the horse to trust and respect the patient back. They also need to be honest about how they are feeling, if they are scared the horse is going to react a different way then when they are calm. Communicating these feeling will help the patient gain the trust and respect of the

In fact, the popularity of equine therapy has raised many questions about its effectiveness in enhancing both emotional and physical health. Some researchers argue that implementing the therapy with horses, domiciled and non-threatening animals, comes with unique challenges whereas others contend that working with them enables individuals with physical disabilities to learn empowering and noble ways of overcoming their limitations. For instance, using

Animal Assisted Therapy dates back to the early 18th century. It was used to help the mentally ill patients at the York Retreat in England. They would allow animals to wander the grounds with the patients and it was believed that is was helpful in increasing the socialization of the patients. The first documented use of an animal therapy was when Dr. Boris Levinson accidentally left his dog and a difficult child alone and when he came back the child was calm and talking with the dog. Today animals are being used in many different environments to help assist patients with their daily activities. Over the years, studies have shown that some animal assisted therapy has been more affective on people than the use of a medication.

Equine therapy is a practice that uses horses to aid people with disabilities. This therapy has helped people for over 50 years in the United States, and it has been used in Europe for more than 100 years. What can horses do to help people? Why can they make us feel better? Horses deserve more credit than what we are giving them. Horse therapy can strengthen our bodies, improve communication skills, and help people face their fears.

Thier equine therapy is effective because horses, unlike people, respond genuinely to a person's actions or feelings. They are relational animals that mirror what the body language of the patient is

Educational for these students is very important and Therapeutic Riding may help the student’s ability to learn. Reading is one major area Therapeutic Riding can help. Reading is a basic skill everyone needs. Before one can read, it is necessary to recognize the difference in shapes, sizes, and even colors. These can be taught more easily on horseback, as part of games and activities. Math is also a basic skill needed. Counting is learned by counting the horse's footsteps, objects around the arena, or even the horse's ears and