Benefits Of Equine Therapy

If you’ve ever owned an animal, you know that being around them can be extremely therapeutic. After a stressful day at work or school, it is always nice to come home to your pet and feel comforted by them. Many dog owners even claim that their dogs can feel their pain. However, if you speak to anyone who has been spent their life around horses, they’ll tell you that the connection between horse and rider is unlike any other. Norwegian researcher Anita Maurstad explains in a recent article, that over time horse and rider can become so attuned to each other that they develop a state of co-being. Maurstad also found, through research, that horses appear to learn to relate to humans in ways that provide them with a good quality of life. A recent study from Washington State university has concluded that kids who work with horses have significantly lower stress levels. In addition to these, there have been numerous other studies that show that working with horses decreases blood pressure, reduced feelings of anger, tension, and anxiety. Riding horses also allows you to gain feelings of self esteem, empowerment, patience, and trust. Because of the overwhelming positive effects that horses seem to have, horses are no longer being used just for recreational or agricultural

The benefits of animal-assisted therapy towards children varies, one of the benefits is to be able to bring out the best out of the child. The animal could connect with the child spiritually and could improve self-esteem because the child would finally feel accepted by the animal (Weston, 2010) as this quote stated, “A therapy dog may be the first creature who has listened and responded to the child with such enthusiasm and compassion. This can result in the child feeling heard and important” (Pichot, 2007 cited in Weston, 2010). The animals are capable of taking the pressure off the child as s/he is going through a difficult experience and being forced to deal with people, the animal can take up the role of being the child’s supporter. Animals can be used as a “bribe” because some children does not want to attend to therapy but is willing to show up because of the animal which is good because in the end the child would be able to receive the therapy s/he needs. Animals that are trained to be assisted therapy animal are capable of switching its beneficial roles to be able to comfort

They can help the individual build confidence, trust,and social skills. Horses may also deal with some relating issues so it makes it easier to build a connection with the horse and their handler. Horses only react to the handler's behavior and emotional status. Horses aren't there to judge your appearance or what happened to the you in the past they are just there to help in the present. Most people like this option because some people believe that they will be judged by a human therapist doctor and most of the patients know that the horses won't judge them on what they look like or been through. This helps people build self esteem and self confidence. Through the years children and adults who participate riding programs improve in physical and social function. Studies have shown that therapeutic riding has shown positive outcomes that change people's lives for the better. Some have been able to gain the function to walk and talk better then before or even for the first time. This is because of the socializing, movement, and the need for balance on a horse. Through movement with the horse and the interaction with the people that work there, children and adults also have improved in other things such as physical function, emotional stability and social interactions. Challenging activities help gain more balance and control, and posture as the horses shows the motivation towards the

Furthermore, research is demonstrating the promise that equine therapy holds for children with intellectual disabilities. When compared to traditional intervention methods, equine therapy is a bit more cost-effective, meaning more families can afford equine therapy. With this in mind, it shows promise of becoming a standard form of early intervention for individuals with disabilities (Holmes et. al. 120). As the child ages, research is showing more and more support for equine therapy. It was mentioned previously how equine therapy can help a child in the classroom. Research shows that equine therapy can help a child in nearly every aspect of his or her life. Equine therapy proved in one study that it helps children with intellectual disabilities with their balance, thanks to the stimulating movements of the horse (Biery et. al. 1). Motor skills have improved after just a few sessions in equine therapy, whether it be riding or hippotherapy (Snider et. al. 1). In addition, researchers have found that social skills have improved with equine therapy (Bass, Dunchowny & llabre 1266). The reason for the improvement in social skills is because in therapeutic riding lessons, children are given the chance to interact with other individuals who are similar to them. This creates a bond between the students. Individuals in hippotherapy gain social skills because of the interactions they have with a therapist, and the bonds formed with the horse. All of these researchers have

The Ismael Pinto Association of Equine Therapy in Madrid summarizes principles and concepts relating to how equine therapy is beneficial. Horses transmit heat and rhythmic pulses from within their lumbar and ventral muscles that conduct

In an effort to compare the different writing styles between a fiction and scholarly article, this student decided to compare a story published by theOnion titled “Pentagon Holds Gala to Celebrate 25 years of bombing Iraq” verses an article published by the NASW journal Social Work titled “Psychosocial Equine Program for Veterans”. To best illustrate the similarities and differences, this student will first recognize and substantiate the points of similarity followed by those of difference.

Equine-assisted therapy. The use of equine-assisted therapy has been proposed as a method for facilitating positive sensory experiences for children with autism. A doctoral dissertation by Stickney (2010) finds that “the consistent, rhythmic movement of the horse as well as its warmth, appearance, smell, and furry coat sends an array of sensory signals to the central nervous system, affecting motor, visual, proprioceptive, tactile, and vestibular systems that are necessary for development of motor control” (p. 33). Preliminary research studies indicate that the experience of riding a horse can improve motor function, posture, balance, and reaction time. This can encourage positive sensory experiences, which causes the brain to release chemicals

Therapeutic horse riding is a program that benefits children and adults who have challenges wither is physical or emotional. Some of the program's most common challenges are a variety of special needs relating to cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, and autism to stroke recovery and learning disabilities. The program helps increased balance and muscle control, improves concentration and short-term memory, and enhances their confidence and self-esteem. Research into animal-assisted therapy is fairly new; however, even among professionals who believe more research is in order, there is a general consensus that therapy animals can be a highly beneficial addition to treatment programs for children with autism or Asperger's.

Winston Churchill once stated,“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man,” that statement certainly rings true when discussing the topic of Equine Assisted Therapy. Since Ancient Greece, people have been using horseback riding as a form of therapy to help people who are disabled to improve their lives physically, mentally, and emotionally. Despite the fact that horseback riding is typically dismissed as a form of physical therapy, the physical, mental, and emotional benefits prove that therapeutic riding is a valuable form of therapy.

Hippotherapy is a specialized type of equine-assisted therapy (EAT). It means involving a horse during the course of treatment. In order to conduct hippotherapy, one must be a licensed therapist (physical, occupational, or speech-language pathologist) and be certified through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH). During hippotherapy, the client will sit on the horse’s back and adjust their body to the movements of the horse’s walk. “The client does not influence the horse; rather, the horse’s movements influences the rider. Functional riding skills are not taught, and any improvement in the client’s quality of life is secondary” (Macauley & Gutierrez, 2004). Within the scope of practice of the therapist, the client will perform activities that will help achieve the set treatment goals while sitting on top of the horse, complementing their horse’s walk. “Both physical and psychosocial benefits have been documents or reports from the use of EAT and hippotherapy” (Macauley & Gutierrez, 2004). The following three studies provide further evidence of the effect of

Animal assisted therapy is a type of therapy that is becoming more and more successful. Alicia MIller, co-founder of Operation Wolfhound, says, “Medication works 50% of the time, talk therapy alone, works 30% of the time, and dogs work 84.5% of the time” (qtd. in Caprioli). With overwhelming statistics like that, more hospitals or rehabilitation centers should utilize this practice. Many different ages can work with the animals, however it is mainly directed toward the youth (Pugh). Therapy animals are extremely beneficial and have helped many people cope with disorders and therefore this program should be expanded.

How can I combine horses therapeutic abilities to help struggling teens overcome and deal with relatives or close friends addiction problems? Over the past year I have been working to research and design a program that will allow for teenagers who deal with relatives or friends with an addiction problems to have a place where they can learn to work the 12- Steps while at the same time create and impeccable bond with one of the world's most beautiful creatures, the horse. Because addiction and alcoholism is such a big deal in today's world and is only growing; it is important that teenagers have a safe place to go to learn to cope with parents or friends decisions. I plan for my Iproject to grow over my four years in highschool and have this

Bethany’s Equine and Aquatic Therapy Services, Incorporated, more widely-known as BEATS, Inc., is a treatment facility that utilizes both hippotherapy and aquatic therapy for children with a variety of disabilities (BEATS, n.d.). Aquatic therapy employs the use of water as a means to treat various conditions by aiding in reducing chronic pain and enabling a wider range of motion (Oeverman, n.d.). Hippotherapy is a lesser known method of treating mental, physical, and sensory disabilities by using horses. When ridden, the movements of the horses’ spine and hips mimic the movements of walking or running for those who cannot. Even when stationary, the horses’ consistent breathing stimulates the muscles of the individual riding that cannot be as readily stimulated with the use of any other mechanism (B. Nugent, personal communication, February 25, 2016). This unique form of therapy enables individuals to work on balance and strength. Above all, hippotherapy is incredibly beneficial in enhancing the motivation of disabled clients. Because the children are used to clinical settings, they do not realize that the session is a part of their treatment; instead, they are simply having fun. As the occupational therapist walks close by, often times engaging the child with the use of props, photographs, or games, they are still able to work with the child in the areas of need (Applegate, 2011). BEATS incorporates these two methods as a way of engaging disabled children and efficiently

Despite everything good about hippotherapy, it is not without some disadvantages. Equine therapy is a great alternative therapy; however, it does include some risks. These therapy sessions are on a live horse, granted the animals have great training, but they do have a mind of their own and can be unpredictable. There are risks to where the rider falls off or be thrown from the horse. Since the horse does feel the emotions of their rider, an excessive amount of fear can increase the patient’s stress level, which can turn itself as increased tension. Also, many people have allergies and being around an environment that has dust, hay, and horse hair may affect the allergies of the patient (Benoit).

There are many social or emotional benefits that they can gain from this treatment strategy as well. The children who are engaged in these activities are able to express themselves to the horse and possibly even the therapist they are working with. They have no fear of rejection from the horse, and therefore feel that they can speak or act however they want. “…animals are an important instrument for developing social skills in children. Through their interactions with animals, children can obtain knowledge of values and attitudes from the animals” (Granados; Agís). The children with special needs that are receiving this treatment won’t be as isolated as other special needs kids usually are and they sometimes have to form relationships with the helpers during their sessions in order to be able to communicate with the horse. This will improve their social skills immensely. They can also learn socially acceptable ways to express their feelings around the animal and get certain responses or reactions from them (Granados;