Therapeutic Horseback Riding

This paper will inform the parents, educators, and American society of the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding for people who have cognitive challenges or loss of limbs and other functions. Therapy can happen on the horse as well as off, depending on the condition of the rider. Not all therapy has to be done on a horse. It can be done on the ground as well, by padding the horse, brushing the horse, leading the horse. Knowing you can conquer being around and taking care of a big horse gives those with challenges a sense of satisfaction and self confidence. Therapeutic horseback riding is wonderful for young people as well as older people with disabilities. Even if they cannot sit up straight, therapy can make it so that any individual can

“The horse acts as the teacher and unlocks the client. The animal facilitates emotional breakthroughs, and the effect, therapists report, can be magical” (Hayley Sumner).

I was astonished to find out that disabled people can greatly benefit from their therapeutic riding, even when outside of the arena. The idea of someone being with an animal to improve his or her people skills is intriguing. My research suggests that disabled riders may possibly gain better people skills and sensations by being with a horse, rather than talking with a sophisticated human being. In my research, I found that www.sire-htec.org had a great description of how a disabled person would feel on top of a horse. It stated, the horses “rhythmic movements help stiff or spastic muscles to relax, much like rocking soothes a crying baby” (“Benefits”). This information was very helpful when discussing the

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

Before we jump into the main question, let's jump back to where it all started. Horse therapy dates back to around 600 b.c when the greeks rode horses for therapy. Later, in around 1946 equine therapy then was introduced in Scandinavia. Which then led to the North Americans beginning the handicapped riding which started around 1969. They soon recognized that riding horses or just being

There are two main things to consider when looking at archery and the physics concepts behind it. First there is the bow, which basically is a device that uses human force over a distance and converts that into stored Mechanical Potential Energy. The second factor involves that stored Mechanical Energy being

In source 1, an article written by the ASDF (Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation), from the website www.myasdf.org , assessed in 2012, with the title ‘How your child can Benefit from Equine Therapy), it states that Autistic children/people benefit immensely from Equine Therapy (horse encounters).

Walking into the sunlit barn hallway, the musky scent of hay and horse fur overwhelms my senses. I see a chestnut-colored horse stick his head over the wooden stall door to greet me. As I look around, I notice other volunteers getting horses saddled up and ready for the next lesson. Turning around I smile at a young student entering with her mom, ecstatic at the prospect of being able to ride a horse despite being in a wheelchair. Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy, located in Gretna, makes dreams possible. People of all ages have the opportunity to learn how to ride a horse despite their physical or mental disabilities. After volunteering at HETRA for five years, the organization has made significant impacts on my personality, interests, and maturity.

Older adults have more strengths and are more resilient than they are given credit for having. Many older adults are very active in their community and volunteer to help others, and many older adults in today 's society and like to stay busy remain fit by exercising. They may appear frail but may have more will to try and bounce back after a procedure if given the opportunity to partake in physical/occupational therapy.

There have been many different events in my life that have contributed to my personal and academic development. However the most notable would be me volunteering at a therapeutic riding academy. Therapeutic riding has been shown to be effective for many physical and mental disabilities including autism, strokes, cerebral palsy, and even ADD/ADHD. At the center where I volunteered, the majority of the clients were children, and as I love horses and working with children, it seemed like the perfect fit.

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

With the advances in medical care, better health practices, improved nutrition, and other factors help people live longer. As long as older adults are following the correct measures, they can help counter the effects of aging because this stage here most people retire, they need to stay active and keep eating healthy foods. By not living actively can lead to his or her body shutting down, and may also lead to an early death. Many programs are available that older adults can join to

Horseback riding refers to an individual sitting on the back of a horse and controlling its movements. Also, horseback riding is used for working purposes, transportation, recreational activities, artistic or cultural exercises, and competitive sport. With Therapeutic Recreation (TR) horseback riding could be very beneficial to all populations, ranging from young children to older adults. Additionally, this activity could serve those with physical, psychiatric, intellectual, and emotional disabilities, to name a few.

Riding horses can help build strength in the body, but it can also be used as therapy. A few years ago, Haleigh volunteered at a therapeutic horseback riding business in Clinton, Iowa, called Bright Spot Inc. At Bright Spot, Haleigh and other volunteers, work with many children with different disabilities and help them overcome their problems. Their confidence is built when they ride the horses because they feel like they can do anything. Therapeutic horseback riding has been proven to really help out people with disabilities. Horseback riding can help disabled patients better than any other form of physical therapy. The physical benefits that can be improved form therapeutic horse riding is improved circulation, respiration, balance, body metabolism, and it can help the disabled rider gain agility and strength. Horse riding can also help with the movement of the riders legs and increase coordination in their muscle groups. In one study of therapeutic horseback riding, children with disabilities improve their posture, muscle tone, and weight-bearing abilities (Bliss). After trying therapeutic horseback riding, many patients become more outgoing. Beth Bliss once said that, “Studies show that autistic children often

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.