Equestrian therapy is typically employed in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, autism, dementia, delay in mental development, down syndrome and other genetic syndromes, various types of depression, trauma and brain injuries, behavior and abuse issues and other mental health issues.
In many instances, riders with disabilities have proven their remarkable equestrian skills in various national and international competitions. This is the reason why equestrian therapy has been recognized as an important area in the medical field in many countries.
Equestrian therapy is also an effective technique for many therapists to teach troubled youth on how they learn, react and follow instructions. For example, in a beginner’s horse therapy program, the students were asked to get the horse to move outside of a circle without even touching it. Students tried to clap, yell and whistle but the horse didn’t heed the signal. In the same manner, parents, friends and others who are part of a troubled youth’s therapy program would learn that yelling, clapping and forcing would not be the best way to make the person do something.
Why Horses for Therapy
Horses are the most popularly used animal for therapy purposes (although elephants, dolphins, cats and dogs may also be used). This is because horses have the ability to respond immediately and give feedback to the rider’s action or behavior. Horses are also able to mirror the rider’s emotion.
The basis of the therapy is that because horses behave similarly like human beings do in their social and responsive behavior; it is always easy for patients to establish connection with the horse.
History of Equestrian Therapy
Ancient Greek literature mentioned the use of horse-back riding as therapy. In 600 BC, Orbasis documented the therapeutic benefit of horse riding. In Scandinavia, during the outbreak of poliomyelitis in 1946, equestrian therapy was introduced.
The founding of the Community Association of Riding of the Disabled (CARD) started therapeutic riding in the USA and Canada in 1960. It has become a recreation and a motivational activity for the disabled while at the same time a therapy for them. The oldest-known center for disabled people in the US was established in 1969 Michigan, the Cheff Therapeutic Riding center for the Handicapped.
In the same year, to address the need for an advisory body for the handicapped across the USA and the neighboring countries, The North American Riding for Handicapped Association (NARHA) was established. The Association is responsible in providing safety guidelines and training, gives therapeutic certification to riding instructors and approving therapeutic riding centers before they operate.
Therapeutic Benefits of Equestrian Training
People with cognitive, psycho-motor and behavioral disabilities have shown positive results when equestrian or equine therapy is taught correctly by certified equine therapists. Just like other therapies such as physical, occupational and speech-language therapy, people with disabilities are being helped or assisted by certified therapists to cope with their disability like regular or normal people can. However, equine therapy combines all three in such a way that the patients or students do not feel that they are actually under therapy.
In the process, equestrian or equine therapy aims for its patients or students to:
- Build sense of self-worth, self-concept
- Improve communication
- Build trust and self-efficiency
- Develop socialization skills and decrease isolation
- Learn impulse control and emotional management
- Set perspective
- Learn their limits or boundaries
Equine Therapeutic Activities
What are the equine-related activities for therapeutic purposes? The activities are not limited to horseback riding. Many students may feel intimidated by the horse’s size and features and may take some time to develop trust when around the horse. So included in the therapy program are lessons on horse care, horse grooming, saddling and basic equestrian.
How does equine therapist suit the activity to the patient’s needs? The process or technique to be applied during the session depends on the type of disorder and its severity. But the primary techniques are:
- Cognitive therapy
- Practicing activities
- Activity scheduling
- Play therapy
- Storytelling and talk therapy
In all equine activities, safety is the primary concern. Therapists ensure that patients or students are wearing helmets and other protective gears in case they fall from the horse during the session.
Equine-assisted Therapy
In equine-assisted therapies (EAT), the targeted skills are fine motor, large motor or large muscle groups, communication and other behavioral skills in the form of therapeutic procedures such as:
- Equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP)
- Equine-assisted psychotherapy
- Therapeutic horseback riding
- Hippotherapy
Watch this video from Oprah Show on how equine therapy helps an army veteran cope with post traumatic stress.
Please contact lme
Hello donna!
Hello Equine therapy:
We have heard that many racing horses were euthanized with injury during horse racing, I am suggesting that would it be possible that the injured horses maybe rescued and become excellent therapy horses. It would involve a team of specialists in the field to make it possible but it should be rewarding to save the magnificent horses. I’m not sure I have reached the correct facility for this suggestion, please let me know if you are aware of a better place for this horse rescuing idea.
Thank you
Jean Reiss
If you are ever in Miami, my brother has mild autism and goes to El Paso Ranch and gets lessons there. He just got into riding horses about a year ago and my mom fortunately was able to adopt a horse for him. His name is Flash and my brother has gone to various South Florida competitions with him. Through this experience he has become more social, more comfortable with himself, he has learned how to care for his horse’s life and well-being, and in all extremely responsible, especially at home with chores and school work. Before he was into only video games and staying in his room. Now, all he wants to do is be at the ranch with his horse and the other horses there. His coach/the owner has helped him reach who he is now and he won the Gold at Mundial in Ocala last year. He was very proud to have achieved a great honor for Team USA. Anyone in Miami looking, it may be far but very worth the drive and your time! Hope this helps 🙂
My book, which is all about how equine therapy assists a severe PTSD patient, Darby The Horse from Hope, is being released by publisher Austin Macauley on January 31st, 2019. It is written to gently introduce PTSD and equine therapy to young people and was inspired by a real veteran.
My email iz [redacted]@yahoo.com.
Hello.
I am trying to contact the admin of equestriantherapy.com
My equine therapy program is listed on the site, but the address information listed is incorrect. If you could please contact me to correct that i would very much appreciate it. Thank you!
Hello Erica,
Please post the correct address in the comments section and we’ll update the entry.
Thanks,
EquestrianTherapy.com
We wish to not display our address, as we are by appointment only. We provide our address over the phone with prospective clients. If it’s possible to just list our city (Alpine, CA) We would really appreciate it!
Please let us know which one is yours so we can update the address. Thanks!
BITS Back In The Saddle, Alpine CA
Looking for a Therapy stable in Indiana.
Im looking for somewhere for my autistic son to learn about horses and ride ect i live in berwick victoria please advise
I’m in bryan tx. .is there a provider close to me?
Windridge Equestrian Therapy is located in Longview, in northeastern Texas.
I have a few Question if you could email me back or call me this would be great.
Are you located near Albury?
I have a 12 year old weighting about 64 kilos do you have a horse what can cater?
What is the costing involved?
This young man has autism and mental health and used to access riding for the disabled however i have been informed due to his weight he can not access there program.
We are very much interested in the program
I am the Team Leader of OOHC at Aspire
Thank you
Laya Keeton
0419828099
Good morning. I am looking to volunteer at an equine therapy treatment center. Can you advise if there is a center in or near Citrus Heights CA? I am having some difficulty researching this .
We are In Auburn and I just saw your request. Look us up. Healing Pastures @C Horse Ranch 530 888 7766
Healing Pastures @C Horse Ranch is in Auburn and would love to meet you 530 888 7766
I think this is great! I could see a program where rescue horses could be used positively to help people not just with developmental disabilities but victims who suffer mental illness, depression, etc. 😉 We have an Arab mare “Kelly” who at 29 is still quite alive and well. It is therapy for my wife and myself to care and enjoy our horse.
i love horses and I would love to have therapy with them too they calm me down