For centuries, humans have recognized the majesty, power, and sensitivity of horses. Equine therapy utilizes horses and horse-related activities to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals. Specifically, it provides people the opportunity to connect with horses and engage in experiential activities led by certified equine therapists. Some of the activities involved include:
- Riding horses
- Grooming and caring for horses
- Feeding horses
- Leading horses through an obstacle course
- Observing horse behaviors and communication
Goals and Benefits of Equine Therapy
Equine therapy provides many benefits when used in conjunction with psychiatric treatment. The following are a few of these benefits, although there are several others.
Builds Trust, Confidence, and Relationship Skills
By bonding with horses, individuals learn to establish trust and connections. This can extend to improved relationships with other people. Controlling and riding a large animal like a horse helps empower people and builds self-assurance.
Provides Motivation While Improving Communication
Caring for a horse gives people, especially kids, constructive motivation and responsibility. Participants learn to better understand non-verbal communication when interacting with horses.
Improve Coordination and Motor Skills While Helping with Sensory Processing Issues
The physical nature of working with horses enhances coordination, strength, and balance. The multidimensional stimuli from horses can help individuals better integrate sensory information.
Supports Emotional Growth While Reducing Stress and Anxiety
The natural calming presence of horses has stress-reducing and relaxing effects. Spending time with horses provides a safe space for people to process emotions and foster emotional intelligence.
Who Can Benefit From Equine Therapy?
The number of individuals who can benefit from equine therapy is vast. The following are some of the main groups that can greatly benefit from this form of therapy.
Children and Teens
Children and teens struggling with many issues benefit from this therapy. The horse-human connection builds confidence, communication skills, empathy, and self-control in children.
Adults
Adults dealing with mental health disorders, emotional disturbances, stress, grief, and trauma can experience profound breakthroughs with equine therapy. Conditions such as depression, PTSD, eating disorders, addiction, and the effects of abuse improve through equine-assisted activities.
Those with Disabilities
Individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory, and developmental disabilities like cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, paralysis, amputation, and many others benefit immensely from equine therapy. Interacting with horses stimulates motor skills, coordination, language development, emotional growth, and sensory processing.
Elderly Adults
For older adults facing isolation, depression, memory loss, grief, and reduced mobility or cognition, equine therapy provides motivation, sensory stimulation, companionship, and a sense of purpose. Caring for a horse can help counteract loneliness and loss of identity often common in old age.
At-Risk Youth
Equine therapy offers immense value for at-risk youth involved in violence, gangs, or the juvenile criminal justice system by building empathy, improving impulse control, reducing aggression, and developing healthy relationships.
Veterans
For veterans coping with PTSD, trauma, anger issues, substance abuse, social reintegration, and more, equine therapy can have profound effects. Horses help veterans lower stress, transform anger into positive emotions, and find peace, purpose, and connection.
Equine therapy taps into the innate healing power of horses to create positive change across a vast spectrum of challenges and diagnoses. It provides unique benefits beyond traditional office therapy settings. With rising popularity and a wide reach, equine therapy is poised to continue transforming many lives for the better through the human-horse connection.
