Equine Therapy Research Paper

Equine Assisted Therapy Winston S. Churchill once said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Horses are used for many recreational activities, but horses can also be used to help people with disabilities. Equine assisted therapy helps improve the condition of adults and teens that have problems and disorders. The ancient Greeks were the first to use equine therapy. Horses were used to treat people with neurological problems, low morale, and gout. The Greeks wrote about it in old literature around 600 BC. Equine therapy was introduced in Scandinavia during a polio outbreak in 1946. In 1952, Liz Hartel won a silver medal in equestrian sports. She told her story about how riding helped her

People who participate in equine therapy build their trust and self efficiency. You have to have great trust in an animal to get on its back. During equine therapy, individuals talk about what they see and feel; this helps with many problems. Once the individual rides a few times, he begins to form a bond with the horse he/she is riding. The horse also builds a bond with that person, and they share trust in one another. They also have to trust the workers that are helping them tack up, get on and off the horse, and steer the horse. They begin to become more self efficient because they are doing some things on their own. It also gives the person a sense of freedom because they are sitting alone on the top of a massive animal. Helen Thompson once said, “In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.” The individual may have to brush his/her horse and tack up. This requires not only physical strength, but emotional strength, also. If someone with autism goes to a therapeutic riding program, they may be able to lift the saddle; but, they might not be able to brush the horse for long periods of time. These programs help people with disabilities improve their weak

The individuals have to cue the horse by gently pushing their leg into the horse or by steering it around. If the individual cannot ride alone yet, they have to be calm and talk to the people around them. The workers have to help the individual onto the horse, and may ask questions to them. People learn to recognize how they think when working with horses. They learn to watch the horse’s body language while around the horse. Body language is used in all animals and people, which helps them to better communicate with others. Many individuals talk to the horse while they are on just because of how enjoyable the experience