How Equine Therapy Is Used To Improve Mental Health

While every pet owner knows that they are responsible for the well-being of their animals, it’s been shown that humans benefit mentally and physically from having animals around too. In this article, we will discuss how equine therapy is used to support and improve mental health.

The History of Equine Therapy

Equine therapy goes back as far as the ancient Greeks, who recognized how horses provide physical therapeutic benefits for things such as speech and balance. They even used horses to help treat an Olympian with polio.

However, by 1999, experts acknowledged that horses could also improve psychological issues such as PTSD, ADHD, anxiety, autism, and depression. 

How Equine Therapy Is Conducted

All equine therapy sessions involve the client, an Equine Specialist, and a therapist. Equine therapy sessions consist of either relational work, horse riding, or both. Relational work involves connecting and caring for the horse to help patients understand and improve their relationship patterns. Horse riding can be used in combination with EMDR, which is a trauma specific therapy tool that uses bilateral sensory input to process traumatic memories.

Benefits of Equine Therapy

Horses are highly sensitive to their surroundings and can reflect the dysregulation that a person with trauma may be experiencing. Equine therapy provides relief from various mental health conditions and is beneficial in the short and long term. In fact, a 2017 study showed that patients encountered a reduction in psychological stress immediately following treatment. These same patients still experienced positive mental health benefits six months later. 

If you are interested in learning more about equine therapy, visit our website for more information about programs, location, and more so we can help you get back on the saddle and thrive.

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