EQUINE THERAPY

June Bond, BA and M Ed

While many of us picture a therapy session in an office with subtle light and calming music, children with learning disabilities, emotional challenges, and physical handicaps may receive e therapy in the a riding ring complete with a horse, bright sunshine, and all of the dust that the child and horse can manage to kick up.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Equine Therapy, also known as Therapeutic Riding, has its roots in Germany. It was
originally used for children and adults with orthopedic issues. Today the therapy boosts positive results with a
wide variety of disabilities. Some statistics indicate that over 40,000 handicapped children and adults
participated in certified equine therapy programs last year.
This includes children with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, visual and hearing impairment, Down
syndrome, autism, mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, ADHD, emotional challenges, spinal bifida,
amputations, and attention deficit disorder.

THEORY BEHIND EQUINE THERAPY: Horses are natural facilitators in therapy. Unlike humans, these grand
animals give clear messages and cues. The children can feel in control of their setting because there is a direct
correlation between action and reaction. For an abused child, this is a rare setting to be in! In order to learn
how to care for and ride a horse, a child must also be able to communicate efficiently with the horse. The child
who can effectively interact with their horse can extend this skill to human beings to form meaningful
relationships and trust with others. Building a relationship with an animal is very rewarding in many aspects
for a person with an emotional, social or psychological disability. The person with the disability can feel the
trust and loyalty that the animal demonstrates. This trust has often been betrayed by the adults that have
been caregivers to the child. The relationship between the child and horse helps to empower and enable the
child to connect on a personal level. The sometimes-unpredictable nature of animals, (MUST LESS THAN
HUMAN BEINGS) and situations can also create a real-life environment in which students will be able to
confront fears and make adjustments to situations beyond their control.

In a very real sense, the horses in the program serve as co-therapists, setting firm boundaries, testing students’ boundaries and providing students with an opportunity to learn to empathize with, nurture and care for others. Unlike humans, the horses don’t lie, manipulate, or cheat. They are direct in their communication and they respond to direct and clear communication from others. As students work with the animals, they begin to realize that lying, manipulating and cheating don’t work; they begin to form bonds and to expand their horizons beyond themselves.

An added benefit of equine therapy that the child is able to leave the more sterile, sometimes intimidating environment of a counselor’s office and enter the less threatening environment of a horse barn and riding trail. This change alone can be especially beneficial for children who have been resistant to traditional therapy sessions within the confines of four walls.

Equine therapy is also an effective tool for teaching teamwork, communication, and problem solving. It provides a natural setting where a child can face fears and increase confidence and self-esteem. Equine- assisted therapy can provide a safe context for addressing emotional blocks and developing new, more positive ways of relating. Children can find that riding a horse is therapeutically powerful and often life changing.

WHERE AND HOW IS EQUINE THERAPY BEING USED:

Motor Disabilities: Learning to ride a horse requires balance and coordination. Many physically disabled
children lack muscle tone, thus compromising their coordination. Equine therapy gives a disabled child a
physically enjoyable experience that also helps develop muscle tone, balance, and coordination. It also helps
the child develop and improve upon hand-eye coordination. Equine therapy can achieve the same results as
standard physical therapy, but in a more pleasant setting and sometimes in an expedited timeline. Large
motor skills are also developed as the child learns to ride. This unique therapy offers a safe, secure
environment where a therapist or other staff person will be close at hand as new skills are learned. These new
skills, and the child’s continued improvement upon them, increase her self-confidence, which increases her
desire and willingness to learn skills at home and/or at school. Learning is no longer scary, but fun, interesting
and rewarding. Some of the physical disabilities and disorders that have been improved with an equine
therapy program include cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and
stroke.

Developmental Delays/Austism/Asperger’s syndrome: Asperger’s and Autism are sub-categories of a larger disorder category called Pervasive Developmental
Disorders. They have similar characteristics, which are milder in Asperger’s, and include both verbal and non-
verbal communication impairments, hyper-focus on one or two specific areas of interest, clumsiness, and
repetitive speech patterns. Typical treatment programs for Asperger’s and autism focus on behavior
modification and improvement. The complexity of the behaviors is gradually increased in an attempt to help
the person continue developing. Medication is sometimes prescribed to people with Asperger’s or autism, but
only to control symptoms like hyperactivity or seizures. There’s currently no known cure for either disorder.
While the research into equine therapy is limited, there’s a general belief that therapy horses and other
animals can be helpful for children with autism or Asperger’s. Equine therapy appears to have a calming effect
on the children. The demeanor of the animals seems to elicit more social interaction and bring the autistic
child out of their “world”. Children can begin making eye contact with the animal first, then transfer the skill
with human beings. As the child opens emotionally to the horse, they may increase their chances of opening
up emotionally to human beings. In addition to the emotional benefits of interacting with the horse, all five of
the senses are stirred. Discovery of these sensations may bring an autistic child forward and enhance their
communication and interest in other physical objects and/or people.

Social/Emotional Challenges: Horses are usually non-judgmental and have no expectations or motives.
Therefore, a child can give love and affection without the fear of rejection or harm. The horse can facilitate the
child to be emotionally responsive as it returns affection to the child. Through working with the horse,
children can gain insight into their feelings, behaviors, patterns, boundaries, and fear.

Equine Therapy has been most successful in helping children with emotional challenges when used in conjunction with counseling. A child’s ability to interact socially in a group is often improved as well. Group sessions allow the child to work and play with other children and counselors in order to learn how to handle conflict, and how to help others. Children who have experienced failure in traditional counseling programs have been shown to have much better results with equine assisted therapy. This therapy teaches children about themselves, allows recognition of dysfunctional patterns of behavior, and helps define healthy relationships. This dual process involves establishing a relationship with a horse on the ground and then evolves into the nurturing of that relationship with the horse. Through interaction between the horse and the child, counselors ask questions based upon what is being revealed through the ‘horse – child relationship.’ Typically, at the end of the session, the children are provided time to process the experience with the therapists and integrate the insights into their treatment plan.

WHERE CAN I ACCESS THE TYPE OF THERAPY?

The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) (www.naraha.org) accredits centers
providing a variety of beneficial services to people with disabilities. The Equine Assisted Growth & Learning
Association (EAGALA) (www.eagala.org) focuses more on the mental health side of equine interactions. They
also provide certification for mental health professionals and equine professionals. Contact these web sites
about accredited programs in your area that may benefit your child.