What is Equine Therapy?
Equine therapy incorporates horses into the therapeutic process. People engage in activities such as grooming, feeding, and leading a horse.
The goals of this form of therapy include helping people develop skills such as emotional regulation, self-confidence, and responsibility. With mature horses weighing anywhere in the range of 900 to 2,000 pounds or more, it might feel a bit intimidating to have such a large, majestic creature participating in your therapy sessions.
Horses have been used for therapeutic purposes since the time of the ancient Greeks. The Greek physician Hippocrates, known as the “Father of Medicine,” wrote about the therapeutic potential of horseback riding.
Riding became more popular as a therapy tool during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1969, the North American Riding for Handicapped Association was formed, which later became the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International.
Although a variety of animals can be used in the therapy process, horses offer unique traits that have made them a top choice for animal-assisted therapies. According to anxiety expert Dr. Robin Zasio, horses bring unique elements to the therapy process.
J.R. Working with a horsePhoto byThe Veterans Ranch
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