Equine therapy
Equine therapy, also known as equine-assisted therapy (EAT), is a treatment that includes equine activities or an equine environment to promote physical, occupational, and emotional growth in persons with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, autism, cerebral palsy, dementia, depression, developmental delay, genetic syndromes (such as Down syndrome), traumatic brain injuries, behavioral issues, abuse issues, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health problems. Since the horses have similar behaviors with humans, such as social and responsive behaviors, it is easy for the patients to create a connection with the horse. Riders with disabilities demonstrate accomplishments in national and international sport riding competitions.
Application
Equine therapy can involve more than just riding the horse. In some sessions, a client might not even touch the horse at all. Often the mental health professional leading the session will set goals for the client to complete, such as leading the horse to a designated area or putting a halter on the horse. The client will complete the task to the best of their ability and then discuss the thought process, ideas and problem solving used to complete the task. Discussing what the client is doing at a given time allows them to improve language skills. Listening to the instructor helps improve the individuals ability to listen and follow directions, ask questions, etc. Not only is there communication between the rider and the instructor, but also between the rider and the horse.
Equine therapy can also be based on working with a subspecies of the horse such as donkeys, in a therapy called onotherapy. Donkeys are social animals and gentle by nature which makes them useful.
Physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreation therapy and speech-language therapy strive to assist the individual with many of the same goals with EAT. However, physical therapy focuses more on gross motor movement and ability, occupational therapy focuses on fine motor ability, and speech-language therapy on the physiological systems associated with speech and language. Equine Assisted Therapy is used by these professionals to provide these benefits without giving the individual a feeling that they are in therapy.[1]
EAT involves creating a connection between the patient and horse through grooming and being around each other. The main limitation of EFP is the lack of quantitative research. The research there is lacks statistical power because of small convenience sampling, lack of control groups and being largely interview based studies.
History
Equine therapy dates back to the times when horses were used for therapeutic riding in ancient Greek literature. Orbasis of ancient Lydia documented the therapeutic value of riding in 600 B.C. In 1946 Equine Therapy was introduced in Scandinavia after an outbreak of poliomyelitis.[2]
Therapeutic Riding was introduced to the United States and Canada in 1960 with the formation of the Community Association of Riding of the Disabled (CARD). In the United States riding for the disabled developed as a form of recreation and as a means of motivation for education, as well as its therapeutic benefits. In 1969 the Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center for the Handicapped was established in Michigan, and remains the oldest center specifically for people with disabilities in the United States.[2]
The North American Riding for Handicapped Association (NARHA) was founded in 1969 to serve as an advisory body to the various riding for disabled groups across the United States and its neighboring countries. In 2011, NARHA changed its name to the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International.[3][2]
Animals such as elephants, dolphins, dogs, and cats have also been used for therapeutic purposes. Horses become the most popular animal to use in animal therapy because they give immediate feedback to the rider’s actions. Horses also have the ability to mirror the feelings of the rider. Horses’ large and intimidating appearance forces their rider to gain trust around them.
References
- ↑ "NCEFT: National Center For Equine Centered Therapy". National Center For Equine Centered Therapy (NCEFT). Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.stablelifeinc.org/historyEAT.html
- ↑ http://pathintl.org
Further reading
- Granados AC, Agís IF (March 2011). "Why children with special needs feel better with hippotherapy sessions: a conceptual review". J Altern Complement Med 17 (3): 191–7. doi:10.1089/acm.2009.0229. PMID 21385087.
- O'Haire ME (July 2013). "Animal-assisted intervention for autism spectrum disorder: a systematic literature review". J Autism Dev Disord 43 (7): 1606–22. doi:10.1007/s10803-012-1707-5. PMID 23124442.
- Masini A (October 2010). "Equine-assisted psychotherapy in clinical practice". J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv 48 (10): 30–4. doi:10.3928/02793695-20100831-08. PMID 20873699.
- Tseng SH, Chen HC, Tam KW (January 2013). "Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of equine assisted activities and therapies on gross motor outcome in children with cerebral palsy". Disabil Rehabil 35 (2): 89–99. doi:10.3109/09638288.2012.687033. PMID 22630812.
- Whalen CN, Case-Smith J (August 2012). "Therapeutic effects of horseback riding therapy on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review". Phys Occup Ther Pediatr 32 (3): 229–42. doi:10.3109/01942638.2011.619251. PMID 22122355.