Equine Therapy is Horses Helping People: How do horses help?

Posted by Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor @jenniferhunter, Sep 3, 2021

Horses can help with therapy in many ways.

Therapeutic riding programs offer ways to have a natural walking motion for patients who can't walk and this helps build better core strength, balance and confidence.

Horses help with emotional trauma. Veterans and inmates can be helped by working with horses and building a trust relationship.

Mini horses make visits to patients in hospitals and care centers. They also visit people to help people cope with tragedy much like therapy dogs.

Horses are honest and accepting. Horses form strong bonds to humans and become a partnership which helps the rider feel safe. Most therapeutic riding programs use people as spotters next to the horse and leading the horse so the rider can focus on the motion.

Horses help people with ADD/ADHD focus.

Sometimes psychotherapists use horses to help patients with cognitive or emotional issues.

Occupational therapists use horses to help patients with neuro-muscular disorders, balance, and coordination.

Therapeutic Riding helps children heal from trauma, as well as improve confidence.

Here is a link from Psychology Today that explains how horses help people.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/helping-kids-cope/201903/equine-assisted-therapy-unique-and-effective-intervention

Here is a video about a Miniature Horse Therapy program and how they help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9ucsCXHQK0&t=18s

Do you have a story to share about how working with a therapy horse has helped in healing, strength, and confidence? Please join the conversation.

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Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Apr 3, 2023

Here's a beautiful story about loving horses, serious disease, recovery and loving horses again.

"Gift of Gratitude: Woman returns to cherished horses after cancer and transplant at Mayo Clinic"

https://mayomagazine.mayoclinic.org/2023/03/gift-of-gratitude-woman-returns-to-cherished-horses-after-cancer-and-transplant-at-mayo-clinic/

William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Sep 29, 2023

In reply to @auntieoakley "I have heard of a few programs for equine therapy for vets. Anyone familiar with these..." + (show)

There is one for vets near me in Belvidere, Illinois that as I understand it has been very successful with the veterans.

William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Sep 29, 2023

Thanks for this post Jennifer. I finally had the opportunity to go through all the responses.
Our local park, lockwoodpark.com is in the process of building an indoor facility to the tune of over six million dollars so that we can have year round therapy with local mental health facilities as well as working close with the county mental health services. I am fortunate to be on the ground floor of this development and am looking for opportunities to be a little more than just a wrangler for the horses they will use.
Our park already works in this area as well as the general public taking lessons or riding in groups. The change I have witnessed in some of these kids over the summer when they started to learn about the equine world has made me smile to no end. So lucky to have two really wonderful volunteer gigs since retiring from the business world.

Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Jul 5 10:12am

Here is one in Rome. Talk about an old fashioned arena for this hospital to use for hippotherapy.
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/therapy-horses-help-neurology-patients-regain-confidence-motor-skills-2024-07-03/

William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Jul 7 7:37am

In reply to @auntieoakley "Here is one in Rome. Talk about an old fashioned arena for this hospital to use..." + (show)

Good article. Horses are not used just for physical therapy either. When used for kids with autism, it allows the kids to relax as they realize the horse does not judge them, accepts them as they are. Amazing results.
For troubled youth, kids learn to slow down and reflect on one’s own behavior in order to simply catch and brush a horse. The horse is a mirror of the patient’s lack of calm. For the horse to allow the patient near it, the patient must first go to “zero”, something an out of control youth must learn and accept. At this early point, even the toughest kids will cry, and begin the journey.
In physical therapy, the muscles used to balance on the horse while the horse walks are exercised. Confidence is quickly built and again, the horse doesn’t judge. In addition, it is medical tested fact the horse can sense the patient’s inability, and to a large extent feelings as the horse has learned to survive millions of years by reading others.

Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Jul 7 10:22am

50 years of horse owning and using them to help others has taught me more than I ever learned getting a few degrees.
The biggest take away for me; they live in this moment, not the last and not the next and partnering with them teaches me to do the same.
What is your best lesson horses have taught you?

William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Jul 7 5:52pm

In reply to @auntieoakley "50 years of horse owning and using them to help others has taught me more than..." + (show)

Being completely calm when working with the horses and learning their language was most helpful. The kids ask how I make a horse to do this or that and I tell them I don't make a horse do anything, I just ask them to. And the best times are when no one is around, just me and a horse and a beautiful day.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 7 7:13pm

In reply to @auntieoakley "50 years of horse owning and using them to help others has taught me more than..." + (show)

They taught me I can only be who I am. No more, no less.

Several years I took a "class" taught by someone, using horses from her herd, on how to let go and be aware of ourselves. She was upset when the big grey horse chose me, and we walked along. When we paused, my companion stood looking one way, and I stood on his near side, arm flung over his back, looking to his rear. She wanted to know why we were positioned like that. Simple. "He has my back, and I have his!" We were both almost asleep, so relaxed and knowing it was right.
Ginger