Therapeutic Horseback Riding Essay
Therapeutic Horseback Riding Therapeutic horseback riding is a great way to help people with special needs have a better life by enabling them to have more experiences in life. Therapeutic horseback riding is offered worldwide to help emotionally, physically, mentally and socially challenged children and adults. The horses that are used for therapy riding are very special and build strong bonds with their challenged riders. From people with Autism to anywhere like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Down Syndrome can be helped by therapy riding and introduced to a whole new world of experiences.Different organizations and companies all have their ways to help people and give great and rewarding jobs for horses. Therapeutic horses can teach people many different lessons to life and concepts that
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are essential. For troubled people, bonding with others could be hard but horses can help since they give instant feedback. The horses’ feedback is rewarding since it lets them know if they did the right command or movement by doing what they asked if they did it correctly. Horses will also help in building bonds filled of trust since horses and their riders must trust each other and learn to bond with each other. Communication is vital when riding, so the person learns good communication skills which can be transferred into interpersonal relationships. To troubled children and adults, success is key for them. They still want to be able to be able to do stuff by themselves so when it comes to brushing, tacking up/down a horse or mounting; doing it correctly by themselves, they become more confident and feel successful. During horseback riding you have to pay close attention and have to focus on staying in the saddle. Therefore, people who have trouble or paying attention will become better at that. Also, for people who have to get around in a wheelchair, the horses’ movements mimic walking so hopefully one day that person will be able to walk. Horse therapy is used for many different troubled children and adults. For people who have mood disorders, anxiety disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Autism, palsy, language development disorders, Down-Syndrome, sensory integration problems, life changes/losses or behavioral problems; they can be helped by therapeutic horseback riding. There are many companies and organizations that offer and support therapeutic horseback riding or equine therapy activities. Organizations like PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) are non-profit organizations that are all about helping challenged adults and children. PATH International and other businesses make sure that everything is safe while new experiences are happening. PATH International has over 52,000 volunteers, over 7,500 equine “therapists” and more than 4,000 instructors. The NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) has over 650 centers which work with over 30,000 disabled people in the United States and Canada. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) also work with PATH International. Only certain horses can become therapy horses depending on their size, attitude and gait.
A therapy horse can be any breed. Some businesses allow horses the size of a dog to the size of the biggest draft horse as long as they are calm, friendly and well mannered. Therapy horses can have the knowledge of any discipline, but they need to have an even 4 beat walk, 2 beat trot, and 3 beat canter. The horses also need to be friendly and sound (cannot be spooked easily). Since the handicapped riders don’t have the same capabilities non-troubled riders, the horse must be okay with odd movements or sudden jerks on the reins. Their attitude must be calm, friendly and forgiving. A horse that tends to bite, pin their ears and kick probably aren’t the best choices to become a therapy horse. Horses who are injured, lame or cannot properly move will not be accepted since it is not fair to the horse and won’t be able to properly teach their riders. A therapy horse is also trained to not mind extra equipment (such as toys, balls, ropes, batons etc.) and large devices (like lifts that are used to allow a rider to safely mount). Horses that respond well to voice and leg commands are
valued. Overall, therapeutic horseback riding opens many doors for mentally, physically, socially and emotionally challenged children and adults. For all of the thousands of handicapped individuals, there are companies and organizations there to help. At those organizations, there are very skilled, well mannered and friendly horses and ponies waiting to help so they can change the lives of many people for the better. At every organization, no matter where across the globe, volunteers are there to help teach and help anybody to help get a better view of the world for what it really is. After all, horses know how to teach, love, and care for so they are put into therapy programs worldwide to help those in need.
are essential. For troubled people, bonding with others could be hard but horses can help since they give instant feedback. The horses’ feedback is rewarding since it lets them know if they did the right command or movement by doing what they asked if they did it correctly. Horses will also help in building bonds filled of trust since horses and their riders must trust each other and learn to bond with each other. Communication is vital when riding, so the person learns good communication skills which can be transferred into interpersonal relationships. To troubled children and adults, success is key for them. They still want to be able to be able to do stuff by themselves so when it comes to brushing, tacking up/down a horse or mounting; doing it correctly by themselves, they become more confident and feel successful. During horseback riding you have to pay close attention and have to focus on staying in the saddle. Therefore, people who have trouble or paying attention will become better at that. Also, for people who have to get around in a wheelchair, the horses’ movements mimic walking so hopefully one day that person will be able to walk. Horse therapy is used for many different troubled children and adults. For people who have mood disorders, anxiety disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Autism, palsy, language development disorders, Down-Syndrome, sensory integration problems, life changes/losses or behavioral problems; they can be helped by therapeutic horseback riding. There are many companies and organizations that offer and support therapeutic horseback riding or equine therapy activities. Organizations like PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) are non-profit organizations that are all about helping challenged adults and children. PATH International and other businesses make sure that everything is safe while new experiences are happening. PATH International has over 52,000 volunteers, over 7,500 equine “therapists” and more than 4,000 instructors. The NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) has over 650 centers which work with over 30,000 disabled people in the United States and Canada. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) also work with PATH International. Only certain horses can become therapy horses depending on their size, attitude and gait.
A therapy horse can be any breed. Some businesses allow horses the size of a dog to the size of the biggest draft horse as long as they are calm, friendly and well mannered. Therapy horses can have the knowledge of any discipline, but they need to have an even 4 beat walk, 2 beat trot, and 3 beat canter. The horses also need to be friendly and sound (cannot be spooked easily). Since the handicapped riders don’t have the same capabilities non-troubled riders, the horse must be okay with odd movements or sudden jerks on the reins. Their attitude must be calm, friendly and forgiving. A horse that tends to bite, pin their ears and kick probably aren’t the best choices to become a therapy horse. Horses who are injured, lame or cannot properly move will not be accepted since it is not fair to the horse and won’t be able to properly teach their riders. A therapy horse is also trained to not mind extra equipment (such as toys, balls, ropes, batons etc.) and large devices (like lifts that are used to allow a rider to safely mount). Horses that respond well to voice and leg commands are
valued. Overall, therapeutic horseback riding opens many doors for mentally, physically, socially and emotionally challenged children and adults. For all of the thousands of handicapped individuals, there are companies and organizations there to help. At those organizations, there are very skilled, well mannered and friendly horses and ponies waiting to help so they can change the lives of many people for the better. At every organization, no matter where across the globe, volunteers are there to help teach and help anybody to help get a better view of the world for what it really is. After all, horses know how to teach, love, and care for so they are put into therapy programs worldwide to help those in need.