The Emergence of Equine Therapy in the US: Combining Care and Enjoyment

Equine therapy is a rising trend in the United States of America, helping Americans get out and enjoy a new aspect of life while also taking care of an animal. As explained in CRC Health’s article titled What is Equine Therapy? equine therapy is defined as “a form of experiential therapy that involves interactions between patients and horses.” (n. d.) Recent studies have shown that equine therapy has had a number of positive impacts on the human body. Equine therapy is an excellent hobby to pursue because it builds character, it is good for overall health, strengthens mental fitness and deepens problem-solving skills.

Caring for a 1,000-pound animal will teach a person a lot about life starting with getting up at 5 o’clock every morning to do barn chores; it’s not for the faint of heart. Start by feeding, mucking out stalls, brushing the horse and picking junk out of hooves all while trying to avoid getting kicked. It isn’t all bad though it all becomes a part of the song and dance of caring for a horse and building a level of communication and trust without words.

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Going out into the world after working with a horse shows a whole different side of humanity. While working with horses a fundamental skill is patience. By working on and perfecting this skill with an animal that is almost 5 times the size of the average person, it can in turn help with patience and understanding of everyday annoyances that would usually make someone upset.

Equally important in owning a horse in the effect on overall health for the human body affecting many different organ systems. According to the article Equine-Assisted Therapy: Physical And Emotional Benefits, “Working with a horse provides exercise for individuals who need help developing fine motor skills (in the small muscles of the fingers, toes, wrists, etc.) and gross motor skills (large muscles in the legs, arms, and torso).” (n. d.). Meaning that working with horses enhances overall movements such as walking, moving your arms and bending as well as small items as typing, tying shoes and wiggling toes. Moving on to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which are the systems that are all about breathing and heart function, owning a horse is a wonderful way to improve the function of these systems. As stated in the Top 10 Health Benefits of Owning a Horse article, “Cleaning stalls, grooming, feeding, raking hay, pushing wheelbarrows – all of these barn chores actively burn calories and build muscle.” and by doing these basic necessary tasks of basic horse care, one will be getting a workout in without even knowing it (Health Fitness Revolution, 2017). Overall health is just as vital as the next item.

Horse ownership can play a huge role in mental fitness, by reducing stress, building confidence and engaging the center of your brain sparking creativity. As Leif Hallberg talks about on page 518 of his book The Clinical Practice of Equine-Assisted Therapy: Including Horses in Human Healthcare helps with a variety of different issues from anxiety and depression to abuse and trauma. He stated that.

Researchers have theorized about the many ways horses may help people who are dealing with mental health issues. From the size of the horse to instinctual nature, its responses and reactions, its communication style, and the feelings of self-esteem and self-confidence that develop through the horse-human relationship, the opportunity for addressing clinical mental health goals are plentiful.

Also caring for an animal of that stature and grace can leave a person with a sense of accomplishment and feeling confident.

In addition to all of these superb reasons to pursue owning a horse, a common trait that all horse owners have learned is how to be a stellar problem-solver. Ask any horse owner, vet bills are outrageous, farrier fees are not always the friendliest and the price of feed can be outrageous if one does not know what they are doing. Taking time to research and talking with other horse owners will be key to owning a horse. It is important to know when something is seriously wrong with a horse and to call a veterinarian or when it can be solved by gathering supplies at the local feed store. This will carry over to everyday life when faced with a predicament at work or at home, a person will be able to quickly think on their feet and come up with a solution whatever it may be.

In conclusion, equine therapy has many wonderful benefits. Working with an animal that is 5 times the size of the average American is rewarding and can build character. Also, equine therapy improves the functions of most major organ systems and improves and provides clarity for mental health. Furthermore, it enhances a person’s ability to assess situations and to critically think. In the end. equine therapy is an excellent hobby to pursue because it builds character, it is good for overall health, strengthens mental fitness and deepens problem-solving skills.