Horses are used in equine assisted learning (EAL), a type of therapy, to assist people with emotional, behavioral, and mental health problems. EAL workshops involve participants in horse-related activities with the goal of fostering personal development and self-awareness. This novel strategy’s therapeutic advantages have long been understood, and people with a variety of diseases, such as cerebral palsy, PTSD, anxiety, and depression, have benefited from its use. Do horses understand when you’re depressed?
Horses are thought to be able to detect human emotions and react accordingly. Horses are herd animals, and as such, they have an innate capacity to interpret nonverbal signs and body language. Horses are able to detect changes in body language that occur when a person is depressed. Horses are recognized to develop empathy for people and frequently approach those who are angry or distressed. Horses are ideally suited for use in therapy due of their capacity to feel emotions. Why does riding a horse make me feel at ease?
Humans are calmed by horses, and being in their presence can help lower tension and anxiety. This is partially because horses are big, strong animals, and being around them can be both humbling and inspirational. Additionally, horses are judgment-free and lack any previous preconceptions about people. Because there is no criticism, people may be themselves and work through their problems in a secure environment.
Cerebral palsy patients have been proven to benefit from equine therapy. Balance and coordination can be enhanced and muscles can be strengthened by the horse’s movement. Working with a horse can also help build self-confidence and self-esteem. People who have cerebral palsy frequently experience mobility issues and may feel lonely or excluded from social events. People have a special chance to get physical activity and social interaction through equine therapy. Who was the inventor of equine assisted therapy?
Although equine aided therapy has been used for millennia, it wasn’t until the 1960s that it started to gain acceptance as a valid therapy modality. The ancient Greeks were the first to use horses in therapy, using riding to heal patients with a range of ailments. Liz Hartel, a Danish equestrian who overcame the ravages of polio by horseback riding, is credited with developing equine assisted therapy in the modern period. Others were motivated by her success to look into the therapeutic advantages of working with horses.
In summary, equine assisted learning is an effective therapy that can benefit people who are struggling with a variety of emotional, behavioral, and mental health problems. Being around horses can help people relax since they are naturally able to perceive human emotions and behave accordingly. Equine therapy has been proven to be helpful for people with cerebral palsy, and it offers a special chance for people to have physical activity and social interaction. Working with horses has been proven to have therapeutic effects for millennia and is now accepted as a valid method of therapy.
In ancient Greece, horses were employed as a kind of therapy to enhance both physical and emotional well-being. However, Liz Hartel, a Danish equestrian, used horseback riding as a sort of physical therapy for her own polio-caused paralysis in the 1960s, which marked the beginning of modern equine-assisted therapy.
With the help of experienced professionals, suitable safety precautions, and equine aided learning programs, people with cerebral palsy are able to ride horses. The intensity and particular restrictions of the person’s health will, however, determine how much engagement is possible. To establish the acceptability and safety of horseback riding for a person with cerebral palsy, it is advised to speak with a medical expert and a licensed equine therapist.