Equine Therapy and Eating Disorders
How many of us are filled with joy by watching a kitten, or delighted by the antics of puppies. Indeed, for many of those with eating disorders, a pet is tantamount to a lifeline. Having a dog, cat, rabbit, bird, or other pet who needs love, care and attention can make the difference in lasting recovery and overall health. Not only does a pet need its owner, often it provides the unconditional love that is at a premium iin the human population.
This importance is not confined to a pet that can be held or cuddled. Many individuals have found that horses can also play a significant role in recovery. Read on and learn more about their value.
Therapeutic horseback riding, also known as equine-assisted therapy, is for individuals with a range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social special needs. There are several different kinds of programs that utilize horses and horseback riding for therapeutic benefits. Equine-assisted activities, including therapeutic riding, driving, and vaulting are not therapy but sport and recreational activities that have therapeutic value. Equine-assisted activities, therapeutic riding is usually most effective in children because of the nature of mental, and social development. However, equine-assisted activities produce very favorable improvements in riders of all ages.
There are hundreds of programs around the world as well many organizations dedicated to the various forms of equine-assisted activities. "Therapeutic riding" refers specifically to horseback riding lessons for people with special needs in which the therapeutic benefits of riding are a result of learning riding skills. Licensed therapists who incorporate the horse as one of their tools during therapy sessions conduct equine-assisted therapy. This is different from therapeutic riding where the rider influences the movement of the horse. Forms of equine-assisted therapy include hippotherapy, in which a certified therapist uses the horse as a therapeutic tool, and equine-facilitated psychotherapy in which a certified mental health professional uses the horse in various ways for therapeutic benefit. Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy used by occupational, physical and speech therapists. The movement of the horse is carefully modulated to influence neuromuscular changes in the client.
Therapeutic riding is considered an animal-assisted activity. As with animal-assisted therapy, the contact with another living being and the special bond people form with animals is used as a therapeutic tool. However, horses provide more than just skills acquired from a relationship with an animal or learning to care for an animal. Riding a horse provides a unique and often profound activity for many people. The motion of the horse, concentration needed to acquire riding skills, and the communication between instructor and rider allow people with a variety of disabilities to benefit from riding.
Riding, like many other therapeutic approaches, can also be considered a form of recreational therapy. That is, because riding is an enjoyable activity for many people, therapeutic riding is also used as a quality-of-life activity for people with degenerative diseases as well as a 'fun activity' for children and adults. Riding is a rapidly growing field with much diversification. Horseback riding has been recognized by many medical professionals and therapists as a very effective physical activity for many people.
Articles
Efficacy of Equine Therapy: Mounting Evidence
By Edward J. Cumella Ph.D. and Sharon Simpson
Can grooming and riding horses foster recovery from mental illness? According to a recent article published in the Psychiatric Times (1), the answer is "yes." "[E]vidence has continued to accumulate, more rigorous controlled studies are being conducted, resulting in the emergence of a significant body of literature supporting the therapeutic value of the human-companion animal interaction..." An article reviewing the benefits of animal-assisted therapy has even appeared in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (2). Read More
Benefits of Equine Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy has shown evidenced-based efficacy in patients with depression (3), anxiety (4), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (5), conduct disorders (6), dissociative disorders (7), Alzheimer's disease (8), dementia (9), autism (10), and other chronic mental illnesses (11,12).
In light of research and observational findings, experts suggest that Equine Therapy—a common form of animal-assisted therapy--may yield a variety of psychotherapeutic benefits... Read More