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Equine Facilitated
Therapy
THE HORSE AS A THERAPEUTIC MODALITY AND A
TOOL IN EDUCATION
The horse has been used by humans in many
ways. It has been used as food, as a means of transportation, for
work, in war, in sport, in recreational activities, as a
companion and as a friend, to name a few. There are two other
areas in which the horse has become recognized as an integral
partner with people: therapy and education.
Therapeutic is defined as: "of or
relating to the treatment of disease (dis-ease) or disorder
(dis-order) by remedial agents or methods."
Educate is defined as: "to provide
schooling for or to develop mentally "
In Equine Facilitated Therapy (therapeutic
horseback riding) and therapeutic driving activities the horse is
viewed as a tool in therapy, sport and education for people who
are physically and/or mentally disabled (ref. Therapeutic Riding
Classifications)
You are most aware of the exercise the
rider is receiving when properly mounted on a sound horse. At the
walk the horse is providing symmetrical input to the rider, very
similar to the motion required in human ambulation. The three
dimensional movement of the horse at a walk (side to side. up and
down and front and back) is transmitted to the rider. Imagine, if
you will, the value of riding to someone who cannot walk, or has
difficulty in walking. The rider is not only receiving the
physical benefits of the horse but also fun and mental
stimulation.
If you will stop to recognize the number of
skills and the amount of mental preparation required by a rider
you will be quick to recognize the value of this activity to
someone who has difficulty in learning.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES ASSOCIATED WITH
RIDING AND EQUINE MANAGEMENT:
Exposure to a
non-traditional environment: For someone who is disabled
a trip to the farm or horse barn may be quite an
excursion and a break from their normal routine. Many
people are not accustomed to being around animals, and
more especially something as big as a horse.
Visual experiences:
Many scenes associated with animals are new and exciting
when seeing them for the first time.
Auditory experiences:
Describing the sounds associated with horses and
"life" around the barn is difficult to do if
you've never heard them before. (To some, there is
nothing more soothing than the sound of contented horses
chewing their hay.)
Olfactory experiences:
Everyone will agree that the smells of new hay, of mixed
sweet feed, a new foal, and just the horse itself are
very special. There are other smells too!!
Tactile experiences:
While around the horses we learn the meaning of coarse,
soft, hard, the feel of a mane or tail, a short smooth
summer coat or the feel of a heavy winter coat, the
textures of hay and grain, the feel of leather and also
the feel of saddle pads, etc.
Physical involvement:
The use and strengthening of muscle groups, reactions,
balance and coordination that occur during equine related
activities may be different than at any other time.
Psychological
experience: The horse presents many challenges that, when
mastered by the rider, enhance our psychological profile.
Many people benefit by being able to lead a horse where
they want it to go.
Expanded vocabulary
and identification skills: The words used when referring
to the horse and its surroundings are sometimes different
(i.e. saddle, stirrup, hoof, bridle, hoof pick, curry
comb, mare, gelding, stallion, stall, pasture, foal,
filly, colt, girth, saddle pad, withers, mane, etc.).
The "risk
factor": The ability to work and move around horses,
at ease, takes skill and courage. There is risk involved
and we need a certain amount of risk in our lives to be
healthy and to develop other skills.
Eye-Hand coordination:
The experienced "horse-person" utilizes an
incredible amount of dexterity and skill to accomplish
seemingly simple tasks. Analyze the entire process from
locating the horse you are going to ride, to catching it,
haltering, tying, grooming, a quick health examination,
tacking up and ride - it should be amazing.
Life skills: Many of
the activities associated with horses and around the
stable are transferable to the everyday activities in our
lives. Equine activities and riding activities involve:
stop and go, up and down, right/left, color
identification, experiencing various textures, circles,
short brush strokes, long brush strokes, back and front,
top and bottom, body parts, etc. The ability to know
where you are in space does not come naturally to
everyone. When mounted on a horse you are required to
develop your spatial awareness skills. Therapeutic riding
instructors will also incorporate educational goals into
the riding process. They will place numbers, letters,
shapes and assorted pictures around the arena to utilize
in the lesson. Riders learn the parts of the horse, tack
and uses of the horse. If appropriate, riders will learn
all equine management and riding skills to the best of
their ability.
All this, and it is fun too!
The activities associated with proper
breeding, training, management, riding, driving and utilization of
horses are very technical and highly specialized. The use of the
horse in therapy and education also requires special knowledge on
the part of the riding instructor. Penn State is proud to offer
educational opportunities in many of these areas.
If, for some reason (disease or disorder),
all of the things that we may take for granted became impossible
or very difficult for us to do, we might have a better
appreciation for the value of the horse and its environment.
Author:
Ben Nolt, Jr. - Coordinator, 4-H Animal
Science Programs The Pennsylvania State University College of
Agricultural Sciences
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