Taking About Horses: Therapy Horses

Therapy Horses Serve Physically and Emotionally Challenged
Part 1


Using horses for therapy is a pretty recent phenomenon. Centers were first created in Europe in the 1950s to help people with physical impairments, such as resulted from polio. The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NAHRA), established in 1969 and now headquartered in Denver, Colorado was a result of Americans and Canadians seeing the results achieved in Europe.

The movement has grown rapidly since the 1990s thanks largely to a grant from the Kellogg Foundation. Now NARHA includes programs based on psychotherapy as well as physical therapy.

There are almost 800 centers in the US and Canada that are members of the NAHRA. These programs help more than 40,000 people with a variety of special needs.

Therapy horses assist children and adults with a variety of challenges, ones they were born with and others received later through illness, accident or even combat. Whether the challenge is emotional, mental or physically based, horses have a way of reaching people and helping improve their lives.

There is not a specific breed or type of horse that is used for therapy…instead centers look for temperament and basic soundness. So when you go, you will find horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes…just like the riders!

Horses have a calming effect on people—and you don’t need to have any prior experience with horses. And contrary to popular belief, you can be afraid of horses and still have a great horse therapy experience.

Horses seem to be genuinely drawn to children—and the feeling is pretty mutual! Horse don’t judge you on appearance, your past or your physical or mental abilities…horse judge you on who you are with them, right now.

More on this topic next post!

Join the Twibes Horses Group for more folks doing Horse Therapy.

Terry
Himalayan Horse Salt
LovingMarketing.com