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The Science Behind...

Oct 01, 2022
I'd personally like to shake the hand of whomever made the brilliant connection that a healing bond can be forged between human and horse.  Today, we are going to address some facts about Equine Therapy. 
 
As we know, horse therapy can come in two forms; riding or ground work. Starting with the riding therapy known as Hippotherapy.
 
"Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input. Unlike therapeutic horseback riding (where specific riding skills are taught), the movement of the horse is a means to a treatment goal when utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment strategy. Hippotherapy has been used to treat patients with neurological or other disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, head injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, behavioral disorders and psychiatric disorders"(1).  Some individuals are under the impression that this is a treatment option that was founded in the 20th century, but that is only partially correct. 460-377 B.C. – Hippocrates(2) in ancient Greece wrote a chapter on ‘Natural Exercise’ and mentions riding, 1569 – Mercurialis(3) of Italy wrote on ‘The Art of Gymnastics’ mentioning the horse and riding and in 1780 – Tissot of France(4) in his book ‘Medical and Surgical Gymnastics’ regarded riding at the walk as the most beneficial gait. He was also the first to describe the effects of too much riding as well as contraindications. Despite these early works, Hippotherapy did not become a discipline with an established protocol until the 1960s. During the 1960s,  therapeutic riding centers began to develop throughout Europe, Canada and the U.S.. At the same time, we saw Hippotherapy beginning to be used as a supplement to traditional physical therapy in Germany, Austria, and Sweden. During the 1970s, in the United States, physical therapists began to develop treatment uses for the movement of the horse.

Spring forward to 1987, a group of 18 Canadian and American therapists traveled to Germany in order to study hippotherapy and began developing standardized Hippotherapy curriculum. Further development of standardized curricula on Hippotherapy took place from 1988 to 1992 when we see the formation of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA). 

This article wouldn't be complete without a quick overview on the work similar to what we'll be doing here in our program. Equine-assisted coaching is a skill-building method where people work with horses to achieve particular personal or professional goals. A client will work with a facilitator who makes a lesson plan based on what the person wants. The facilitator will guide a participant through lessons in horse care and observing horse behavior. They’ll link how horses behave back to lessons on how humans behave.

There are some specialized programs for veterans that incorporate elements of equine learning and equine-assisted therapy. These programs help veterans, especially those with PTSD, learn to reintegrate into civilian life. Working with horses helps them build communication skills, emotional regulation, and trust. "Horses, being prey animals, are uniquely suited to therapy because they react quickly to subtle changes in the environment, people, and animals around them. The horse acts as a mirror, reflecting the client’s energy. Horses are also herd animals, and there is safety in that uniformity. This means horses are not only sensitive to their environment but also highly attuned to other members of the herd" (5).

The scientific research behind equine based therapy is still young, however, the plethora of evidence that currently exists strongly suggests that it is a highly effective treatment for many different physical, emotional and mental issues.   

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