Horse Therapy: An Alternative Therapeutic Resource
More and more people are turning to animals looking for a different or complementary path to traditional therapy. While it is true that the most accessible is dog-assisted therapy, there are other options that are growing thanks to their specific effects.
The horse has made a place for itself in the therapeutic world, and there is no shortage of reasons, since both are contributing a lot, especially in childhood pathologies. Let’s see, then, what is horse therapy like?. Why them and not others?
Horse therapies have not been invented today, Hippocrates already told how in Ancient Greece people with incurable diseases were given horseback rides to improve your self-esteem.
Since then, much progress has been made and it is currently known that there are mainly three characteristics of this animal that function as the basis of therapy:
1. Your body heat
The horse has a higher body temperature than the human being, therefore the transmission of this heat helps in muscle relaxation and stimulates tactile perception. Furthermore, together with the gentle movement of walking, it causes what is known as the “rocking chair effect”, it is a sensation that, especially in children, generates security and a protective space.
2. Its transmission of rhythmic impulses
Through movement the horse transmits these impulses to the pelvic girdle, spine and extremities of the rider. Thanks to the concept of brain plasticity, it is known that physiological impulses that begin in muscle and bone tissue can compensate for damaged neuronal areas by activating new ones. This objective is the same as that sought with physiotherapy, but in this case it is the horse who stimulates.
A locomotion pattern equivalent to the physiological gait pattern of humans It is very useful in animal therapy.
This assumption is very valuable in patients who do not have the necessary control of the head and trunk, for example in people with cerebral palsy. During riding the patient walks seated, with time and the necessary practice this pattern can become automated and generate improvements in gait.
On the other hand, feeling united with the horse and noticing its progress generates confidence in oneself and the environment, a key aspect in the therapeutic process.
How is equine therapy performed?
The benefits of horse therapy they are not obtained merely from animal contactit is necessary to guide and plan the steps of therapy and follow certain processes to obtain the best benefits.
There are two ways to interact with the horse, so that the patient can adapt the therapy to their needs.
1. Hippotherapy
The patient benefits from the qualities of the horse adapting your body to movements of the animal. Neuromuscular exercises that stimulate muscle tone, balance and coordination can be added to this process.
2. Therapeutic riding
This alternative combines the learning of horse riding a therapeutic goal. The goal is to be an active rider, and it is achieved by combining training with therapeutic games and neuromuscular and gymnastic exercises.
It is a comprehensive therapy, that is, it has very diverse therapeutic effects. It acts above all in the regulation of muscle tone, locomotion, stability of the trunk and head, psychomotor skills, and in the construction of body symmetry. It also promotes sensory integration and the proprioceptive system (perception of posture and own movements).
In addition, concentration and attention are benefited during therapy, as well as an increase in self-esteem and self-confidence. It influences both verbal and non-verbal communication; and reduces aggressiveness and promotes values such as cooperation and responsibility.
There are multiple clinical conditions for which this therapy is recommended: cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Down syndrome, scoliosis, low back pain, Parkinson’s, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism… But there are also others for which it is contraindicated, such as hip dysplasia, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy (muscle weakness) or hemophilia (defect in blood clotting)
A final thought
These innovative therapies are not intended to replace conventional treatments, but rather to offer a complement, that is, the search for good teamwork that achieves a perfect fit and improves the patient’s quality of life.
Equine therapy is another of the many tools available to psychology and health sciences in general to improve the quality of life of patients.
