The majority of people are familiar with therapy horses, which are animals who act as emotional support animals.
Those who have previous experience with horses will inform you that being in a barn grooming feeding and caring for horses can help relieve stress. Studies show that it reduces blood pressure and boosts overall health. People with mental health issues may benefit from Equine Therapy.
What is Equine Therapy?
The therapy offered by horses is not provided by local clubs for horses, churches, or trainers. You don't have to ride the horse. It's an interactive therapy in which an equine therapy you through various activities and interactions. In equine therapy, you interact with horses in the hopes of making connections. You could take care of horses by feeding them or grooming them. You can also learn how to guide or harness a horse in an area that is restricted.
By making a personal connection with an animal that is not judging, you can develop empathy and independence and increase the control of your impulses. Your tolerance to stress could increase as a result of this.
Therapy can help you deal with emotions and maladaptive behaviors by watching and engaging with you.
What exactly is this kind of therapy?
The benefits of equine therapy can be extensive for a range of different mental health issues. Horses are able to establish relationships with individuals, making them valuable for group therapy and family therapy. Counselors can also utilize horses to build teamwork.
Conditions that benefit from equine treatment are:
Addictions
Anxiety
Behavioral Troubles
Depression
Eating Disorders
The advantages of Equine Therapy
Various therapies tend to serve individuals better than any type of therapy alone. Experiential therapies, such as equine-assisted therapy, provide better mental health outcomes than talk therapy in its traditional form.
These advantages include:
Improved Self-Image. Due to their size, many people are scared of working with horses. The care of these animals requires work in more ways than one. Physically, caring for horses is an excellent method to develop a strong working ethic. You can feel more fulfilled and optimistic about your self. Working with horses emotionally requires patience and understanding as well as the courage. The feeling of seeing the bond deepen as time passes between you and your horse will increase your confidence.
Improved Empathy. Empathy is the ability to comprehend and understand another's emotions. Horses, as herd animals are able to detect and absorb emotions of both horses and people. Their survival depends on their ability to detect any changes in their environment. If you approach a horse while you're upset, it will react to become angry and obstinate. If you are emotionally distraught, a horse will sense it and feel agitated. They will be able to detect your feelings and won't allow you to hide them.
Assertiveness. Horses seek leadership. Horses don't want to be forced to cooperate. Horses must learn to be more active by becoming leaders, not passive. They may also feel a sense of aggression and become restless. For instance, they may get restless when it happens.
Stress Tolerance. Equine-assisted therapy requires that people are calm, centered and focused. Horses can help you develop mindfulness. This will allow you to observe your momentary thoughts and feelings. As you don't react to these feelings mindfulness can assist you deal with stress.
Impulse Control. Horse therapy can help people who struggle with impulse control and emotional regulation. The need to communicate with a horse calmly encourages emotional awareness, emotional control, self-control and impulse control. It can be effective in reducing anger as well as agitation and impulse control. Equine-assisted therapy improves coordination, emotional regulation and delay capacity, as well as behavioral control.