The Benefits of Equine Therapy for Mental Health and Addiction

People who have had difficulty progressing or achieving their treatment goals have made significant progress with the help of equine therapy. Research has confirmed many benefits of this type of therapy, such as lowering blood pressure and heart rate, relieving stress, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, and helping those struggling with addictions or mental illness. There are several life skills that a horse teaches better than a person. This is the main benefit of using equine therapy with people dealing with mental illness or addiction.

Most of us who own horses talk about their “therapeutic value”. Being in the barn grooming, feeding and caring for our horses reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and improves overall health. However, the company with our equine partners is the basis of our growth in relation to these animals. Being with our horses is “therapy”.

The effectiveness of equine therapy is also evident in people with eating disorders, as they benefit from the unconditional acceptance offered by horses. Equine therapy is generally a component of a comprehensive treatment plan, intended to complement conventional approaches appropriate to the specific situation.Horseback riding may or may not be included in a personalized program, since the main objective of equine therapy is to help people develop their self-control, self-esteem, sense of responsibility and self-confidence. Horses also have different personalities that promote the bonding effect necessary for equine therapy patients to achieve the objectives of their program.When combined with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), equine therapy promotes people's ability to practice meditation and mindfulness by reinforcing their ability to focus on more than just themselves. In addition, since equine therapy is usually goal-oriented, it allows the group to work together to achieve a common goal.

Instead of designing a targeted equine therapy session, he allowed the client to sit on the grass with the horse. In an equine therapy session, Beasley draws metaphors between the client's interaction with the horse and the patterns of their own lives.Equine therapy dates back to ancient Greek literature when horses were used for therapeutic riding. The professionalism of those who dedicate themselves to equine therapies is what makes them effective and safe. Research has found that equine therapy is also beneficial for people with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.The use of equine therapy has been proven to be an effective tool for treating mental health issues and addiction.

It helps people develop self-control, self-esteem, sense of responsibility and self-confidence while providing unconditional acceptance from horses. Equine therapy can also be used in combination with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to promote meditation and mindfulness. It has been used since ancient times and its effectiveness has been proven by research.

Jeri Heifner
Jeri Heifner

Subtly charming coffee enthusiast. Lifelong tv scholar. Hardcore internet fanatic. Freelance beer ninja. Incurable web nerd.

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