What is Equine Therapy?

Any horse lover will tell you that being around horses can be a calming experience, mostly due to their calm and gentle nature. Due to their physical prowess and their help in transportation before the invention of vehicles, horses have been one of mankind's longest companions. But now that their need has diminished, people are still building bonds with horses that can last a lifetime.

In this blog, we're going to discuss the impact that horses can have on mental health and the benefits of using horses as a means of therapy.

Are Horses Good for Mental Health?

There are a variety of studies and sources that boast the amazing effects that horses can have on a person's mental health, to the extent that horses are now commonly used as a form of therapy to aid those who struggle with mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression and addiction.

Equine Therapy: Explained

Equine therapy is a form of mental health therapy that incorporates horses to help those who struggle with their mental health. There are a number of stables and charity organisations that offer equine therapy, during which people are encouraged to spend time with the horses by grooming, feeding, or leading the horse while accompanied by a mental health professional.

Sometimes, horse therapy can even involve horse riding for mental health benefits, and is a great way to help people who struggle to get outdoors and develop skills in emotional regulation, self-confidence and responsibility with the help of these beautiful and majestic creatures.

Benefits of Equine Therapy

There are many benefits that have been observed through horse therapy, including, but not limited to:

• Increased social interaction — both with the horses and those guiding or leading the session.
• Boosts in self-esteem—Having an animal put their complete trust and faith in you can be a joyous experience and a great boost to your self-esteem.
• A sense of responsibility — Caring for another living thing is a big responsibility, even if the animal in question isn’t your own. This sense of responsibility can improve a person's emotional regulation and confidence.
• A guided routine — Most animals stick to a rigorous routine for their feeding, grooming and exercise, and this can give people the motivation they need to set a routine in their own lives.
• Physical exercise— walking with or riding horses is an excellent form of exercise, which is essential to building a routine and better managing your mental health. Even if you’re not riding a horse, the exercise needed to care for one can be a great start to building your exercise routine.

Each of these things is integral to helping those who struggle with their mental health, and therapy with horses is now often recommended by mental health officials as means of treatment.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, then why not try reaching out to local charities or stables to see if horse therapy is the right choice for you? Or, if you’re a horse owner who wants to help your horse help others, then why not look at our great range of horse supplements, so you can give your horse some added support while they work to support others?

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. Before starting any program or treatment, you should thoroughly discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle with your vet.

Written by a human.