Here we discuss whether or not should you be riding horses as part of equine therapy, and why Heartfelt Support do not offer riding…
Equine therapy is becoming more and more popular these days. It’s all about humans and horses interacting with each other to promote emotional, physical, and mental well-being. But, one question that often comes up is whether equine therapy has to include horseback riding.
Horseback riding is indeed a legitimate aspect of equine therapy. There are many different forms of it, and riding is just one of them. However, you can also do things like groundwork, grooming, and just being around the horses.
There was a study done and published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine that found that equine therapy can have a positive impact on individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They didn’t even use a riding approach in this study – instead, they used grooming, leading, and observing horses. Participants reported feeling less anxious and depressed after the therapy.
Another study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, looked at the effectiveness of equine therapy for individuals with depression. This study used a combination of groundwork and riding and found that participants reported significant improvements in their mood and overall well-being.
Although horseback riding can be a really enjoyable part of equine therapy, it’s not necessary or appropriate for everyone. For example, some people may have physical limitations that prevent them from riding, while others might just not be interested in it.
It appears that equine therapy without riding can be particularly beneficial for individuals with sensory processing issues or who are on the autism spectrum. According to a study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) can improve sensory processing and social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder.
So, do we do it at Heartfelt Support?
No, we do not. We have three reasons for that:
Safety – we believe that in order to incorporate riding into equine therapy, we would need to provide a qualified horseback riding instructor. While we acknowledge that this is not a legal requirement, we feel it is a standard that we, and indeed the whole industry, should be held to.
Location – we are not ideally set up for riding.
Insurance – this is very difficult and expensive to obtain and we would have to eliminate some programs. We don’t like that idea.
It’s worth noting that quite a few of our clients also attend Riding For The Disabled, so they get their horse riding needs met through them.
So equine therapy doesn’t have to include horseback riding. There are lots of different forms of equine therapy, and it’s important to find what works best for each individual’s needs and preferences. Whether it’s grooming, groundwork, or riding, the important thing is that equine therapy can have a really positive impact on emotional, physical, and mental well-being.
Read more about what to expect with Heartfelt Support Equine Therapy.