How to Do Therapy Using a Horse

Horses are used therapeutically to help people with various disabilities improve motor, cognitive or language functioning. The healing powers of the horse have been well known for hundreds of years as people realized the power of the horse's movement to strengthen and promote coordination and the emotional bond that helps the rider overcome emotional trauma and mental health disorders. Therapy is performed by professionals from various disciplines.

Things You'll Need

• Properly trained horse
• Riding curcingle (handle to grasp)
• Riding pad
• Stirrups
• Reins
• Toys and activity materials

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Instructions

• 1

  Show the rider how to do specific exercises and change positions. Common stretching exercises include reaching to toward the pony's ears, touching one's feet and reaching toward the tail. Balancing to holding the arms out like an airplane or doing arm circles while the horse is walking strengthens the core trunk muscles. Riders may be asked to change position to face sideways or backwards, kneel and even stand on the horse while the horse is stationary or walking.

• 2

  Provide large rings to toss over cones or balls to shoot into a standing basket. Encourage riders to reach in all different directions to grasp the balls, rings or other materials used in activities. Grasping the reins with both hands helps riders learn to use the hands together in a coordinated fashion and pull to make the horse stop. Steering by pulling the reins to the left or right also teaches young riders how to coordinate hand movements while learning directions.

• 3

  Request riders to say "go" before allowing the horse to move. Children quickly learn to say "fast" or "more" when they want to communicate their wishes. Many riders with limited speech use sign language or point to a picture to communicate which activities they would like to do.

• 4

  Encourage bonding by having the rider brush the horse, give frequent pats and an edible treat at the end of the session. Some riders are in programs designed for teenagers who come from troubled backgrounds or have had traumatic experiences. Horses provide unconditional love that helps riders develop trust.

• 5

  Help the rider to touch the mane and other parts of the horse. People with autism often have difficulty touching unusual textures because their brains don't interpret stimuli in a typical fashion. Riding a horse provides wonderful touch and movement experiences that help the person to become calm, alert and ready to learn. Provide lots of sensory stimulation by changing the horse's speed, direction and the rider's position.