The Benefits of Therapeutic Riding - 1310 Words

As of 2011, it has been reported that there are 650 million disabled people in the world (â€Å"Disabilities†). Though this number is high, it is greatly underestimated because disabled people are commonly isolated and stigmatized by their community (â€Å"Disabilities†). After hearing of this extremely high number of disabled people, I then ultimately decided I would write my research paper on ways to help the disabled. Therapeutic riding has been actively helping individuals with disabilities for decades, and can benefit these unfortunate people physically, mentally, and emotionally. â€Å"Therapeutic riding, which originated in Europe, has been actively helping individuals with disabilities since the 1950s† (Shepard). Through equine-orientated†¦show more content†¦The horse can be used as a motivator to increase their attention span, to improve the ability to follow instructions, to increase their language skills, and to improve other similar goals. These skills are carried out through the daily lives of these disabled people. They can practice them at home, at school, and at their workplace. While riding, disabled people can play games such as Red Light/Green Light, which incorporates hand and eye coordination, and verbal commands to control the horses. Just by saying commands like whoa, walk, and trot, these techniques can really help some disabled people with their verbal communication skills (Rogan). I was astonished to find out that disabled people can greatly benefit from their therapeutic riding, even when outside of the arena. The idea of someone being with an animal to improve his or her people skills is intriguing. My research suggests that disabled riders may possibly gain better people skills and sensations by being with a horse, rather than talking with a sophisticated human being. In my research, I found that www.sire-htec.org had a great description of how a disabled person would feel on top of a horse. It stated, the horses â€Å"rhythmic movements help stiff or spastic muscles to relax, much like rocking soothes a crying baby† (â€Å"Benefits†). This information was very helpful when discussing theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Horse Benefits1222 Words   |  5 Pageshelp people out. Although many people agree that horses can be dangerous animals, it has been proven that owning and riding horses can have many positive benefits. The first reason that is beneficial of riding horses would be that it can help to build strength in the body. Horseback riding may seem less like work and more like play, but it has been proven that horseback riding really can help build strength in the human body. An ancient Greek once said, â€Å"The outside of a horse is the best thingRead MoreThe Benefits Of Equine Therapy1556 Words   |  7 PagesBenefits of Equine Therapy Winston Churchill once proclaimed, â€Å"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man,† this statement could never be considered more true when discussing equine assisted therapy. Horseback riding is already beneficial within itself, but when used to help heal those with disabilities, it can work incredible miracles. According to CRC health, Equine Assisted Therapy (ETA), is a form of experimental therapy that involves interactions betweenRead MoreThe And Materials For Those With Multiple Disabilities1423 Words   |  6 Pagesnot a therapy goal, one of William’s first words was Dolly, the name of a favorite volunteer. Hippotherapy for William. What is hippotherapy? Hippotherapy does not use hippos but rather horses. Hippotherapy â€Å"refers to the use of horses as a therapeutic tool to address functional limitations in a wide variety of disabilities.† (Gakuen 1.) There has been some controversial issues related to the positive effects of hippotherapy and children with special needs in the medical and science fields, butRead MoreEquine Therapy For Children With Disabilities1339 Words   |  6 Pagesmovements of the horse (Biery et. al. 1). Motor skills have improved after just a few sessions in equine therapy, whether it be riding or hippotherapy (Snider et. al. 1). In addition, researchers have found that social skills have improved with equine therapy (Bass, Dunchowny llabre 1266). The reason for the improvement in social skills is because in therapeutic riding lessons, children are given the chance to interact with other individuals who are similar to them. This creates a bo nd betweenRead More Therapeutic Horseback Riding and Children with Autism Developmental Disorders1659 Words   |  7 Pageshorses can be classified into two main categories: equine-assisted activities and equine-assisted therapy. Equine- assisted activities (EAA) are activities centered on the horse in which the purpose is to learn horse-related skills (e.g., riding) and improve a person’s quality of life. EAA is a subtype of animal-assisted activities, which can be provided by anyone who receives specialized training and certification. Equine-assisted therapy (EAT), a subtype of animal-assisted therapyRead MorePhysical Therapy Or Who Is A Physical Therapist?1188 Words   |  5 Pageswho is a physical therapist? Lucy Rees once said â€Å"Riding is a partnership. The horse lends you his strength, speed and grace, which are greater than yours. For your part, you give him guidance, intelligence and understanding which are greater than his. Together you can achieve a richness that neither can alone.† Patients are not limited to clinical settings where physical therapist examine each individual and develop a plan utilizing therapeutic methods to promote movement , alleviate pain, restoreRead MoreThes Equine And Aquatic Therapy Services1453 Words   |  6 Pagesdisabilities by using horses. When ridden, the movements of the horses’ spine and hips mimic the movements of walking or running for those who cannot. Even when stationary, the horses’ consistent breathing stimulates the muscles of the individual riding that cannot be as readily stimulated with the use of any other mechanism (B. Nugent, personal communication, February 25, 2016). This unique form of therapy enables ind ividuals to work on balance and strength. Above all, hippotherapy is incrediblyRead MoreTherapies For Autistic Children.Individuals Take For Granted1678 Words   |  7 PagesChildren who rate on the autism spectrum disorder have several therapies available to them through therapeutic practices of therapy, such as equine-assisted horseback riding, music therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Equine assisted as a therapy Equine-assisted therapy for autistic children has a phenomenal effect for individuals that suffer from autism. Equine-assisted therapy horseback riding encompasses a range of autistic-related challenges and yields a solution for children that haveRead MoreEssay On Autism727 Words   |  3 Pagesto find scholarly and empirical evidence related to therapeutic effects of pet therapy among autistic children, the La Salle University library catalog was used to search through the CINAHL database and select studies according to relevancy. The reference range used for the search was restricted to published articles from 2012-2017 and the use of selective keywords, such as: autism, pet therapy, animal-assisted, disability, children, and benefits of pet therapy. The abstracts of many scholarly journalsRead MoreHorseback Riding Essay1089 Words   |  5 Pages Horseback riding is a sport that many people typically filter under â€Å"not a real sport†. However, it is quite the opposite. Horseback riding can be a very intense sport or a leisure activity for the weekends. Either way, the human body improves because of horseback riding. Not only have studies proven the health benefits—both mental and physical, but personal experience has emphasized the importance of this sport. Horseback riding is a sport that everyone should try as it helps improves both your