Equine+Therapy

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= = = = = = = //EQUINE THERAPY // =



Source: Morgue File by TALIESIN

INTRODUCTION

Alternative therapies are being used much more frequently in these days. People are looking for natural methods that can help improving their physical and mental health. Equine Therapy (ET) is a complete an integral therapy and research have proved its benefits in the medical, psychological and psychiatric care.

HISTORY

Equine Therapy has been used for hundred of years but not with the same name that it has today. Ancient Greece documentation suggests that Equine Therapy dates as far back as 600 B.C. and the first modern research was conducted in the late 1800s.  Equine Therapy found a place in the 20th century helping those with physical handicaps and wounded soldiers.  The modern Equine Therapy began with efforts of a disabled Danish woman who rehabilitated herself from wheelchair to horseback in the 1950s. Nowadays, horses are very important and effective instruments in specific therapy application in helping people with physical issues, speech problems and other disabilities and now it is used throughout the planet.

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Source: Youtube, "Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

WHAT IS IT?

Equine Therapy or Hipotherapy, is an alternative therapy or method that helps people with physical and/or mental or emotional disorders. This therapy has been recognized around the world as an effective therapeutic instrument.It is considered as one of the most complete therapies which includes physio-therapeutic and psychological benefits.This therapy teaches people about themselves by changing their behavior patterns and improving relationships between the patient and their external environment. This therapy needs to be performed by a qualified professional and trained [|therapist].

HOW DOES IT WORK?


 * = [[image:http://mrg.bz/8Z9cWO width="350" height="244"]] ||= [[image:http://mrg.bz/1Stc3J width="355" height="244" align="right"]] ||
 * = Source: Morgue File by Karpati ||= Source: Morgue File by Taliesin ||

Horses are beautiful and amazing animals. The process begins by establishing a relationship between the person and the horse. Riding a horse will empower a patient to connect with the animal physically and emotionally. They will learn to ride and handle the horse while the animal expresses love without any kind of judgment to the individual. Horses are in constant search for a leader; they will be expecting instructions before proceeding. Patients will increase their self-esteem and personality gaining confidence in their feelings, behaviors, and patterns; developing the sense of action and the reaction stimulating the balance. The patient will gain skills like congruency, fine motor skills, spatial orientation, etc overcoming their boundaries. It requires only 20 minutes per day to perform this therapy.

 There are three fundamentals facts why ET could help:


 * 1) Horses are one degree Celsius (°C ) higher than human beings. Then, patients enjoy the warmness and the energy emitted by the horse.
 * 2) The 3D movements stimulate the patient's brain waves related to motion.
 * 3) Horses transmit rhythmic impulses to the patients, stimulating the production of endorphins and hormones.

BENEFITS

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Equine Therapy, can help children, adolescents, adults and seniors who present physical limitations, speech problems, emotional disorder or mental diseases. They can benefit from constant animal contact. Riding horses for therapeutic purposes has helped people with a wide range of disabilities, including [|Autism,], substance abuse, multiple sclerosis, amputation, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, anorexia, bulimia, addictions, etc.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> Riding encourages:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Cognitive Activity
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Sensory Integration
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Correct Muscle Tone
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Gross and Fine Motor Skills
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Increased Physical Stamina
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Proper Posture, Balance
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Independence and Social Skills,Happiness and Optimist
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Emotional Stability
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Self-Esteem
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Vocalization
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Smile
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">The patient will relax, get confidence, and get distracted from pain or depressive states

media type="youtube" key="DXVGsIKAMOs" height="390" width="480" align="center"

Source: Youtube by "Little Bit[...]"

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">HORSES



Source: Morgue File by JADE <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Horses are natural athletes due to their [|morphology]. They are extremely sensitive, typically non-judgmental and have no expectations. However, not all of them are able to work with patients, before performing therapy horses - despite race - must have proven requirements such as: calmness, centered, obedient, do not scare easily and be peaceful and serene. The person in charge of selecting the right horse is the trained therapeutic instructor who has to ensure that the patient and horse complement each other considering that each treatment is different and it may require special conditions.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">HOW TO ACCESS EQUINE THERAPY IN CALGARY

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Millarville Therapeutic Riding Association - @http://www.millarvilletherapeuticriding.ca

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">CONCLUSION

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Equine Therapy or Hipotherapy is an alternative therapy that could be complemented with other therapies depending on the patient. Since ancient ages, it has been used as an effective natural treatment in order to help people with motion problems and with emotional or mental problems as well. Many benefits of ET can be associated with improving patient's physical and emotional health. This therapy helps children, adults and/or seniors to increase their motor skills and to overcome bad behavior patterns.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">BIBLIOGRAPHY


 * British Columbia College of Equine Therapy. (2011). //Equine Sport Therwapy Program//. Retrieved 2011, from British Columbia College of Equine Therapy: http://www.equinetherapy.ca/
 * eHow. (2009). //Benefits of Equine Therapy//. Retrieved 2011, from eHow Web site: http://www.ehow.com/list_6497535_benefits-equine-therapy.html
 * Equine Therapy Animal-Assisted Therapy. (2010). //Equine Therapy//. Retrieved 2011, from Equine Therapy Animal-Assisted Therapy Web site: http://www.equine-therapy-programs.com/
 * Jade. (n.d.). //Morgue File.// Retrieved 2011, from Morgue File website: http://mrg.bz/DJlm0X
 * Karpati. (n.d.). //Morgue File.// Retrieved 2011, from http://mrg.bz/8Z9cWO
 * Millarville Therapeutic Riding Association. (2010). //Millarville Therapeutic Riding Association//. Retrieved 2011, from Millarville
 * Therapeutic Riding Association Web site: http://www.millarvilletherapeuticriding.ca/
 * Taliesin. (n.d.). //Morgue File.// Retrieved 2011, from Morgue File Web site: http://mrg.bz/zjCyHT
 * Taliesin. (n.d.). //Morgue File.// Retrieved 2011, from Morgue File Web site: http://mrg.bz/1Stc3J
 * The Magazine for Addiction Professionals. (2005). //Equine Therapy: Making the Connection//. Retrieved 2011, from The Magazine for
 * Addiction Professionals Web site: http://www.counselormagazine.com/columns-mainmenu-55/29-alternative/72-equine-therapy-making-the-connection
 * The Ultimate Horse Site. (2005). //Anatomy Facts.// Retrieved 2011, from The Ultimate Horse Site Web site: http://www.ultimatehorsesite.com/info/anatomyfacts.html
 * Way of the Horse. (2011). //Horse Therapy - Changing Lives//. Retrieved 2011, from Way of the Horse Web site: http://www.wayofthehorse.org/Articles/horse-therapy.html
 * Wikipedia. (2011). //Autism//. Retrieved from Wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
 * Wikipedia. (2011). //Therapeutic horseback riding//. Retrieved 2011, from Wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapeutic_horseback_riding