Running Head: MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
Therapeutic Riding: My Therapist is a Horse
Brennan Bigelow
Southern Utah University
1
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
2
Abstract
In this paper, studies have been compiled to show the effectiveness of therapeutic horseback
riding on those who suffer from various physical and mental diseases. Physical diseases included
in the study were Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. Mental diseases included in the study were
autism and socio-emotional issues such as separation anxiety, aggression, and other similar
socio-emotional issues. Subjects included children and adults ranging in ethnicity. Participants
in these studies suffered from mental, physical and in one study no apparent health issues. Most
of the participants had suffered from disease for most of their lives. Studies suggest that
therapeutic horseback riding is very beneficial to all who participate, including those who suffer
from physical and mental impairments. The benefits of therapeutic horseback riding offer an
alternative to medicinally treating mental health issues and offer another effective physical
therapy for those who suffer from physical impairments. This paper was written to offer further
research on therapeutic riding so that those who read it can consider hippotherapy when
considering any other type of therapy.
Keywords: Hippotherapy, Psychotherapy, Mental health, Horses, Physical health
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
3
Therapeutic Riding: My Therapist is a Horse
Throughout the ages animals have played crucial roles in the progression of society.
Early animals were used as a form of transportation, as the driving force to execute heavy labors,
and to provide companionship to people. We can accredit much of our progress in society to
animals. Today in the age of tractors, cars, and trucks animals do not play the same roles as
before, but they still have a significant impact on society. Many people own animals as pets.
Pets offer a feeling of love, trust, and comfort to us. No wonder therapists have begun to employ
pets in many different types of therapy. The therapy that I would like to focus on is
hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is a therapy program that employs horses and their attributes to a
structured therapy program. Hippotherapy can also be called therapeutic-riding. Therapists
conduct hippotherapy on a wide range of mental and psychological ailments. Also, physical
therapists employ horses in their therapy programs to help those suffering from debilitating
physical ailments. Horses can help in many ways whether it is mental, spiritual or physical.
Thus, I believe that therapeutic-riding or hippotherapy will help anyone, no matter the problems
or ailments, mentally or physically.
Horses have always played a significant role in the progress of humans. Hiking through
the once inhabited canyons around the world one can observe the remains of those who have
passed on before us. Some of those remains are petroglyphs. These petroglyphs depict the very
important things that helped the ancient people live. If one looks closely those lines and shapes
of the petroglyphs depict humans and horses. There are multiple accounts of the importance of
horses throughout history. In ancient Greece horses were used for work, play, and therapy
animals. Some of the sports that the ancient Grecians played often involved men mounted on
horses. Grecian soldiers also employed horses in the therapy of wounded soldiers. Horses
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
4
helped soldiers to gain strength and confidence so that they could fight once again. Another very
pertinent historical account to those who live in the western United States is the use of horses in
the taming of the west. Horses were used as the mail delivery system, transportation, and as
livestock. Without the horse the west may have not been settled. Today horses are used as
mostly for recreation but also as therapists. Studies suggest that horses can improve many
different therapies in world. Whether the problem is physical or mental therapeutic riding can
help anyone. In fact, I believe that therapeutic riding can be more effective than traditional
therapy.
Mental Health
Many studies have been performed to see the effect of horses on mental health. Studies
by Bizub, Joy, and Davidson in 2003 and Macauley and Gutierrez in 2004 provide support that
the use of therapeutic riding with those that suffer from mental and psychological disabilities can
help them to integrated into society and feel more self-confident. In the study conducted by
Bizub, Joy, and Davidson there were five adults that suffered from psychological illnesses such
as psychosis, schizophrenia, and issues with self-concept. Each participant had dealt with these
issues for the majority of their lives. Participants met the criteria set forth by the staff and
researchers. After being accepted, the participants completed the 10 week therapeutic riding
course. After the therapeutic riding course participants expressed feelings of empowerment, selfworth, and felt as though they had learned something every week.
Those feelings of empowerment and self-worth are due to the natural characteristics of a
horse. Whether one is short, tall, a schizophrenic, or suffers from a low self-esteem the horse
will listen to commands and obey exactly. Because of this characteristic, individuals can feel
more empowered or feel as though they have control in their lives. Also the therapy offers
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
5
another kind of hidden benefit. Usually the therapeutic riding facilities are in a rural area. In the
study of the psychological illnesses researchers saw benefits from the commute from the city to
the riding facility. Because the participants were taken out of their normal urban environments
where others may prejudge, the participants were more likely to open up, try new things, and
make relationships with one another. This aspect of the therapy helped the participants feel more
comfortable in participating in the riding program. Another characteristic that horses possess is
their massive size. Because of their size, many have a fear of sitting on their backs. The
participants had to overcome this fear. This small exercise of riding a horse showed the
participants that they can accomplish hard things and helped them to trust themselves.
Learning Disabilities
Many students and people in general suffer from learning disabilities which make
learning a very difficult thing to do. Because horses help people to overcome fear, accomplish
things that seem difficult, and trust in themselves more, horses have been employed in therapy to
treat learning disabilities. Multiple studies have been conducted by researchers to see the
effectiveness of therapeutic riding in treating learning disabilities. A study conducted by
Macauley and Gutierrez in 2004 supported that children that suffer from language-learning
disabilities can also benefit from therapeutic riding. The study of Macauley and Gutierrez
included children and parents that were surveyed to see if the children had improved during a
six-week, 12 session therapeutic riding program. Each of the children that participated stated
that they had seen improvement in areas such as motivation in attending therapy,
communicational skills, and in attitude such as less defiance towards teachers and therapists.
Parents also voiced in that they had seen improvements in their children in the same areas that
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
6
the children had observed, and also all parents stated that they would enroll their children in the
therapeutic riding programs again.
Therapeutic riding offers each participant the opportunity to learn something new,
overcome fear, and accomplish difficult tasks. Because horses can help people suffering from
learning disabilities realize that they can accomplish difficult tasks, they are very effective in
treating people who lack in self-confidence. Also those participants that are enrolled in
hippotherapy can also feel comfortable talking to their friends about there riding sessions without
feeling like they have problems. Young people often feel self-conscious about the fact that they
are attending therapy. However, the young people that attend therapeutic riding sessions do not
feel this way. Therapeutic riding doesn’t feel like they are in therapy at all, they are just having
fun.
Socio-Emotional Issues
Sometimes along with learning disabilities come socio-emotional issues such as bad
perception of oneself and aggression. Studies have been conducted to observe the effect of
therapeutic riding on those who suffer from socio-emotional issues. A study by Kesner and
Pritzker in 2008 conducted a study with 14 children who had been placed in the Foster care
system. Each of the participants participated in a therapeutic riding regime. Each child met
criteria that had been set forth by the staff of the riding facility. Criteria that the children had to
meet included that the children were stable as far as they didn’t have the desire to hurt
themselves or others, also that the children hadn’t expressed a fear of animals. In the study the
researchers made observations as the children participated in the study. After the study the
researchers handed out surveys to the children and their Foster parents. The results that came
back were most positive. The children showed improvement in verbal communication skills,
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
7
school work improved, aggression was reduced, and the participants expressed a feeling of
empowerment. Also the foster parents added that the children seemed to trust them more.
Another study conducted by Schultz, Remick-Barlow, and Robbins in 2007 also provided
some support to this theory. Children that had been exposed to intra-familiar violence and sexual
abuse were also able to be treated and be helped through therapeutic riding. In the study the
participants who had suffered from either intra-familiar violence or sexual abuse were taught
how to care for and ride the horses. The therapy session simply required that the participants
groom and ride their horses. At the conclusion of the study the children all showed significant
improvements. Younger children were affected by the therapy more but all benefitted from it.
The findings of the previous study are very compelling. Children that may have had a
past aggression problems or suffered from abandonment issues were able to get away from those
issues for a little while and ride a horse. One participant in the study by Kesner and Pritzker
explained, “I am less angry' and depressed. I think my horse makes me happy. Jim [The Riding
Instructor] told me that he had to change horses with me because I was so angry it made my
horses angry. That isn't fair. I shouldn't take my anger everywhere.” (Kesner & Pritzker, 2008, p.
3) This account given by the young participant shows the benefits that the young child received.
The child learned that he/she needed to control his/her anger and that because of the interaction
with the horse, the participant felt happier. This participant wasn’t the only one that expressed
these types of feelings all participants stated that they had all benefitted from the course.
Another study conducted along the same lines stated that children who suffered from separation,
aggression, and achievement problems greatly benefitted from therapeutic riding sessions.
(Tetreault, 2006)
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
8
These studies suggest that those who have gone through difficult times can benefit from
the therapeutic riding programs. Traditional therapies can help too, but with the use of
therapeutic riding, a traditional therapist can get a more willing and motivated patient. These
feelings of motivation and dedication have been evident in those participants that have
participated in therapeutic riding. When a patient is willing to participate in the therapeutic
riding programs and willing to put forth an effort, the outcomes are positive and the patient
receives help for their challenges.
Other interesting research suggests that Therapeutic riding programs can also be more
effective in couple’s therapy than that of traditional therapy. A study conducted by Leslie
Russell-Martin in 2006 showed that therapeutic riding in fact can be more effective than that of
traditional therapy. Ten heterosexual couples were admitted into the study having met each of
the requirements set by a study board. Each of the couples was dealing with certain issues in
their marriage. These issues ranged from adjusting to one another to relationship dissatisfaction.
Five couples were admitted into a traditional therapy session and the five remaining couples
were admitted into an equine-assisted therapy session. All couples participated in a six session
therapy program. Before and after each session the participants were to fill out a survey and
explain their feelings. During the first two weeks the two therapies were both equally as
effective. In the third week one could see substantial change in the therapy groups. Those who
were participating in the equine assisted therapy improved greatly and continued to improve at a
higher rate than those in the traditional therapy sessions.
The study by Leslie and Russell-Martin is especially promising in these times. With
divorce rates skyrocketing in the past couple of years strong families have declined in the USA.
This could possibly help in the fight against divorce and the fight for strong families in America.
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
9
Today there are many studies and research that has been conducted about the effect of divorce on
children. Therapeutic riding could also help to prevent many of the different socio-emotional
health problems caused by divorce we see today in children. The number of children suffering
traumatic experiences would lower, and thus, lower the need to conduct therapy on younger
children.
Physical Health
Horseback riding can also affect physical health. A study conducted by Champagne and
Dugas in 2010 suggested that horseback riding can improve gross motor function and postural
control in children that have Down syndrome. The study focused on two children that suffered
from Down syndrome because this disease limits strength and motor functioning. The
participants were to ride a horse in many different ways like front-sitting, backward facing, and
side saddle. Each direction offered different movements and therefore different strength
exercises. The participants went through the program and the results suggested that after
completing the course, both individuals improved core strength and gross motor function.
Another study by Benda, Mcgibbon, and Grant in 2003, found that therapeutic riding proved to
help the motor function of children that suffered from cerebral palsy. Although these two
diseases are very different we can see that the use of horses in the therapy of these participants
has greatly improved the physical aspect of their lives.
Because people who suffer from these diseases benefit physically from the therapeutic
horseback riding, I infer that people who do not suffer from these diseases can also benefit. In a
study conducted by Buswell and Leriou (2003) supported my claim by showing how volunteers
that helped in therapeutic riding programs benefitted also from the interaction with the horses.
Generally when people volunteer they feel good about themselves, but in this study volunteers at
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
10
a therapeutic riding facility experienced and increased feeling of self-worth, self-mastery, and
empathy over other volunteering opportunities. These findings suggest that anyone can
experience the benefits of therapeutic riding.
A Personal Connection
The reason that I wrote this paper is that I too have had many experiences with horses
helping me to cope with difficulties. I have grown up around horses and have ridden them since
I was very young. I have also felt the effects of having interactions with horses. In the summer
of 2009 I was going through some very difficult times. I had made a couple of big decisions and
I was being faced with much opposition with the choice that I had made. It seemed like at that
time I was forcing myself to do the everyday things like eating and working. The times were
really weighing on me. The only outlet I had was to go and ride my horse, Juan. As I rode him I
could feel the slow repetitive movements that he made and it was very soothing. Also being out
in the desert with just a horse was very peaceful, where only the occasional raven would be heard
squawking off in the distance. The rides usually lasted about an hour and then I went back home
to groom Juan. During those times of grooming the horse I could feel the horse’s trust. I was
also amazed at how he had learned to understand and obey every command that was given him.
It didn’t matter who gave the command he would ultimately listen. Those horseback rides
helped me to deal and cope with the things that were going on around me. I felt more motivated
to go to work and to just keep plunking along. I couldn’t explain how the horse helped me or
what he did to help me, but I know that I was helped. Now that I have studied this topic I
understand better the aspects that helped me to cope with those problems and I believe that only
a horse could provide those aspects.
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
11
The experiences that I had with my horse coincide with the studies that have been
performed. The research I have conducted definitely supports those feelings that I have had.
Buswell and Leriou in 2003 conducted a study where they surveyed multiple volunteers at a
therapeutic riding facility. The majority of volunteers agreed that the interaction with the horses
helped them in many aspects of life. This goes to show that one mustn’t need to suffer from an
illness to be affected by therapeutic riding. Also to support my feelings Kesner and Pritzker in
2008 conducted a study with children that were in the Foster care system. Many of the children
that are placed in Foster care have had traumatic experiences and have to cope with the
repercussions of those bad experiences. I, having had some hard times, I had to cope with some
problems, but like those foster children I was able to overcome those feelings of abandonment
and sadness through riding horses.
The feelings of abandonment and sadness that I felt were dissipated by my opportunity to
ride horses. Horses affect us in many ways. Studies suggest that horses can help in many ways
in the therapy world. Some aspects that horses can help people with are to cope with traumatic
experiences, psychological problems, and physical impairments.
Roping it All in
The studies that have been conducted all suggest that therapeutic riding can really help
those that suffer from physical and mental illnesses. Horses have many different characteristics
that help with this. For example, physically horses help because they offer many different
movements as they walk in fact a study states that a horse will offer over 110 different
movements in a minute and generally each therapeutic riding session lasts at least 30 minutes.
(Strauss I., 1995, as cited in Champagne, & Dugas, 2010) This offers a very wide range of
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
12
movements that can supplement physical therapy of someone who is looking for improved
flexibility and muscle strength.
The other benefits include improved mental health. As one interacts with a horse one
becomes more trusting of the animals and gains a relationship with the horse. Those who suffer
from mental health issues can greatly benefit from therapeutic riding. Study after study support
this claim. Also we can see that those who are involved with volunteering at these facilities have
also observed improvements in their own lives. (Buswell & Leriou, 2007) Volunteers in these
programs stated that they gained a new understanding of those that they were helping and a
deeper knowledge of horses. Whether one suffers from a difficult mental or physical health
disease or one is very healthy, therapeutic riding can help them. Also some studies suggested
that therapeutic riding could help children’s motivation in school related aspects. A study by
Macauley, and Gutierrez in 2004 showed that children that suffered from learning disabilities
were also able to improve their reading levels and felt more motivated to reach each of their
academic goals that they had placed on themselves.
As more and more studies have been conducted more and more support backs up the
claims that therapeutic riding is a very effective way to perform therapy with certain individuals.
Today, here in Southern Utah, there is a facility that one can receive this type of treatment. In
New Harmony there is a facility called the Silver Spur Therapeutic Riding Center. There, the
therapies that have afore been mentioned are conducted to treat a wide range of people suffering
from many ailments and impairments. With the growing availability of these treatment facilities
the more popular they have become for the treatment of such illnesses. Because of the growing
popularity and the strong support backing therapeutic riding, even some insurance companies
will pay for hippotherapy or therapeutic riding. Ultimately if someone is interested in this type
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
13
of therapy they must speak to their own insurance company to see if it is covered. If it is, PATH
(Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) has a way in which the
insurance can be billed. If your insurance does not cover the sessions, sometimes traditional
therapists can prescribe hippotherapy sessions and then some insurance companies will pay for
the sessions. Many of the therapeutic riding facilities are non-profit therefore offering very
affordable services.
Therapeutic riding is a very impressive type of therapy where one can leave their worries
behind, try something new, and gain new and lasting relationships with people and animals. I
have felt the benefits and believe that anyone who is willing to try will also benefit from a
therapeutic riding program. I also believe that this is a great alternative to medications that are
often prescribed to people who suffer from these illnesses. Medications usually have side
effects, dangers, and risk of addiction with taking them. Therapeutic riding has a couple risks
like being thrown from a horse, but these risks have almost been eliminated because of the
careful training and caring for the horses and the patients that attend these therapeutic riding
sessions. Because of the reasons and conclusion afore stated I firmly believe that anyone can
benefit from riding horses and participating in a therapeutic riding program.
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
14
References
Benda, W., Mcgibbon, N. H., & Grant, K. L. (2003). Improvements in muscle symmetry in children
with cerebral palsy after equine-assisted therapy (Hippotherapy). Journal Of Alternative &
Complementary Medicine, 9(6), 817-825.
Bizub, A. L., Joy, A., & Davidson, L. (2003). 'It’s like being in another world: Demonstrating the
benefits of therapeutic horseback riding for individuals with psychiatric disability. Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Journal, 26(4), 377.
Buswell, D., & Leriou, F. (2007). Perceived benefits of students' service-learning experiences with
hippotherapy. Palaestra, 23(1), 20-25
Champagne, D., & Dugas, C. (2010). Improving gross motor function and postural control with
hippotherapy in children with Down syndrome: Case reports. Physiotherapy Theory & Practice,
26(8), 564-571. doi:10.3109/09593981003623659.
Granados, A., & Agís, I. (2011). Why children with special needs feel better with hippotherapy sessions:
a conceptual review. Journal Of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 17(3), 191-197.
doi:10.1089/acm.2009.0229
Kesner, A., & Pritzker, S. R. (2008). Therapeutic horseback riding with children placed in the foster care
system. Revision, 30(1/2), 77-87.
Macauley, B. L., & Gutierrez, K. M. (2004). The effectiveness of hippotherapy for children with
language-learning disabilities. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 25(4), 205-217.
Russell-Martin, L.A. (2006). Equine facilitated couples therapy and solution focused couples therapy: A
comparative study. Doctorate of Philosophy, Northcentral University.
Schultz, P., Remick-Barlow, G., & Robbins, L. (2007). Equine-assisted psychotherapy: A mental health
promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced intra-family violence.
Health & Social Care in the Community 15(3), 265-271.
MY THERAPIST IS A HORSE
15
Tetreault, A. (2006). Horses that heal: The effectiveness of equine assisted growth and learning on the
behavior of students diagnosed with emotional disorder. Unpublished Masters Thesis.
Governors State University, University Park, IL.