Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Aug / Sept 2017: The Kids & Family Issue | Page 25

Kids & Education
THERAPEUTIC
BENEFITS
Today, horses are regularly used to
heal humans, both psychologically
and physiologically. This type of ther-
apy is nothing new. In fact, the first
mention of horses’ therapeutic value
can be found in ancient Greek litera-
ture from the year 600 B.C. Later on,
the Romans recognized the healing
power of horses, as did the French,
who documented their abilities in
1875. Across the channel in England,
horses at the Oxford Hospital aided
the rehabilitation of soldiers wound-
ed during the WWI.
Equine psychotherapists are qual-
ified mental health practitioners
trained to facilitate sessions between
client and horse. Equine therapy is
predominantly used for patients with
anxiety, autism, attention deficit dis-
order (ADD), dementia, mental de-
velopment delays, depression, Down
syndrome, post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), brain injuries, and
behavior and abuse issues. Equine
therapy is also effective for those re-
covering from eating disorders, as
the process brings the unconditional
acceptance for which many suffer-
ers long.
The primary goal of the therapy is
to develop clients’ courage, self-con-
trol, confidence, and sense of respon-
sibility (for themselves and others). It
allows them the chance to establish
self-awareness and to develop better
relationships and non-verbal com-
munication skills.
Equine therapy
is also a useful and
unique method of edu-
cating the parents and
teachers of troubled
youths. One example
is an exercise in which
a horse is positioned
in the center of a cir-
cle, and students are
asked to coax the
horse out of the cir-
cle without touch-
ing it. Participants
then tend to yell, but
horses are sensitive
creatures and do not
react well to shout-
ing. Often they won’t
budge in response
to raised voices. A
soft-spoken, gentle
approach is much more effective.
This exercise highlights for parents
and family members that yelling and
force are not the best ways to reach
nor motivate troubled youths. ability to synchronize their heart-
beats with ours. And, because horses
behave similarly to people in terms
of social and responsive behavior, pa-
tients tend to establish strong con-
nections with them.
WHY HORSES? Actual horseback riding is not
necessarily part of an equine ther-
apy session. Indeed, some students
may feel intimidated by the ma-
jestic animals, requiring time to
develop comfort and gain trust.
Many of the activities — feeding,
grooming, stroking, and leading the
horse — take place safely on the
ground. What therapy patients often
find is that horses will walk shoul-
der-to-shoulder with their caretak-
ers, stopping when they stop, as if
they can read minds.
Elephants, dolphins, cats and dogs
have been employed for therapy, but
horses, by many accounts, remain
the most popular. Horses can mirror
human behavior and emotion. They
are sensitive to subtle mood and
behavioral fluctuations, providing
therapists insight into their clients’
psyches. Incredibly, horses can hear
human heartbeats within a distance
of just over a meter, and research in-
dicates horses have the remarkable
Horses have the
remarkable ability
to synchronize their
heartbeats with ours.
Equestrian opportunities in Thailand
Bangkok Equestrian Center, www.bangkokequestriancenter.com
Equestrian Paradice, www.equestrianparadice.com
Horse Shoe Point, www.horseshoepoint.com
Chom View Horse Riding Club, www.chomviewhorse.com
Phuket International Horse club, www.phukethorseclub.com
Thai Polo and Equestrian Club, www.thai-polo-club.com
Equine therapy In Thailand:
Horse Shoe Point, www.horseshoepoint.com
Horse & Herb, Sensory, Equine Therapy, RDA Thailand,
www.facebook.com/horseandherb
Equestrian Education Centre Chiang Mai,
www.skillcenter-chiangmai.com
Horse riding vacations in Thailand:
Horse Shoe Point, www.horseshoepoint.com
Chom View Horse Riding Club, www.chomviewhorse.com
Phuket International Horse club, www.phukethorseclub.com
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