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Horses As Therapists
They’re probably better than most professionals
I love animals. When I was a child, I desperately wanted a pet, and was very sad when my parents wouldn’t let me have one. When I was on my own, though, I got a dog, a Collie, as soon as I could. I got a German Shepherd a year after that. After I got married, we adopted a cat. I loved having pets.
When I needed therapy a few years ago, I was delighted to find that the therapist had a dog. While she was good, the dog was often better. When he sensed I was in pain, he would huddle protectively in front of me. I would get on the floor and hug him and instantly feel better.
Animals can provide an immense amount of emotional support.
For troubled teens, veterans dealing with PTSD, children suffering from physical of emotional abuse, victims of rape — Equine Therapy can do wonders.
What is Equine Therapy?
Equine-assisted psychotherapy, as it is formally called, incorporates horses into the healing process.
When someone is given this type of therapy, the person interacts with a horse. They learn to care for the horse and spend time with it.
I had a friend who volunteered at a local stable that offered this type of therapy. As an artist, I…
