Equine-Assisted Therapy: Benefits, Types, and Is It Right for Me?
In This Article
What are the Benefits of Equine Therapy for Drug Addiction?
Equine-assisted psychotherapy offers an innovative approach to addressing drug addiction and related mental health issues. By grooming, feeding, and riding a horse, equine-assisted therapy can be effective in helping you develop:
- Trust
- Emotional growth and safety
- Self-awareness
- Social and leadership skills
- A new focus outside of substance abuse
- Patience and responsibility
Additionally, equine therapy can help you introspect and envision a better future. Especially when combined with comprehensive treatment, counseling, and talk therapy.gained prominence in Scandinavia in 1945 as a response to a polio outbreak. It was introduced in 1960 in North America primarily for treating disabled people.
What are the Types of Equine-Assisted Activities?
Equine-assisted activities are specific activities that involve the use of horses for therapeutic value. These activities typically involve grooming, stable management, shows, parades, demonstrations, and more.
Other examples include:
1. Therapeutic Horseback Riding
Therapeutic horseback riding involves riding a horse with a trained therapist to improve physical, emotional, or cognitive function. It can help people feel more confident, reduce anxiety, and improve social interactions.
The movement of the horse stimulates muscles throughout your body, enhancing overall strength, coordination, and flexibility. Additionally, horseback riding activity promotes improved balance, posture, and core stability.
2. Hippotherapy
Derived from the Greek word “hippos” or horse, hippotherapy employs equine movement as a therapeutic intervention. It can be a type of physical, occupational, or talk therapy treatment.
Hippotherapy addresses impairments, disabilities, functional limitations, and disabilities in people with neuromotor and sensory dysfunction. Those with cerebral palsy often benefit from this treatment.
3. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)
Equine-facilitated psychotherapy is an interactive mental health treatment. It targets trust, self-esteem, group cohesion, communication skills, personal confidence, and establishing boundaries and limits.
4. Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL)
Equine-assisted learning is an experimental treatment for growth and development. The process encourages the development of life skills for educational, professional, and personal goals through equine-related activities.
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Is Equine-Assisted Therapy Right for Me?
First and foremost, you have to be okay with spending a lot of time around a large horse or animals in general. If you’re feeling scared, intimidated, or uncomfortable, maybe you should consider another form of therapy.
Another factor to consider is time. Depending on your current challenges, you might not have enough time to devote to equine therapy.
Lastly, you should be aware of the potential dangers of equine therapy. Although they’re trained to be less aggressive, it’s still a possibility.
You might also be allergic to the horses or their environment. Lastly, consider avoiding equine therapy if you have spina bifida, scoliosis, or Down syndrome.
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How Much Does Equine-Assisted Therapy Cost
Equine-assisted therapy has only recently grown in popularity. Because of this, insurance benefits may not cover it.
The price of EAP varies by area and can range in fees. It’s best to contact your insurance company and your local treatment center to discuss those details in advance.
Speak with your mental health provider first to see if you or your loved one are a good fit for equine therapy. Most equine-assisted therapy programs also have an assessment procedure to establish if therapy suits you or a loved one.
What Conditions Can Equine Therapy Address?
Aside from drug addiction, equine-assisted therapy helps manage several mental health issues. Here are a couple of mental health disorders that horse therapy can help with:
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Trauma
- Eating disorders
Are There Other Animal-Assisted Therapies?
Yes, there are various animal-assisted therapies. Some of these involve cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals.
Similar to equine-assisted therapy, these can also help people recover from or better cope with their mental health problems. Animals provide comfort and joy. Many studies show that animals’ presence can lift people’s spirits and help diminish their discomforts.
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- “Anxiety Disorders – Facts & Statistics.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 2022.
- “PTSD: National Center for PTSD.” U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, 2023.
- Shelef et al. “Equine Assisted Therapy for Patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Series Study.” Military Medicine, 2019.
- Naste et al. “Equine Facilitated Therapy for Complex Trauma (EFT-CT).” Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 2017.
- Jang et al. “Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapy for Treating Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2015.
- Souilm, N. “Equine-assisted therapy effectiveness in improving emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and perceived self-esteem of patients suffering from substance use disorders.” BMC Complement Med Ther, 2023.
- Hauge et al. “Equine-Assisted Activities and the Impact on Perceived Social Support, Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy among Adolescents – an Intervention Study.” International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 2013.
- Kern-Godal et al. “More than Just a Break from Treatment: How Substance Use Disorder Patients Experience the Stable Environment in Horse-Assisted Therapy.” Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment, 2016.
