Equine Therapy is a powerful therapeutic approach that allows healing for both equine and groomer or rider. An equine therapist will facilitate activities between the owner and horse, for such things as feeding, grooming, riding and walking, of course all under supervision.
There are a number of benefits for doing equine therapy. Studies indicate that it is effective in helping horse people whom have experienced anxiety when being around horses. Being around horses and riding them allows the individual to put trust in something other than themselves, and feel secure and safe in the process. Being around horses helps builds confidence, self-esteem and assertiveness. Learning to ride a horse develops confidence, as clients are learning something new – something that is a huge achievement as it is not an easy thing to do. Sometimes while riding, the horse will not do what you would like it to do, which is a great way to help students to become calm and assertive.
Doing therapy with your horse encourages a nice warm relationship. Hacking out or riding out is often described as a partnership between horse and rider. This is because it contains so many important elements of building and maintaining relationships, things such as trust, confidence, respect, communication. There are many reasons why equine therapy is considered a most effective thing to practise with any horse. Bonding and being around horses does give students lots more confidence and awareness on how equines react to certain things.
Groundwork, therapy and training all add up to you having a really good relationship with your horses, bonding makes it safer when you go out on rides where traffic may be involved.
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