Horses play an essential role, beyond entertainment and recreation, in the health and welfare of people. In addition to protecting the $122 billion horse industry in the U.S., keeping horses healthy and safe is essential.
What Is Equine Therapy
Equine therapy is an experiential treatment method that uses the connection between people and horses to enhance physical or emotional healing. Different forms of equine therapy may be used depending on the client's needs.
Benefits of Equine Therapy
Typically, Equine Therapy is one component of a comprehensive treatment plan, meant to complement conventional approaches appropriate for the specific situation. Equine therapy sessions should always be led by a certified Equine-Assisted therapist, who has received specialized training in equine therapy, as well as traditional training in the mental health field.
The interaction between horse and client often unlocks blocked emotions, allowing them to be processed and healed. Equine therapist Nancy Jarrell states, “I continue to marvel at how a horse can behave in a certain way that results in the presentation of a crucial issue for a client. It is as though the horse already knows the history.”
Certain equine-assisted therapies are effective for children with cerebral palsy, behavioral tics, motor control issues, and coordination problems, and for people of any age with reduced mobility.
Research has found Equine Therapy to also be beneficial for those with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. The therapy helps individuals to better manage their emotions and learn to express feelings more positively. Riding and caring for the horses improve self-esteem and anxiety and improve negative body issues.
Most participants in Equine Therapy benefit from the unconditional acceptance offered by the horses they work with.
Keeping horses healthy and safe through better diagnostics is at the core of Prisma Imaging’s mission. Help support this important cause.

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