When you hear the term 'equine therapy retreats', you might think of a hospital for horses, a place where animals are sent to recover from injuries or illnesses. Well, nothing could be farther from the truth. At an ETR, the horses are just fine. It's the people who need help.
For a fairly recent mental health protocol, the concept of using horses to help people come to grips with problems in their lives has grown rapidly. Today North America has over 250 certified centers, and there are others overseas. The programs seem to draw from therapeutic riding, team building exercises, and stress relief methods to create a new kind of psychology.
The idea of a retreat involving horses grew out of the therapeutic riding programs begun in the 60s. While helping people with disabilities enjoy riding and being around horses and ponies, therapists saw more than physical improvement. A child confined to a wheelchair could experience free movement when partnered with a horse. In addition to gaining in balance, core strength, and motor skills, the child could see the world in a new way - not from knee-high to everyone else.
The mental and emotional benefits of being around horses often exceeded the physical. Autistic children opened up to their ponies. Disabled adults could once more achieve a degree of independence. As the adage said, the outside of a horse proved to be good for the inside of a man.
An abused child who is suspicious of every other human finds that he can trust, talk to, and love a horse. A woman who feels powerless in her life learns to influence a huge animal in a positive way. A man who hides his true nature behind a social mask discovers that a horse reacts to his real feelings. People of all ages discover that horses are forgiving.
Anxiety, depression, self-doubt, inability to relate, and even despair yield to an atmosphere of peace and the presence of horses. Horses are prey animals, so they have to be alert and sensitive to their surroundings. However, they choose to trust people, and this can have a profound effect on someone who has closed the door to human relationships and lost hope in the future.
Business executives find relief from the challenges and stress of over-work. People who feel inadequate grow as they learn to work with a massive but willing animal partner. Some centers use meditation techniques, but most rely simply on working with horses to help people learn to know themselves. The goal is to refresh, release, and renew, and person after person finds that it works.
This form of therapy is called 'hippotherapy'. It's getting rave reviews from people who have experienced it and found it immensely rewarding. Even those who go to watch may find themselves getting involved and renewed. It's all about surrendering personal goals and agendas and letting nature and horses instill peace and healing.
For a fairly recent mental health protocol, the concept of using horses to help people come to grips with problems in their lives has grown rapidly. Today North America has over 250 certified centers, and there are others overseas. The programs seem to draw from therapeutic riding, team building exercises, and stress relief methods to create a new kind of psychology.
The idea of a retreat involving horses grew out of the therapeutic riding programs begun in the 60s. While helping people with disabilities enjoy riding and being around horses and ponies, therapists saw more than physical improvement. A child confined to a wheelchair could experience free movement when partnered with a horse. In addition to gaining in balance, core strength, and motor skills, the child could see the world in a new way - not from knee-high to everyone else.
The mental and emotional benefits of being around horses often exceeded the physical. Autistic children opened up to their ponies. Disabled adults could once more achieve a degree of independence. As the adage said, the outside of a horse proved to be good for the inside of a man.
An abused child who is suspicious of every other human finds that he can trust, talk to, and love a horse. A woman who feels powerless in her life learns to influence a huge animal in a positive way. A man who hides his true nature behind a social mask discovers that a horse reacts to his real feelings. People of all ages discover that horses are forgiving.
Anxiety, depression, self-doubt, inability to relate, and even despair yield to an atmosphere of peace and the presence of horses. Horses are prey animals, so they have to be alert and sensitive to their surroundings. However, they choose to trust people, and this can have a profound effect on someone who has closed the door to human relationships and lost hope in the future.
Business executives find relief from the challenges and stress of over-work. People who feel inadequate grow as they learn to work with a massive but willing animal partner. Some centers use meditation techniques, but most rely simply on working with horses to help people learn to know themselves. The goal is to refresh, release, and renew, and person after person finds that it works.
This form of therapy is called 'hippotherapy'. It's getting rave reviews from people who have experienced it and found it immensely rewarding. Even those who go to watch may find themselves getting involved and renewed. It's all about surrendering personal goals and agendas and letting nature and horses instill peace and healing.
About the Author:
You can find details about the benefits of receiving equine therapy and more info about equine therapy retreats at http://www.horsesenseandthehumanheart.com right now.
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