Horse Therapy/Equine Therapy/Therapeutic Riding

What do horses have to do with therapy? Well, for me, just looking at a beautiful huge gentle horse is enough to relax me as I always stare in awe at the beautiful creature looking at me from his/her huge dark eyes and long lashes. We are lucky in Columbus, Ohio to have so many things at our fingertips, and yet, if we  only knew what was out there to assist those in need, what a difference it would make!

Equine psychotherapy is a type of psychotherapy which provides troubled youth and adults to react when they are otherwise therapy resistant. A licensed Equine therapist works with family, children, and adults to help with most psychological needs. One example of a lesson is to ask a child what he or she believes the horse is thinking. The child most likely will point out the attributes they feel inside and give the feelings to the horse which gives the therapist better insight into the child's own feelings. An example of a lesson for families is to put a horse in the middle of a large circle and then ask the client to try to get the horse to move outside the circle. No amount of screaming, yelling, clapping (which are most likely tried at first response) works. The lesson here is that you cannot force someone to do something by yelling and screaming. Hmmm, great lesson there!

Just a few of the skills learned in Equine psychotherapy are: accountability, self confidence, problem solving skills, self control and emotional awareness.

Another form of horse therapy is called Therapy Riding. The benefits of therapy riding are two fold: therapy riding is often used for those with physical disabilities to strengthen core muscles, and improve balance, but also has the added benefit of the emotional response of just being with the horse and in control. Riding Therapy is used for clients with Cerebral Palsy, Post Traumatic Brain Injury, Spina Bifida, Neuromusular Disorder, Trauma Recovery and Autism. Horse riding has three dimensional movements that relaxes muscles, improves musculature flexibility and balance and also enhances spacial awareness.

We are fortunate to have such wonderful therapies here at our fingertips.The following are the horse therapy places in our area. I will mention they all raise funds for those that do not have insurance that cover the therapy and cannot afford it. As a matter of fact PBJ connnections has a Gala this Saturday, October 25th. Go to http://pbjconnections.org/news.php?newsID=102 for more information!!!

PBJ Connections (Equine psychotherapy)
9735 Jug St. Rd. NW
Pataskala, Ohio 43062
740-924-7543
www.pbjconnections.org

Hope Farms (Therapy Riding)
3738 Grandview Road
Grandville, Ohio 43023
740-321-1387
www.hopefarmgrandville.com

The Shane Center (Therapy Riding)
7908 Myers Road
Centerburg, Ohio 43011
8770815-4042
www.equineassistedtherapy.org