Equine & Animal Assisted Activity

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“There is nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse”  – Winston Churchill

Therapeutic Riding: How Horses Help and Inspire People by Amy Jane

Have you ever witnessed horses running free? Or felt the freedom of riding one of these magnificent creatures at a canter? Their spirits soar with each step they take, and you get to go along for the flight. They lighten our spirit with their strength and require us to live in the moment, right alongside them.

Humans have been fascinated by horses for thousands of years. They are revered in mythology and literature from every corner of the world, taking on a magical quality. They are known for their beauty, loyalty, courage and speed. Throughout history the horse has captivated us with her perfect fusion of gentleness and power.

In therapeutic riding, horses help physically and mentally challenged people achieve things that may seem impossible. They help autistic children make connections and improve communication skills. They lend a person confined to a wheelchair their legs to run through woods. They build confidence in the unsure child and can ease the pain of depression caused by chronic pain. The interaction is beneficial on an emotional, physical and neurological level.

Youth’s first horse ride

I saw a child who couldn’t walk,
Sit on a horse, laugh and talk.
Then ride through a field of daisies
and yet, he couldn’t walk unaided.
I saw a child, no legs below,
sit on a horse and make it go
through woods of green
and places he had never been
to sit and stare, except from a chair.
I saw a child who couldn’t crawl
mount a horse and sit up tall.
Put it through degrees of paces
and laugh at the wonder in our faces.
I saw a child born into strife,
Take up and hold the reins of life
and that same child, I heard him say
Thank God for showing me the way…
by John Anthony Davies

As I read through this article about how horses can do wonderful things for handicapped people. I thought about how not all handicaps are visual. The youth that Triumph works with have many handicaps that physically do not present themselves. Anger, active addiction, oppositional defiance, lack of self esteem, poor coping skills,problems with authority, depression, lack of family, no higher power to direct them, inability to express feelings appropriately. These handicaps are as real as the physical handicaps that we see in ourselves or others.

The ending poem says it all. As the youth begin to take control of their lives through overcoming addiction, controlling their anger cycles, gaining self esteem through achieving goals and meeting expectations. Learning how to work through the feelings and emotions that come along with change. Gaining a respect and love for a higher power that can help give direction and influence choices. The youth then are able to overcome the handicaps that make them ” unable to walk unaided” or “sit and stare”, “A child borne into strife” can now be grateful for a new life.

From my own personal experiences, I have seen first hand what youth can do when they know that they have value, that someone genuinely cares. Animals, especially horses, can sense your emotions and will react to them. If you are angry or abrupt, the horse will shy away and try to put distance between you. When approached with a purpose, with affection and they sense there is no danger they allow you to approach them. As the youth learn this and practice it, it will become a habit that will transfer to human interactions. Learning to read the body language of a horse will also help them to see the warning signs in themselves and others.  Cowboy Shane

Therapeutic Riding: How Horses Help and Inspire People by Amy Jane

http://amyjane.hubpages.com/hub/Therapeutic-Riding-How-Horses-Help-and-Inspire-People