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he development of treatment for ser- vice-related health conditions such as QUTE-!efqsfttjpo-!boe!UCJ!ibt!opubcmz!qsp- hsfttfe/!B!tuvez!qvcmjtife!jo!uif!Nfejdbm!Sf- search Review recently stated that, "The for- midable challenges associated with US veteran polytraumatic injuries warrants the application pg!joufswfoujpot-!tvdi!bt!frvjof.bttjtufe!joufs- ventions." We know that using horses to help people recover from physical, mental, and emotion- bm!bgjdujpot!ibt!cffo!vtfe!gps!bu!mfbtu!3611! years. Hippocrates, the "Father of Modern Medicine," wrote about using horses for peo- ple with such issues. (Today, "Hippo-Therapy" jt!pof!gpsn!pg!usfbunfou!vtfe!cz!frvjof!uifs- apists.) Uif!cfofut!pg!vtjoh!ipstft!jt!evf!up!uifjs! particular nature and discernment abilities. Typically, horses are not judgmental, and are highly effective in detecting and mirroring hu- man emotions and behavior. Since 1990, sci- foujd!sftfbsdi!ibt!tipxo!uibu!jo!uif!dbsf!boe! feeding of horses, gaining a horse's trust, and developing a mutual emotional attachment, people who have suffered extreme trauma and injuries often regain and maintain greater qiztjdbm!uoftt!boe!foibodfe!npcjmjuz-!jodmve- ing a positive state of mind that leads to happi- fs-!npsf!qspevdujwf-!boe!gvmmmjoh!mjwft/! Frvjof! uifsbqz! jt! cfjoh! vtfe! upebz! jo! b! nzsjbe!pg!usfbunfou!qsphsbnt-!tvdi!bt!QUTE-! abuse, dementia, addictions, behavioral and emotional issues, as well as learning and speech disorders. It is also effective for children with special needs, and in assisting people with neurological and movement disorders, such as people affected by paralysis, and cerebral palsy. The rhythmical gait of a horse creates a pelvic motion which simultaneously promotes tusfohui-! cbmbodf-! dppsejobujpo-! fyjcjmjuz-! qptuvsf-!boe!npcjmjuz/!Frvjof!uifsbqjtut!hvjef! the rider's posture and actions by controlling the horses' speed, and direction. This decreases limitations and increases the mobility of those bgjdufe!xjui!npwfnfou!ejtbcjmjujft/! Npefso!uifsbqfvujd!sjejoh!tubsufe!xjui!Mj{! Ibsufm! gspn! Efonbsl/! Tif! xbt! uif! Ebojti! dressage champion in 1943 and 1944. Then, at
How Equine Therapy Helps Veterans & Others
By Mark Baird
Equine therapy is being used today in a myriad of treatment programs, such as PTSD, abuse, dementia, addictions, behavioral and emotional issues, as well as learning and speech disorders.
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