Winston Churchill's quote "There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man" sums it up. Again I cite both my own personal experience, watching interactions of others with their horses, and turning to the data produced by scientific studies. My granddaughter who is nearly five has been captivated by horses since she was an infant. She loves feeding them, watching them eat, brushing them, petting them, riding them or just being near them. It never fails to put a smile on her face! I can reflect on numerous times when I felt listless or blue or unmotivated. Once I saddle up my horse and slip into the saddle it is as if an energy flows from the horse right to my soul!
Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) is a broad term, and is sometimes broken down into more specific terms depending on whether the therapy involves horseback riding, which typically, though not exclusively addresses physical rather than emothional challenges. Equine assisted therapy which does not involve riding, but has patients/clients handling the horses on the ground, is more typical when addressing emotional trauma, anxiety and other issues that typically fall into the mental health category. In all types of EAT, most studies indicate that it is an effective treatment, though most studies indicate that further research is needed to determine long-term results. My own personal evidence indicates that short-term and long-term, horses can bring out the best in us!
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