Healing with Horses

[dolphins]

Studies show that riding a horse places a person on a great road to healing. Also helps in attachment issues. The movement of the horse does wonders to the nerves all the way up the spine – studies also show that riding shaves off an entire year of intense therapy for the most severely abused person.


For mine, one piece is that we do is a TON of horseback riding, working with and driving miniature horses, and also go to therapeutic riding lessons once a week out in Beaverton. The therapeutic lessons gives me, the parent, a way to step out of the picture for a while, to stand and be in awe of my kiddo, to be able to cheer on the great connection that’s going on inside of the child while upon that huge horse. While up on a horse, this is a great time to have the child close eyes, to breathe deeply, and learn how to slow down and feel the animal below them. At other times, just being around the horses gives my child the ability to connect with self. From just watching the horses move, to brushing them, to caring for their needs, all to having an experience of watching foals being born. My little person brings up the mothering part seen with mom and babies. Besides all the poop shoveling that goes on, I notice to that there’s a lot of conversations going on between child and horses. What a beautiful relationship builder.

I truly hope this was the place to submit the above - it's just something I've grown up with all my life, incorporated into healing plans when worked with adults and healing, and am a big advocate for the healing that takes place for the kiddos too. I have witnessed SO many healed spirits with my intense involvement with horses. So, had a pulling at my heart to share some of this with you all here.

[wdvance]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to share that my youngest daughter who has a trauma history, is very afraid of horses. I also had read about the therapuetic benefits of horseback riding, so I thought we would try it. OH no what a disaster. The screaming, crying and sheer terror was horrible. We had prepared, so we waited a week and tried again, same result after another week she wouldn't even get in the car.

I think it is very important for us to be sensitive to our children and where they are.

Breathe,
Wilma

[Lianne]

Thanks for sharing that info, dolphins!

I hadn't heard about therapy with horses before. Very interesting!

It sounds like something that can be really beneficial for some people. Like many things, it won't be right for everyone, and it's good to remember that as Wilma suggested.

[greenbeanbanshee]

It's funny that you bring this up. I think we talked a little bit about this type of thing in our class last week. So I'm so excited to see you're still thinking about it all! :clap

As I shared during our class, my son had a lot of neurological damage done to him in his infant year, simply from the neglect. One of the major things with him was that nobody ever picked him up or cuddled with him or wrestled around on the floor with him, tickling his belly. Years late, that showed up in some neurological testing we had done on him. It showed that his entire vestibular system was almost nonexistent. Since the vestibular system is responsible for telling you where your body is in space, my son couldn't ride a bike, swing on a swing, or do things like this. Like riding horses. It was seriously scary for him. He would scream in terror, as if he was dying. Looking back I can only imagine that to him it must have felt as though he was free falling from an airplane, 30,000 feet up. He had no way of understanding where his body was in relation to the ground.

Having said all of that, however, today Tyler LOVES things like this. His body is beginning to heal itself. His vestibular system is more intact and he is able to do things now that he was never able to do before. Just last week I ran into an article in a local online newspaper, and it got me thinking about just what you wrote. About all the research I've heard about horses and how great they are for helping children heal. I'll send you that article and anyone else who wants to see it. It's nothing special, but it got my mind going on just thinking outside the box for our children.

Thanks for sharing this. I think it's all very interesting.

[Rebecca]

I had a friend who actually did therapy with horses and children as a part of the treatment plan. For some children, this made such a big difference in their healing process. Of course, every child is different and some, like Wilma's daughter, will be overwhelmed by something like this. For others, it will be a perfect fit and just what they need in their healing process. I love that there are so many paths and things to try, depending upon the unique needs of our children and the resources we have available where we are in the world.

Animals of all sizes can be a part of the healing process. I had a client once (a mother) who was very upset on the phone about something that was happening in her life and her cat came and curled up on her lap, purring. Sometimes it is a wonderful way to experience unconditional love as a parent and to be near a "regulated" animal. That cat knew that she was upset and just came to be with her, not trying to fix anything. What a wonderful lesson!

Has anyone else incorporated animals into their own healing process or their child's healing process?

Thanks for sharing that, dolphin. Love your "name"... reminds me of the children with certain disabilities who incorporate time in the water with dolphins as a part of their healing process. How cool would that be?

[greenbeanbanshee]

I'm just going to post the link to this article, because I think it shows that equine therapy can be a great resource for some of these kids.

http://www.thecreswellchronicle.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=5649

[vsbieber]

Hi! I just wanted to post that I have a Therapy dog that is 11 years old, I got him after the loss of my babies. Encouragement from others. I got him when he was 7 weeks old. He is a Maltese and he has been wonderful with my adopted boys too.

VirLinda

[vsbieber]

just wanted to say that there is a residential home 20 miles from my home that has horses for therapy. Great Idea if you like horses.
VirLinda

[sbeardslee]

My son has been doing therapeutic riding for a few months now and although he seemed to love it at first, it had been a struggle to get him there lately. He screams, cries and digs in his heels at the mention of it. He told me recently that he hates grooming the horse. He started with a new therapist last week and when I told her about his recent reaction to riding she asked why he didn't want to go. I mentioned the grooming and she said it is because grooming is nurturing, and that is a huge trigger for him....apparently b/c of the nurturing he didn't receive as a baby. Wow....I never thought of that. It makes so much sense now.

Shari

[dolphins]

My guy told me when talking to the horse and sitting in the "seceret" part of the pasture to think is the best part of the horses. "A friend who won't argue with me"

[wdvance]

That is a really great point he made, a friend who will not argue with him.
I think we all need to have that friend that will just listen, what a great way to validate someone where they are.

Thank you for sharing that important part that sometimes we forget in relationships.

Wilma