If you keep up on my blog posts, you would have read the first part in my two-part series about therapy animals and how they can help so many. However, many people tend to look to dogs as the main therapy animal. But horses have been proven to be great therapy animals for both kids and adults who suffer from different disabilities and traumas or fears.
Many times, such disabilities are unseen to the naked eye or conscious thoughts, but lie deep within the mind due to trauma. Horses have been found to be very beneficial to teens, kids and adults who have suffered a traumatic event causing them to lose trust in other people.
Therapy horses can help these teens, kids and adults start to trust again and begin the process of creating healthy connections which allows them to gain confidence in both themselves and their abilities. Horses are very sensitive to feelings and will often emulate your emotions. This can help these kids and adults not only be aware of their emotions, but can help them realize how these emotions can affect those around them. The horses are often a giant mirror reflecting back to the person what they are feeling so that person can see it and learn to deal with it. They can also be healers in their own right sending the necessary healing energy to a person.
The person receiving therapy will also learn how to:
Trust.
Reduce anxiety.
Decrease isolation and depression.
Build self-esteem.
Learn communication skills.
Learn social skills.
Learn about boundaries and setting them energetically within themselves.
It is well known that therapy horses have helped adults, teens and kids heal from PTSD, Movement Disorders, Autism, Mood Disorders and more. At-Risk Youth, and people who don’t do well with Talk Therapy respond very well to support from therapy horses.
Even though these magnificent beings are large and strong, they are also very caring, sensitive, insightful and open-hearted when it comes to the human psyche. As many therapy trainers have stated, “Horses always seem to know exactly what to do in any given situation.” This is why the horse has become a beloved therapy animal healing thousands of adults, teens and kids each year. They are an invaluable and safe resource as partners for healing on so many levels.
If you want to get involved with these therapy animals, you can also volunteer your time and expertise by checking into Path International – pathintl.org/find-a-program. Here you can find a horse therapy center in your area.
Here’s to all the therapy animals out there helping so many heal and feel.
Carolyn Osborn
Discover the deep healing and connection, and the relief and freedom that await you, and your animal, with Chiron Energy Medicine.
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P.S. Our newest program is featured right on our website homepage or in our sessions menu: Chiron Mirror Sessions • Tandem Healing for You and Your Animal. It is designed to help you discover the deep healing that awaits you and your animal when you are guided to release unwanted behaviors and unconscious wounds and patterns of suppressed emotions and traumas that trigger dis-ease or illness if left unattended.
See or learn more about our sessions and packages for people or animals here and view our equine and performance sessions or packages here.
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