Page 66 - November 2016

by John Moorehouse
Thanks to the rise of equine therapy, retired participants, all of whom were between the “People connect well with horses because
racehorses are getting a new lease on life after their competitive careers are through.
Continuing research adds to the evidence that working with animals, and horses in particular, can benefit humans.
“There are striking similarities between horses and people,” Dede Beasley, a licensed equine therapist at a Tennessee facility known as The Ranch, told Elements Behavioral Health (www.elementsbehavioralhealth.com) in 2011. “Like people, horses are social beings whose herd dynamics are remarkably similar to the family system.”
The Horses & Humans Research Foundation (www.horsesandhumans.org) aims to bolster this scientific evidence by funding projects that, in the words of the foundation website, “advance knowledge of horses and their potential to impact the health and well- ness of people.”
One study founded by the HHRF, con- ducted by researchers at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts and Washburn University in Kansas, examined the effects of equine therapy on youth with post-traumatic stress. The study
ages of 8 and 18, attended equine therapy ses- sions once a week for a 10-week span. Groups in the study experienced significantly less post- traumatic stress symptoms after interacting with the horses during this time.
Equine therapy involves a licensed therapist and a horse professional working with the patient and the horse to achieve treatment goals. Autistic patients have also benefited from equine therapy. In general, those who undergo equine therapy have reported reduced feelings of aggression, greater empathy, and
an improved capacity to learn. Equine therapy helps patients identify and cope with feelings, bolsters their communication skills, allows for clearer setting of boundaries, helps overcome fears, and creates a greater sense of trust.
As equine therapy becomes more popular,
it is creating opportunities for those retired racehorses. Mainstream media is starting to notice the trend as well. A 2013 article by CNN.com recounted the story of Wooden Phone, a Thoroughbred starter who exhibited nervousness and behavior issues after retiring from racing. But after being retrained, Wooden Phone is now thriving as a therapeutic horse.
they are gentle, instinctive creatures,” Cindy Gendron, who is part of the Homes for Horses Coalition, said in the CNN article. “Just to lay your hands on a warm, powerful horse that
64 SPEEDHORSE, November 2016
People tend to connect well with horses in particular because they are gentle, instinctive creatures.