10/05/2024
Every animal in the animal kingdom has a unique way of healing to assist humans in their healing journey. Horses are exceptional therapy animals due to their heightened senses, particularly their awareness of non-verbal cues and energy. A horse may respond by being reluctant to work with someone who may be carrying anger or fear. A horseâs keen sense of perception allows them to respond to human emotions and intentions. A horseâs response often shows up in their body language which we can read and interpret and give feedback to the client in the moment. It has been proven that working in close proximity to a horse can reduce our heart rate, it can reduce blood pressure, it can reduce the amount of cortisol (stress hormones) and it can also cause the feel-good endorphins to increase in us. So, by just being around horses, our moods are elevated and there is a physiological reason for that. People become attuned to the heart resonance of the horses. Humans have known about the healing power of being around horses since 400 BC, when Hippocrates, the Greek father of medicine, lauded its benefits. Today, occupational therapists prescribe time with horses to patients with autism and cerebral palsy; itâs also been useful for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. đĽ°These days more people are tapping into the natural worldâs healing powers. â¨