INTRODUCTION

Equine assisted therapy is a method use to treat diseases, to improve quality of life and to have a space to interact with horses. It is important to know what diseases it treat, and here there are: cerebral palsy, physic motor retardation, down syndrome, autism, behavior problems, problems of concentration, language problems, and a lot more. This method was very important after the World War 2 because they need rehabilitation to all the people that was heart. That was how it starts but really it start in Europe in 1950. For practice equine assisted therapy it’s require more than a horse, and more people more than the therapeutic and the patient. This method has five principal objectives to meet. There are five principles that are the ones that make the therapy works. It’s incredible how only riding a horse; a person can improve the self-esteem and the capability of concentrate and improve the confidence. It’s great how riding horses improve the life of a person.

HISTORY

It appear in Europe, in England specific was the first center of this therapy. Since 406 ac Hippocrates, the medic of the ancient Greece said that it was good riding horses. Before wars or important events, they ride horses to relaxant think. But in that time anything had prove that horses were good for health. In they’re times Greeks recommend ride horses for their anemic state. So here we see that horses have been a material of therapies and something to study on since long time ago. Then in1875 the French neurologist discovered that the trot of horses improves the balance and the mood. Then in 1950 it was created the first center of equine therapy in England. Then other countries such as Germany, Italy, Swiss, United States, and Canada start making centers of therapy with horses. Some South American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico have made some of this therapy. But it really appears because a girl of 16 years old called Liz Hartal. She had have polio since her 2 years old, but he continue riding horses. At the Olympics she won a silver medal in training. When she goes down the horse, all the people were astonished because he needs wheel chair. This causes in therapies a wish to investigate the issue.

WHY IR WORKS ?

The first reason, transfer of body heat, this is very important. As we know the regular temperature of humans is about 35 Cº and the regular temperature of a horse is about 39Cº. This means that when a human is ridding a horse the muscles of humans are more elastic. It’s recommend that these types of exercise are made with out any kind of saddle so the heat is transfer from the loin of the horse. The second reasons, the transition of rhythmic impulses, is what help to incapable persons. This reasons is basically that the horse transmit around 90-100 impulses per minute. This makes all muscles move and makes that the patient have a better position of body because if not it falls. Also it have been prove that with this method the person with problems of concentration, have a big change because they need to be concentrate in the movement of the horse. The last one is the obedience, loyalty and companionship patient- horse. This is that the patient and the horse make a very good relation ship.

EQUIPMENT

The equipment for doing this therapy is more than the horse, the patient and the therapy. Fistful you need specialized horses. The best breed of horses to do this therapy is Quarter Horse because they have a big loin. Another characteristic that need to have the horse is that is most be very calm and noble. Second, they’re in not only one therapist. There most be doctors, proctors, physiotherapists, physiologists, teachers, etc. For ridding the horse the kid neeIs very important to always have the best security. Almost all the kids that make this therapy are kids with incapability, so they don’t have a good control of their body, and you are never free of an accident they can have. Also they are persons that need to be in care of the horses such as veterinarians, caregivers, and black smith. Here is when this therapy begging to be expensive. Also you need to have medicine for the horses. You need, if is possible a space of about 40 meters long and about 30 meters wide. The idea is that this track is in sand, but if it’s no possible there is not problems to do it in grass.

REAL CASES

Real cases that have been treated and they have had a very good result. There is a case of an autism kid. He never talks, he was not eating almost anything, and he was going out of control of his parents. He start going in equine assisted therapy and know he is eating normally, he’s communication have improve a lot. He is a new guy. The therapist says that this happened because with the movement of the horse the backbone sends some signals to the cerebellum that open some receptors. These guys have an awesome change and today he continues going to the therapy but only to see the horses. Another case, a kid that has autism and it’s called Ellie. This guy have 10 years old, he don’t talk, don’t count, don’t write and don’t reed. He goes for the therapy for first time. At first he don’t want ride the horse, but after 15-20 minutes he was happy in the horse with another therapist. In only one session, he starts the pronunciation of some words, he start to talk more to his mother because he didn’t talk even to ask for food. In the video the mother cries. Is very beautiful.

VIDEO

http://www.channels.com/episodes/show/12087791/Equinoterapia-para-el-autismo