They can help us learn.
A pioneering 2013 study from the University of Kentucky discovered that spending time with horses can help people develop a sense of empathy as well as enhance their social and leadership skills. The small group of nurses from UK Chandler Hospital who participated in the study noted the importance of self-awareness and non-verbal communication during their time in the stables.
“If horses can increase our ability to understand ourselves and others better, then the healthcare industry is a perfect place for studies like these,” study project manager Lissa Pohl said in a statement. “When nurses and doctors benefit from collaborating with horses then ultimately their patients also benefit.”
They can be our best therapists.
Equine therapy activities, including everything from grooming and feeding to walking and riding, can substantially improve psychological health — particularly in people who don’t feel comfortable with the more traditional verbal therapy methods. Alongside a licensed therapist and horse professional, people can find relief for behavioral issues, attention deficit disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders and abuse issues, to name a few.
“The horse is the perfect mirror, they are very emotional beings; we’re only starting to realise how intelligent they are,” Gabrielle Gardner, a therapy counselor of Shine For Life, told The Guardian. The benefits of working with horses are also being increasingly recognized by therapists who work with autistic children.
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