About Horses Helping Human Beings

Horses have served people for thousands of years. Just a few of their historic roles include cattle herders, plow animals, warriors and transportation vehicles. Horses also are used on search-and-rescue missions, for crowd control and for mounted police patrols. However, the role of these intelligent and sensitive animals has been greatly expanded. These days, horses are also used as service animals, helping people with physical and emotional disabilities.

  1. Individuals with Blindness

    • Miniature horses serve as guides for individuals with blindness and other physical disabilities. These horses are calm, focused and safety-conscious. As such, miniature horses naturally guide their owners along safe routes. Furthermore, the horses are not distracted by human attention. These horses also have incredible memories, which enable them to remember and avoid dangerous situations for years. Another advantage is that horses have exceptional eyesight. Because their eyes work independently, horses can discern danger with each eye. They can also provide numerous years of service, as miniature horses can live up to 50 years or more. Of course, miniature guide horses are also affectionate.

    Individuals with Behavioral Problems

    • Horses are used to help children with behavioral and emotional or communicative disorders. Being with a horse helps these children calm down. "It's been clinically proven that just being in the vicinity of horses changes our brainwave patterns," said horse-trainer Franklin Levinson. "They have a calming effect which helps stop people from becoming fixated on past or negative events, giving them a really positive experience." Horses also help children with disorders learn to communicate more effectively. With instruction, the child learns to give clear, straightforward commands as he assumes a leadership role with the horse. It is easier for children with emotional and communicative disorders to perform these communication strategies with a horse than with adults or other children. Furthermore, the children learn they must act in a calm manner to keep the horse calm. Over time, and as the children become more successful communicating with horses, they transfer their skill to other areas of their lives. In the process, their self-esteem and self-confidence soars.

    Individuals with Physical Disabilities

    • In hippotherapy, a therapist uses a horse's movement to help individuals with physical disabilities. The patient is placed on the horse. He can be facing forward or backward, sitting sideways or lying prone or supine. As she responds to the horse's movement, the therapist analyzes the patient's responses and makes appropriate adjustments. Hippotherapy is particularly beneficial for neuromuscular dysfunctions. Just a few of the conditions treated with hippotherapy are cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, impaired sensorimotor function and sensory integration disorders. Through hippotherapy, individuals can also experience improvements in motor coordination, muscle tone, posture, flexibility and strength. Additional improvements may be realized in respiratory and cognitive functions, balance, and speech and language.

    Abused Women

    • Abused women learn to assert themselves with horses.

      Horses are an integral part of some programs for abused women. As victims, abused women are often unable to speak up for themselves and are fearful of acting on their own behalf, according to Beverly Engel in "The Emotionally Abused Woman: Overcoming Destructive Patterns and Reclaiming Yourself." Both of these issues are addressed through riding. The horse simply will not act unless the woman asserts herself enough to give it a command, clearly and loudly. The women also learn to develop trust as well as how to overcome fear and anxiety while working with the horses. The women further benefit from grooming the horses, an activity that allows them to give love and attention to a being that imposes no demands or conditions in return.

    Inspiration and Learning

    • Horses also serve as a source of inspiration to those who are ill or depressed. One horse, who had a leg amputated and received a prosthesis, visits children's hospitals, camps for children with cancer and retirement communities. It also goes to schools, helping non-disabled children learn about amputees. The world's smallest horse, Thumbelina, also helps those who are ill. She appears at pediatric cancer and burn units. Another horse serves as a teaching aid. It regularly goes to an elementary school and allows seventh graders to measure and weigh him.