August 5, 1999

Patients Heal Physically and Emotionally With Help of Horses

Denis Lambert

            SHELDON, Vt. (ANS) -- Cowboy mount, puller of plows, steed of Paul Revere, the horse is making yet another contribution to American life, this time as a healing partner.

            At equine therapy centers around the country, people with serious conditions like cerebral palsy, autism, brain injury and paralysis, as well as social and emotional problems, are being helped by the strength and sensitive disposition of horses.

            Known by a number of terms, the field of equine therapy is gaining acceptance and is the subject of university degree programs and certificate training.

            At Dream Weaver, a riding and healing program in Sheldon started by Dianne Crane for her son, Brian, who has cerebral palsy, Crane says she has watched clients go through amazing changes.

            A young child who refused to take part in any physical activity before treatment began wrestling with the family dog and jumping on a trampoline.

            A 10-year-old boy entered the program without the ability to distinguish left from right. In the course of the therapy, not only did he learn to determine direction but also began to gain the ability to read, which he could never do before because of his directional confusion.

             A blind woman, fulfilling a lifelong dream to ride, learned to control her horse in a confined area by counting the horse’s strides to determine when to turn.

            Proponents say equine therapy, also known as therapeutic riding or hippotherapy from the Greek word "hippos" meaning "horse," dates to ancient times.  Greek soldiers put their disabled comrades on horseback to strengthen their minds and bodies, said Crane. "Sitting on a horse, it moves your body and hips much the same way as when you’re walking.  It stimulates the muscles."

            The contribution of horses to human health reached a broad audience in 1952 when a partially paralyzed woman rider from Denmark entered the equestrian Olympics and won a silver medal. The attention she won gave rise to the idea of  therapeutic riding, first in England, then in the United States.

             Now, around 600 therapeutic riding centers in the United States are accredited by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), a national organization with 4,200 members. Other stables, like the one run by Crane, are not accredited by NARHA but provide similar services. Crane does, however, hold an individual membership in NARHA.

            After careers as a psychiatric nurse, special education teacher and elementary school principal, Gail Lilly recently opened a therapeutic riding center in Guilford, Vt., called Centered Connection.

            "For whatever the reason, it really works to hook kids up with horses, and other animals as well," said Lilly, who used to bring her dog to work because the animal’s presence had a positive effect on the school climate.

            Most of Lilly’s patients are children and adolescents. Her aim is to help them achieve their individual goals, whatever they may be, whether as part of a medical treatment plan or an individualized education plan. She meets regularly with parents to assess their child’s progress.

            Equine therapy usually takes the form of weekly one-hour sessions with therapists working one-on-one with patients. The therapist may also use assistants like a leader who walks in front of the horse and side-walkers who spot the rider on either side and reinforce instructions.

            Patients also do "groundwork" on a stationary vaulting surcingle, a piece of equipment like a saddle used for doing gymnastics on a horse like riding backward or kneeling.

            The goals of treatment differ depending on a patient’s needs. Sometimes the therapy is intended to improve the patient’s condition. In other cases it is a way of building a patient’s self-esteem, but the focus is always on the horse-patient relationship.

             Grooming and walking the horse may be important. "Some kids just need to learn to have fun and connect with the horse so they can learn to make connections with people," said Lilly.

            Therapists say equine therapy contributes to mental health by increasing creativity, social interaction, attention span, responsibility, empathy and patience, as well as improving problem-solving and decision-making skills.

            But what's special about a horse? "Horses are acutely sensitive to people’s feelings," Lilly said. "The horse is going to let the child know that their feelings are real and important."

            For example, if a child approaches the animal nervously, it will move away. The child must somehow overcome this fear, or grow, in order to subsequently be close to the horse. Likewise, people with attention deficit disorder must learn to slow down if they are to be successful, said Lilly.

            Equine therapy can also complement traditional therapies.  In Burton, Ohio, Linda Myers runs an aftercare program for adolescents with chemical dependency problems who have already received drug and alcohol treatment.

             Her equine program, contracted by the county court, is designed to help the adolescents take the skills they learned in treatment -- for example, communicating with family members -- and apply them to everyday life.

            In one exercise, a horse is turned loose in a 60- by 80-foot arena. The patient is blindfolded and placed in the arena with the horse. It is the job of the patient to find the horse, put a halter on it, and lead it back to the gate, with the help of verbal instructions from family members who are watching. In this situation "your safety and your accomplishment of this goal depend on listening to and trusting other people," Myers said.

            Some of the teens develop a personal interest in horses during the therapy. That, she said, just might help to keep them substance-free.

            Equine-assisted psychotherapy is the technical term for Myers’ practice. In equine-assisted psychotherapy, or EAP, the horse’s emotional responsiveness serves as the catalyst for the patient’s growth. EAP emphasizes the significance of nonverbal communication through a series of exercises carried out by the patient on the ground rather than on the horse.

            Myers received her EAP certification during a three-day training session offered by Utah-based Equine Services.           So far, 55 people in the United States have been certified by Equine Services. Myers was the first person to earn the organization’s level II EAP certification, which makes her eligible to train and certify others. Nationwide, only five people currently have level II certification, according to Greg Kersten, director of Equine Services.

            Whatever their certification, Lilly at Centered Connections feels it is important for equine therapists to know what they are doing because "well-intentioned people can end up doing the opposite of what they’re trying to do," she said.

            As for the horses, Lilly said the key is finding one with the right disposition. "Some horses really seem to enjoy being around children and some horses don’t," she said.

            Horses work well with adults too. Myers has one client who is recovering from sexual abuse. Interacting with the horse helps that person to learn new behavior patterns. "In order to work with an animal, you have to be assertive," said Myers. "Not aggressive but assertive."

            Corporate employees come to Myers' Stone Fox Farm team-building exercises. In one, participants are challenged to make the horse perform a particular feat, such as jumping over a bar. The group works under specific guidelines, using creative problem solving to reach its goal. In the process, individuals get to practice being cooperative, listening to one another and reading body language, Myers said.

            "People really look forward to coming to therapy," Myers said. "That has been the most rewarding part for me."

            The demand for Myers’ service is so great that she has a waiting list.

            Dream Weaver's Crane agrees there is a need for more stables. "There are never enough therapeutic riding centers," she said.

            Equine therapy is still considered an "alternative" method, Crane said, although it is becoming more respected by the medical profession. Some insurance companies now pay for treatment, she said.

             Crane tries to avoid charging participants of the Dream Weaver program directly. Rather, she asks local businesses, churches, schools and individuals to sponsor patients. Dream Weaver also receives support from United Way.

             Altogether, Crane estimates it costs about $10,000 per year to operate Dream Weaver. That includes the cost of horse feed, veterinary bills, equipment, instructors, training sessions, and mailings. Most of the staff is volunteer.

            For Crane's son, riding is no longer comfortable for him, but he still likes horses. Meanwhile, Dream Weaver continues to help other children and adults to grow and develop.

            "It really covers everything," said Crane of equine therapy. "And it teaches them respect for other living things." She looks at her son and smiles. "Look at what you started," she says.

Colleges That Offer Therapeutic Riding Programs

            (ANS) -- St. Andrews Presbyterian College, a private liberal arts and sciences college in Laurinburg, N. C., instituted the country’s first four-year degree program in therapeutic riding in 1996 with the help of a federal grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. Since then, other programs have been created, and prospective equine studies students now have a variety of options.

            The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association has compiled a list of colleges and universities offering therapeutic riding instruction. Some of them merely offer courses, while others grant associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees. The schools are

·        Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, N.Y., 800-654-3210; web site: <www.cazcollege.edu>.

·        Centenary College, Hackettstown, N.J., 318-869-5011; web site: <www.centenary.edu>.

·        Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Ky., 606-622-1000; web site: <www.eku.edu>.

·        Lake Erie College, Painesville, Ohio, 800-533-4996; web site: <www.lakeerie.edu>.

·        Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio, 800-488-8144; web site: <www.otterbein.edu>.

·        Penn State University, University Park, Pa., 814-865-5471; web site: <www.psu.edu>.

·        Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, Calif., 800-564-7752; web site: <www.santarosa.edu>.

·        Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Mo., 800-492-7900; web site: <www.smsu.edu>.

·        St. Andrews College, Laurinburg, N.C., 800-763-0198; web site: <www.sapc.edu>.

·        SUNY Cobleskill, Cobleskill, N.Y., 1-800-295-8988; web site: <www.cobleskill.edu>.

·        Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 409-845-3211; web site: <www.tamu.edu>.

·        University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio, 800-472-9502; web site: <www.findlay.edu>.

·        University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass., 413-545-5564; web site: <www.umass.edu>.

·        Virginia Highlands Community College, Abingdon, Va., 877-207-6115; web site: <www.vh.cc.va.us>.

·        West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas, 800-999-8268; web site: <www.wtamu.edu>.

·        Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pa., 717-264-4141; web site: <www.wilson.edu>.

© COPYRIGHT 1999 The American News Service

            This article is copyrighted by The American News Service. Permission is granted to republish, reproduce or transmit American News Service articles under two conditions: (1) you are a media subscriber to The American News Service and (2) the material must be clearly identified by the words "The American News Service." ANS appreciates receiving tear sheets, tapes or videotapes of any article or program produced as a result of this material. Please send these to: The American News Service, 289 Fox Farm Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301. For further information, please call 1-800-654-NEWS or e-mail tc@americannews.com.

Denis Lambert is a Vermont-based reporter.

Contacts:

Dianne Crane, founder, Dream Weaver, Sheldon, Vt., 802-933-4093; e-mail: <drmwvr@together.net>.

Gail Lilly, co-owner, Centered Connection , Guilford, Vt., 802-257-7460; e-mail: <waffles@sover.net>.

Linda Myers, certified practitioner, equine assisted psychotherapy, Stone Fox Farm, Burton, Ohio, 440-834-8096; fax: 440-834-8258; e-mail: <stonefoxfarm@lightstream.net>; web site: <www.lightstream.net/~stonefoxfarm>.

Greg Kersten, director of Equine Services and president of Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, Santaquin, Utah, 877-858-4600; fax: 801-492-1214; e-mail: <equine@eagads.com>; web site: <www.eagads.com>.

Background:

Bill Scebbi, executive director, North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Denver, Colo., 800-369-7433; fax: 303-252-4610; e-mail: <narha@narha.org>; web site: <www.narha.org>.

Ann Skelly, associate director, Horse Power, Temple, N.H., 603-654-6308.

Lorrie Renker, director, therapeutic program, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College, Laurinburg, N.C., 910-277-5243.