If you’ve spent time around horses, you already know about the physical and mental benefits resulting from grooming, riding, and caring for these animals. As we do at East Point Horspice, we just knew horses were inherent healers of the mind, body and soul. However, first published in Horse and Hound in 2014, these benefits were reported in an evidence-based research investigation by Washington State University. The study focused on the interaction between horses and children and its effect on levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
The $100,000 grant from the National Institute of Health assessed 130 11–13-year-old children who participated in a 12-week equine-facilitated learning program over a 2-year period. Children were randomly included with the horses or were put on a wait list for later involvement. These sessions consisted of a 90-minute interaction wherein they learned about horse behavior, care and riding. Using saliva samples, the children’s cortisol levels were monitored and those that had participated in the program resulted in significantly lower stress hormone levels compared with the wait listed group. The study leader Dr. Patricia Pendry said her findings gave scientific credit to the claims of therapeutic horsemanship professionals and parents who have reported a positive impact from these types of programs.
Since the first riding program in 2006, EPH was witnessed countless times where the moods and attitudes of the riders changed noticeably from the time they arrived to when the session ended and they headed home. The interaction with the horses had a positive impact resulting in calmer, quieter and hopefully happier participants. While communicating with the horses through grooming, feeding and riding the riders learn patience, attention, compassion and responsibility leading to a greater understanding of themselves and others. The reason this type of program is successful is the horse and its keen awareness of emotional energies; horses can sense what we’re feeling, sometimes better than we do. The horse’s success as a species over the millennia depends on their unique skill to understand what is going on below the surface of the individuals around them. Humans are skilled at hiding emotions by feigning happiness; horses see through this, mirroring our true emotional state and respond honestly and openly. Like a true friend, you know where you stand with horses.
EPH, with its diverse blend of rescued equines, offers a unique opportunity to share their ability to help us become better humans. The relationships built between the horses and people can have a lifelong positive impact. We invite you to witness this beauty by simply visiting the horses or perhaps consider becoming a volunteer with the therapeutic riding program. The life you change may be your own.
Find out more by visiting www.eastpointhorspice.com or email eph@bbc.net. We look forward to including you in the place “Where people and horses come together.”