benifits of riding
The benefits of therapeutic riding and non-mounted activities with horses are unlimited. Horses are amazing animals. Just being in their presence has a calming effect. Horseback riding specifically stimulates the rider’s pelvis and trunk in a manner that closely resembles the normal gait of a human walking. Those individuals with ailments that make walking difficult will benefit from the movement of the horse while riding.
Direct physical benefits are seen in strengthening of muscles, prevention of bone weakness, building of coordination and memory skills, and improvement of posture, balance, mobility, circulation and muscle tone. Other direct benefits are the improvement of certain skills, - such as speech, following multi-step direction, staying on task, and color, letters and number recognition, - while maneuvering the horse through obstacles.
Children living with disabilities have an opportunity, through the interaction with the horse, to enhance their speech and motor skills, and improve their cognitive and affective skills. This is accomplished through the physical world of texture, shape, light, sound, warmth, smell, touch and movement.
The riding environment provides a positive social interaction with peers, volunteers, staff and animals. Overcoming physical and emotional limitations, fears, and anxiety in learning to ride creates an improved sense of self-worth and self-esteem. The experience helps build self-confidence, independence, responsibility, trust, and a sense of companionship with the horse.
The experience offers a freedom never felt before, turning self-doubt
into self-confidence, turning
"I wish" into "I can!".
© copyright 2009 Nantucket Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Inc.