Therapeutic Horseback Riding Helps Contain and Reduce Health Care Costs

Jan. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Health care costs have been a priority for many governments for several decades. Historically, implementing solutions that are both cost effective and serve to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities have been less than effective. Therefore, governments and health professionals continue to look for alternatives that offer some solutions. One alternative that promotes and maintains health is therapeutic horseback riding.

There are many researchers, practitioners, and organizations who are working hard to build a body of knowledge about how horses influence our potential for health and wellness. Two such organizations are the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association and the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. They are creating standards of practice for equine therapists, and standards for the care and well being of the horses. All of this work is aimed at providing safe and effective therapeutic services that promote health and wellness.

The therapeutic services offered are known as therapeutic horseback riding, hippotherapy, equine assisted therapy, equine facilitated therapy, equine psychotherapy, and equine assisted learning. Through research, this therapy is gaining recognition as an effective additional and alternative therapy for people with chronic physical and mental health conditions. Horses also provide excellent learning opportunities in areas such as leadership and inter personal relationships.

Health Research Supports Therapeutic Horseback Riding As A Way to Promote Health and Reduce Health Care Costs:

Several research studies show promising results in supporting therapeutic horseback riding as a way to improve physical function, interpersonal relationships and build self confidence and self esteem. A review of several studies can be found at http://bentham.org/open/toaltmedj/articles/V001/51TOALTME...

Another example of the progress in research that supports therapeutic horseback riding is the development of a Virtual Reality System for researchers use. This project is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Often research regarding the effects and benefits of equine assisted therapy involves collecting anecdotal, subjective information which is not always considered reliable and valid information. This new virtual technology system allows researchers to study the effects of equine therapy in a controlled environment and collect measurable data when conducting their experiments. You can access information about this project at: http://www.ualberta.ca/~frasera/C-2010-Equine.pdf

Benefits of Therapeutic Horseback Riding: Information and Resources

Horses can play a significant role in influencing health and wellness. To review and obtain information, resources, and book reviews that explore the impact they can have on improving health and consequently reducing health care costs go to http://www.BeWellWithHorses.com

# # #

Ways in which horses influence our health are explored. As an approach to promoting and maintaining health, horses offer significant wellness strategies and treatment interventions. Resources and book reviews are available, BeWellWithHorses.com