Equine-assisted Mental Health Services

One program, for youth experiencing mental health challenges, offers unmounted activities with horses that provide opportunities for youth to practice emotional self-regulation, energy management, and physical awareness. Horses provide immediate feedback to youth regarding emotional states and arousal levels. Awareness of one’s self, one’s emotional state, and one’s physical body is heightened when interacting with sensitive mirroring horses.

Another program offers visits by a miniature horse to nursing homes and school classrooms. A study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that when older adults interact with horses even if it does not include riding, the interaction improves balance, gait, and muscular strength, quality of life and cognition, and as well as other physiological benefits.