Straight from the horse’s mouth

The horse’s natural gait exactly duplicates the vestibular motion of the human walk, side-to-side, forward and back, as well as up and down.

by Michelle Muller — 

Interactions between equines and humans have been documented throughout history, and horses’ bonds with humans as devoted companions and workers continues today. Nurturing this emotional and healing bond develops a relationship of support and unconditional love, allowing humans to explore their own emotions and intuition. Most horse owners will agree that they not only love to ride, but they find this bond a very nurturing emotional connection.

Equine Facilitated Therapy (EFT) is more than physical therapy on a horse, or hippotherapy. The word hippotherapy, a treatment that uses the multidimensional movement of the horse, derives from the Greek word “hippos” which means horse. EFT incorporates hippotherapy training, primarily cognitive in approach, with emotional and intuitive aspects that heal the whole person.

EFT sessions are typically one hour long and include grooming, tacking and riding across acres of beautiful, natural desert trails. Horseback riding is a very normalizing experience giving the rider a very different perspective, literally and figuratively, of themselves and of their surroundings.

The horse’s natural gait exactly duplicates the vestibular motion of the human walk, side-to-side, forward and back, as well as up and down. This stimulates all sensory systems, providing a soothing, relaxing experience. How special it is to take a moment to feel the breeze on your face, the sun on your shoulders, the rhythmic moves of your equine partner.

Take a deep breath; relax your mind and body. Follow this path for guaranteed solutions, ideas and inspirations. These interactions create a very powerful experience that can open the door to self-awareness, confidence, communication and learning.

Michelle Muller has a bachelor’s degree in education and art therapy and is a life coach specializing in Equine Facilitated Therapy. www.solutionslifecoach.com or [email protected].

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 25, Number 5, October/November 2006.