Love Moves on the Back of a Horse
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Why Horses?
Horses used in equine therapy are selected based on characteristics such as calm temperament, balance and ability to deal with different stimuli. They are generally medium-sized animals, trained, docile and accustomed to interacting with people, ensuring safety and effectiveness in therapeutic sessions.
At the Curralinho Equine Therapy Center, different breeds and sizes of horses are designated to meet the specific needs of each practitioner, considering their physical, emotional and cognitive individualities.
With a troop of 13 horses, the organization has a diversity of animals that allows for personalized care and maximized therapeutic benefits, creating an inclusive program that serves everyone from small children to adults with different conditions.
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How do we define the ideal horse?
According to its size
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LARGE RANGE horses such as Lusitanos, Arabians and Quarter Horses are ideal for heavier riders or adults who require more physical support. They offer a greater range of motion, which helps strengthen muscles and improve mobility for riders with paralysis or motor coordination problems. The three-dimensional movement of large horses better simulates human walking, making them highly effective in physical rehabilitation.
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MEDIUM SIZED walkers such as the Manga Larga Marchador and Mestiço are versatile and can accommodate a wide range of riders, including children and adolescents. They combine the strength and stability needed to support riders of various weights with a height that makes them easy to handle and guide by professionals and volunteers. They are perfect for riders who are in the transition phase of treatment, with moderate physical needs, where the focus is on balance as well as confidence and social interaction.
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SMALL SIZED, such as Piquira or Ponies, are ideal for small children or practitioners with short stature or lightness, such as children with autism or syndromes that affect growth. Their smaller size allows children to feel safer and more confident as they can be approached more easily and comfortably, helping to build confidence and develop emotional and social skills. In addition, because they are shorter, they facilitate physical and visual contact with professionals and facilitators, which is essential for building emotional bonds.
According to your gait
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WALK HORSES are suitable for practitioners who need a smoother and less impactful movement, such as the elderly or people with conditions that affect the joints or spine, as this type of gait reduces the impact on the spine and joints, providing greater comfort.
TROTTING HORSES offer a more demanding gait, and can be introduced with caution and only when the rider is physically and emotionally able to handle the impact and speed. This gait offers a more rhythmic cadence and greater impact, consequently providing stronger proprioceptive stimulation, helping riders develop body awareness, motor coordination and balance control.
Why Horses?
Horses used in equine therapy are selected based on characteristics such as calm temperament, balance and ability to deal with different stimuli. They are generally medium-sized animals, trained, docile and accustomed to interacting with people, ensuring safety and effectiveness in therapeutic sessions.
Gentle temperament and sociability: Horses, especially those used in therapy, are gentle animals and have a great capacity to create emotional bonds with humans. This makes them great for building trust and emotional bonds, which is crucial in therapeutic contexts, especially for people facing emotional and psychological difficulties.
Size and Presence : The size of the horse conveys a sense of power and control to the rider, which can be extremely beneficial for developing self-esteem and self-confidence. For those with motor or psychological difficulties, being able to handle such a large animal can generate a sense of accomplishment and control over one's own life.
Sensory and proprioceptive stimulation : Horseback riding offers a rich sensory experience, helping to stimulate the proprioceptive and vestibular systems, which are essential for motor control and spatial perception.
Collaborative nature : Unlike other quadrupeds, such as oxen or cows, horses are more collaborative and receptive to commands, which facilitates interaction between practitioner and animal, in addition to making the therapeutic process more dynamic.
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Physical Benefits
Parallelism between human and horse gait : According to Santos (2005), the horse's gait is the closest to human walking, with only a 5% difference. The rhythmic and three-dimensional movement of the horse, when walking, moves forward, backward, sideways, up and down, and can be compared to the action of the human pelvis when walking. The horse's gait at a walk requires the rider to make tonic adjustments to organize its balance with each movement. Each step generates 1 (one) to 1.25 (one and twenty-five) movements per second. This means that in 30 minutes of walking, the rider performs approximately 1,800 (one thousand eight hundred) to 2,250 (two thousand two hundred and fifty) tonic adjustments. When walking, humans and horses perform movements in such a way that their bodies are simultaneously moving forward, tilting laterally and finally vertically going up and down, this is the so-called three-dimensional movement.
TO ONE SIDE
TO THE OTHER
Psychic Benefits
The practice also brings psychological benefits as the practitioner overcomes their limitations, establishing a strong bond with the horse.
Increased self-confidence : Interacting with the horse and progressing in activities brings a sense of achievement and strengthens self-esteem.
Reduction of anxiety and stress : The natural environment and the bond with the horse promote relaxation, reducing tension and anxiety.
Development of socialization: Equine therapy facilitates social interaction, improving communication skills and interpersonal relationships.
Emotional stimulation: Contact with horses awakens feelings of affection, empathy and emotional connection, providing general well-being.
Emotional control: The process of riding and interacting with the horse helps with self-control, patience and regulating emotions.
Social Benefits
The human-horse interaction contributes to the inclusion and strengthening of interactions and interpersonal relationships among practitioners.
Improved communication skills : Interaction with professionals, volunteers and other practitioners encourages the development of verbal and non-verbal communication.
Strengthening family ties : Family participation in the therapeutic process promotes greater involvement and emotional support, strengthening family ties.
Social integration : Equine therapy offers an inclusive environment, promoting the socialization and inclusion of people with disabilities in a context of interaction with others.
Teamwork: The practitioner learns to work together with the team of therapists, instructors and the horse, developing cooperation and collaboration.
Increased autonomy and independence : Progress in activities encourages the practitioner to gain more autonomy, facilitating their participation in other social contexts.