Disabled riders learn the benefits of equine-assisted therapy

From dogs to dolphins, animals have long been enlisted by doctors helping people recover from an illness. But the benefits stretch beyond the physical, according to a Los Angeles Times story.

The story centered on riders at Sunday’s Kiwanis Equestrian Competition for Special Athletes, in which competitors -- some with prosthetic limbs, others with cerebral palsy -- put their equestrian skills to the test.

Equine-assisted therapy may help people with conditions like cerebral palsy, which affects the brain and nervous system functions. According to the North American Riding for the Handicapped Assn., “Because horseback riding gently and rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength.”

Studies on the physical benefits of equine-assisted therapy are hard to come by; most appear to focus on psychological, social or emotional improvements. Aetna still calls it an experimental (i.e. uninsurable?) treatment, because of the relative dearth of peer-reviewed literature on the subject.

But for people like Cathy Sulsona, a woman who suffers from cerebral palsy, the changes in her life since she first mounted a horse are clear as day. You can read the full Times article on therapeutic horse-riding here.

-- Amina Khan / Los Angeles Times

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