Pet Therapy Part II: Children and the Disabled
Pet therapy has been found to be beneficial for people of all ages. Children are automatically drawn towards animals. Through interaction with animals, children learn nurturing, responsibility, and empathy. Children learn how to take care of the animal and come to understand that animals share feelings and emotions similar to their own, such as pain, joy and fear. Pet therapy has been found to be of great benefit when dealing with abused children and those with psychiatric problems and learning disabilities. These children sometimes have those who experience difficulty opening up and verbally communicating with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. Such children have been known to respond and communicate with an animal, making pet therapy a valuable diagnostic tool.
For children with Attention Deficit Disorder and other learning disabilities, animals provide a unique point of concentration that helps them focus. As interaction with the animal increases and becomes more complex as, for example, with horseback riding, children learn more skills and are exposed to greater intellectual stimulation. Animal Assisted Therapy has also been found useful in helping children with communication problems, anxiety and behavioral issues. Studies show that children respond better to a pet than an inanimate toy - they are more playful and more aware of their social environment with a living animal.
The use of horses and horseback riding for therapeutic purposes has shown successful results in improving the physical condition of both children and adults with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Downs' syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and similar conditions. Therapeutic horseback riding helps children and adults with neuromuscular deficits by improving balance, posture, movement, and muscle strength.